District announces Hill’s departure, board to contest

Lorain City Schools District Treasurer Joshua Hill announced he will leave in August to join the South Euclid Lyndhurst City School District.

Hill, who began his tenure with Lorain City Schools on July 1, 2016, will serve as treasurer of the eastern Cuyahoga County school district, according to an announcement from Lorain Schools.

The Lorain Schools announcement came a day after South Euclid Lyndhurst’s Board of Education voted to name Hill the district’s new treasurer.

However, the Lorain Schools Board of Education will contest Hill leaving the district, said board President Mark Ballard.

The Board will hold an emergency meeting at 3 p.m., Aug. 1, at the Media Center of Lorain High School, 2600 W. Erie Ave., to discuss Hill’s employment and a school levy, Ballard said.

The move is not because the Board wants to harm Hill or his chances for professional growth, Ballard said.

But if Hill leaves now, it will cause a problem to not have a treasurer heading

The move is not because the Board wants to harm Hill or his chances for professional growth.

into the 2019-2020 school year, he said.

“We just don’t think that’s what’s best for the district,” Ballard said.

Board members Bill Sturgill, Yvonne Johnson, Courtney Nazario and Timothy Williams believe they are within rights to keep Hill’s work contract in place, he said.

During his three years as treasurer of Lorain Schools, Hill worked alongside administrators to remove the district from fiscal watch for the first time since 2007, collectively bringing it out of a financial crisis, and on to a path of solvency, according to the Lorain Schools announcement.

Hill also served as chief strategy and innovation officer under the helm of current district Chief Executive Officer David Hardy Jr.

Hill said the district faces “tough times ahead” due to the unknown status of future renewal levies for the district.

Despite levy uncertainties, Hill did say there is a bright spot to focus on.

Citing the current May 2019 five-year forecast, Hill noted Lorain Schools would see a $3.1 million carryover through 2021 with the renewal levy’s passage.

But without its passage in November, Lorain Schools potentially could see a $278,000 shortfall in 2021, Hill said.

The Board has until 4 p.m., Aug. 7, to vote and file the paperwork necessary to put a renewal levy on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Hardy said he wished the district treasurer the best going forward and said he sees a great treasurer doing great things for another school district.

Hardy noted his appreciation of Hill’s work and ability to operate within a “space of great ambiguity.”

“We thank Treasurer Hill for the work he and his team have accomplished over the past three school years, and acknowledge the impact that work has, and will continue to have on this school district,” Hardy said. “Knowing Mr. Hill had to often make comments on topics that put him in uncomfortable positions, his consistency as it relates to our strong financial standing and honest and transparent utilization of district funding is admirable.”

The naming of Hill’s replacement is forthcoming.