Board declines mediation

Lawsuit between Board of Education, Hardy, treasurer will move to court

A lawsuit between the Lorain City Schools Board of Education and CEO David Hardy Jr., Treasurer Joshua Hill and the South Euclid Lyndhurst Schools, apparently will go to court, not mediation.

The school board has filed a lawsuit to retain Hill, who was selected to become the next treasurer of South Euclid Lyndhurst Schools. The lawsuit was filed at Lorain County Common Pleas Court.

On Sept. 5, Hardy announced the Ohio Department of Education reached out to the Ohio Supreme Court to negotiate a settlement for the case.

But Hardy said the school board canceled a Sept. 6 mediation session scheduled with the High Court’s Government Conflict Resolution Services.

Hardy announced the change in a letter emailed to school district employees on Sept. 5.

The letter was the latest in response to the district lawsuit and the possibility that Lorain City Schools might not be able to process payroll because of it. Hardy suggested the possibility, but later said the claim was not meant to induce fear among school employees.

“I felt it necessary to inform you all of this cancellation to one: maintain a consistent level of transparency, regarding the

matter; and to two: alleviate any speculation that may arise as a result of the board’s decision,” Hardy said.

“Despite this stalemate in the mediation process, I do not foresee an adverse effect in regards to your scheduled, Sept. 13th pay period,” he said.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to apologize to both the Ohio Supreme Court and the Ohio Department of Education for any inconvenience the board’s sudden cancellation may have caused,” Hardy wrote. “Speaking on behalf of our district, we acknowledge the time and collaboration involved in not only scheduling such a meeting, but also recognize the invaluable insight both would bring to a session of this magnitude.”

Board of Education declines mediation

Board of Education President Mark Ballard responded to Hardy in a separate Sept. 5 release, announcing that the board had decided to forgo mediation and prepare for a full court hearing on the status of Treasurer Josh Hill.

“We decided that the best course of action is to prepare for our court hearing instead of engaging in sham negotiations with David Hardy,” Ballard wrote. “David Hardy is a lame duck because he knows his contract will not be renewed, he just received failing grades for his job performance, and all five members of the sitting Academic Distress Commission have stated that they want Hardy gone.”

“In light of those realities, Hardy’s willingness to allow Josh Hill out of his contract and leave Lorain high and dry is further evidence that he will not stop harming our district. We now realize that there is no point in mediating a dispute caused by the individual in question. We will be prepared for our court hearing and we look forward to an impartial judge making his ruling,” Ballard added.

He stressed any responsible school leader would not leave a district in turmoil without a treasurer.

“It is irresponsible and harmful for Hardy to release one of the only district employees left who understands where the money went. If Hardy wants a renewal levy, this was the exact wrong way to show our community that he respects us and is a good steward of our local funding.”

According to the release, Ohio law requires that any district employee seeking to void an existing contract after July 10 may do so only with the approval of the Board of Education.

Since HB 70 granted all board authority to the CEO, that decision was Hardy’s alone.

The Board of Education publicly questioned Hardy’s motives in allowing Treasurer

Hill, and others, to be released.

The Board of Education will make a decision on whether the renewal levy will remain on the ballot in the coming weeks.

They added that if the district does not have a treasurer, it is “highly doubtful” the levy will remain on the ballot and expressed doubts that the people of Lorain would approve it.

“David Hardy is trying to destroy our district on his way out” said board member Tim Williams. “Hardy has a history of job-hopping state to state so it’s likely he won’t even remain in Ohio. This board of education remains prepared to resume it’s rightful oversight role, to implement our plan to bring our district back, and to ensure that the district is operated in an open and transparent, and respectful, way.”

Ohio Senate

On Sept. 5, the Ohio Senate Education Committee announced it would meet at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 11 in Columbus.

It will be the second hearing to consider House Bill 154, legislation that would dissolve and replace the academic distress commissions overseeing struggling schools of Lorain, Youngstown and East Cleveland.

Testimony will be by invitation only, according to the notice sent by Sen. Peggy Lehner, committee chairwoman.

Earlier this year, Ohio Senate Education Committee hearings turned into lengthy proceedings on House Bill 70, the state law governing school districts in Ohio’s “academic distress” ranking.

Advocates and opponents testified about the effects on education and the community in Lorain and the other cities.

Open house

Lorain High School hosted on Sept. 5 an annual September open house for parents and students.

The session provided Titan families with information on Title 1 funding, updates on LHS School Improvement Plan and new graduation requirements.

In addition, parents and students had the opportunity to sit in on sessions to learn more about college applications, financial aid and preparing for standardized testing (ACT/SAT).

The open house also served as the first in a series of family engagement events to take place throughout the fall.

Matt Larson, Dean of Scholar and Family Engagement for Lorain City Schools, said the district wants feedback.

“We really need feedback,” Larson said. “Both because we have to but also because we want to know what you guys think about some of the stuff that we did over the summer time to try to keep moving the district and definitely this building in what we believe is the right direction.”

The school-wide focus for the year is “Every Minute Counts” in emphasizing the district’s focus on keeping students in the classroom and improving academic performance along with improving attendance and engagement.

Larson said Lorain High School is working on hosting a family engagement night tentatively scheduled for Oct. 10 that will focus on ACT exam prep.