The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
CEO response causes ‘confusion’
An invitation was sent to establish better communication about Lorain City Schools through a joint meeting with school board members, the Lorain Academic Distress Commission and CEO David Hardy Jr.
But the response has created confusion instead, said school board President Mark Ballard.
Starting late Feb. 13, Ballard responded to the correspondence that went public earlier that day.
Lorain Mayor Chase Ritenauer sent his letter hoping to convene the educational summit for Feb. 26 and Hardy promptly turned down the invitation to sit down with the mayor, school board and Academic Distress Commission.
As a result, Ballard on Feb. 14 requested a meeting with Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria and his key staff that oversee the Lorain Academic Distress Commission.
“I’m sure you are aware of the many challenges in Lorain,” Ballard said in his email to the state superintendent. “As the new president of the BOE (board of education), it’s important that we have clear communication with your office as we find a path forward for our district.”
Ballard added he “would also like to bring additional board members and maybe a few community stakeholders.”
In a statement late Feb. 13, Ballard said he was confused by Hardy’s response earlier that day to
Ritenauer’s invitation.
Hardy said he is “committed to working together with the Lorain City Schools Board of Education as we move our district forward,” Ballard said, citing the chief executive officer’s letter.
“However, I interpret his second paragraph to state that he will only do that by having individual conversations with me and excluding the other elected members of the Board of Education,” Ballard said. “In addition, he will continue to refuse Mayor Ritenauer’s proposal to meet with him and all of the members of the (Academic Distress Commission) and Board of Education to work collectively on meeting the needs of our students.
“My confusion lies in the fact that I have been very clear with him that I am only one member of the Board of Education and as such, I cannot and will not speak with him on their behalf. I have also been very clear on the fact that as a board of education and a community, we are unified with the mayor in our approach to serve the children and families of Lorain.
“For the past 18 months, we have invited him to our board meetings and we graciously will continue to offer him a seat at our table and space on our agenda. It is our deep hope that he takes us up on that offer and engages with us in meaningful dialogue as we move our district forward.”
“My confusion lies in the fact that I have been very clear with him that I am only one member of the Board of Education and as such, I cannot and will not speak with him on their behalf. I have also been very clear on the fact that as a board of education and a community, we are unified with the mayor in our approach to serve the children and families of Lorain.” — School board President Mark Ballard