Officials visit district, students

State lawmakers discuss end of academic distress commission

It was legislative day in March 8 Lorain City Schools when the district hosted the chairman of the Ohio Senate education committee, along with three other supporters in the capitol.

Ohio Sen. Andrew O. Brenner, R-Powell, visited with state Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, and state Rep. Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, and Rep. Joe Miller, R-Amherst.

Brenner, a first-term state senator, is the new chairman of the Ohio Senate’s Primary and Secondary Education Committee. Gayle Manning is chairwoman of the Primary and Secondary Education Committee in the Ohio House.

They spent the day meeting with administrators, school board and Academic Distress Commission members and teachers.

Students and staff at the Lorain High School Lighthouse Grill prepared lunch for the group.

The local officials also wanted to argue the case against state-appointed oversight as required by the Ohio law known as House Bill 70. It mandates state takeover for schools in a category of “academic distress.”

CEO/Superintendent Jeff Graham prepared “bragging points” as the high points of education in Lorain.

“Our group just kind of presented and engaged,” Graham said, adding they met for 90 minutes with the legislators.

“We just kind of shared our progress, where we are with our plan, what we see as challenges and struggles and areas of strength and the ultimate was an ask to be released from the effects of House Bill 70,” Graham said.

Among the bragging points, the district has 14 modern schools with courses ranging from preschool for all to early college and career preparation for high school students.

There are free meals, abundant activities, championship sports and numerous activities. In the time of

the novel coronavirus pandemic, there is free COVID-19 testing weekly for students and staff.

“We have an incredibly competent board,” he said. “They should have the authority to govern.”

Ohio representatives previously voted for legislation to dissolve the academic

distress commissions overseeing schools of Lorain, East Cleveland and Youngstown.

In 2019, the Ohio Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee held a number of public hearings about the effects of House Bill 70. Those sessions included testimony

from Lorain Schools supporters who argued in favor of local control for the district.

That legislation languished in committee in the Senate, but change could come more quickly in 2021, Miller said.

“This chair (Brenner) is interested in finding a fix,”

Miller said after the meeting. “He’s looking to gather more information as to where ADCs went wrong and if there’s a way to walk back control to school districts, what would that look like? What would they need? And will they be able to be prepared to improve educational outcomes if that’s done?”

Graham did an exceptional job bringing in just about all stakeholders and demonstrating that collaboration is happening, Miller said.

The lawmakers are working on the promise of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s Office and others that they would find a way in the General Assembly to get a fix for the “failed” academic distress commission model, Miller said.

“I heard good news from the senator that he believes, if done properly, they can find a compromise and a solution and get it into the budget so that it takes effect July 1 for the new school year,” Miller said.

It would take effect when signed by the governor at the end of June, Miller said. But a tough question is whether it will be a Lorainonly plan or a new support system to help the other districts under Academic Distress Commissions, “not only gain local control but gain the supports needed to be successful moving forward,” he said.

Graham acknowledged they wanted to meet with people representing different groups within Lorain Schools.

That included the students preparing a lunch of pureed parsnips, sauteed wild mushrooms and panseared chicken breast with microgreens.

LORAIN CITY SCHOOLS Lorain City Schools welcomed lawmakers March 8to review the district and consider eliminating the state control required by the Ohio law known as House Bill 70. The group had a lunch prepared by students in Lorain High School’s Lighthouse Grill. The group included, standing from left, school board member Tim Williams, State Rep. Joe Miller, Academic Distress Commission member and teacher Steve Cawthon, Sen. Andrew Brenner, Sen. Nathan Manning; and sitting, from left, are school board President Mark Ballard, board member Courtney Nazario, board member Yvonne Johnson, board Vice President Bill Sturgill and Rep. Gayle Manning.