Lorain Schools CEO releases listening session findings

LORAIN — Interim school CEO Greg Ring released his listening session findings Wednesday. His findings are based on staff interviews at all 14 buildings, along with input from the three community listening sessions earlier this month. He confirmed Title I teachers for the elementary and middle schools will be prioritized in next year's budget. Under former CEO David Hardy Jr., the district's federal funding like Title I dollars were pooled and used to pay a percentage of each teacher's salary, rather than just Title teachers. The pooled funds also pay for the entire salary and benefits of the chief family officer, formerly Arliss Prass. For fiscal year 2019, Lorain Schools received more than $3.7 million in Title I funding. The federal grants are provided to districts with high numbers of children from low-income families and is meant to provided additional academic support. Prior to Hardy's change, Title I teachers were able to "pull out" students to provide help on math or reading either individually or in small groups. After the change, the district moved to 30- minute "intervention blocks," where students are shuffled between teachers and those needing Title I services will all be in the same classroom for that block. The district's elementary and middle schools may also see a shift back to the familiar A-F grading system, with Ring planning a committee to review standard-based grading and make recommendations for next school year. Ring's report also noted a districtwide committee will review the new preschool-second grade English Language curriculum, Wit and Wisdom. That curriculum has come under fire from educators for its lack of foundational skills. The district has spent more than $210,000 on Wit and Wisdom curriculum and additional texts purchased throughout the year. That includes more than $9,800 out of 598 funds, which includes pooled Title 1 funds. It has since purchased Heggerty for $17,234. It is a a supplemental curriculum to use alongside Wit and Wisdom and Fundations — another supplement. Districtwide curriculum will also be under review, with priority attention given to science and social studies, he notes. At the district level, the plan to reduce administrators is expected next month. Ring previously confirmed there will be priority consideration for administrators with five-year professional licenses. All 14 building principals have five-year professional principal licenses, per the Ohio Department of Education. It is a mix among the deans — many have one-year alternative licenses. Several of the deans of scholar and family engagement hold no licensure Contact Carissa Woytach at 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.