Race discussions continue as leaders look at options, plan

Issues regarding combatting racism remain under discussion between Clearview Local Schools administration and board members.

Superintendent Jerome Davis said during an Oct. 12 school board meeting that following last month’s board meeting, the administration planned a speaker to attend the district’s next professional development day to speak on racism and discrimination.

Additionally, mentoring is being planned within the schools. Davis said these conversations have remained within the district and have yet to involve the public directly.

“As far as the community is concerned, there has been nothing yet developed,” he said.

“I thought that the fact that the sheriff was requested when Black people were going to showup was disgusting.” — Joel Gleason, Lorain

Board member Mike Kokinda said during the meeting that work sessions need to take place to further develop other initiatives to combat racism in the district.

“We haven’t had work sessions all year long,” he said

Davis also sent a recent resolution to board members passed in August by the Bay Village School District, as well as the joint statement from Lorain City Schools Board of Education and Lorain Academic Distress Commission released in June.

The Bay Village resolution denounced racism and called to reinforce district policies to prevent discrimination, along with reviewing hiring practices in the district.

“This is not something that happens in certain areas,” Davis said. “It’s all over the place.”

Lorain resident Joel Gleason, who had asked for an update on anti-racism initiatives the district was developing during the meeting, said he was pleased to see that Bay Village had passed the ordinance.

“What a different contrast from a community that’s probably low in diversity, going out and saying, ‘Hey, these are things that matter,’” Gleason said.

After attending last month’s board meeting, Gleason said he was upset to see the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office was called to Clearview High School where the meeting was held.

“I’ve been going to these meetings for a long time, and I’ve never seen sheriff’s (deputies) here,” he said before being cut short for time. “I thought that the fact that the sheriff was requested when Black people were going to show up was disgusting.”

Clearview board members and administration did not comment after Gleason finished his statement.