East Cleveland, Youngstown State Reps introduce end to academic distress commissions

Two Ohio House representatives hope to see an end to academic distress commissions. State Reps. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, and Juanita Brent, D-Cleveland, announced House Bill 387 to abolish House Bill 70, the 2015 law that allowed for the state takeover of Youngstown, Lorain and East Cleveland schools. McNally represents Youngstown, the original target of House Bill 70, and Brent represents East Cleveland, the only other district still under state control. Lorain Schools was released from state control in the 2023-24 budget bill passed earlier last summer and effective Oct. 3. House Bill 70 established a mostly state-appointed academic distress commission for academically "failing" districts, with the ADC appointing a CEO with complete operational, managerial and instructional control. The only power left to the local school boards was to place levies on the ballot. Under the 2021 biennial budget, the three districts were given a pathway out of receivership by crafting individual improvement plans, with state-approved benchmarks. It also gave those districts' school boards back their powers and curbed the CEOs' powers to a superintendent role. East Cleveland and Youngstown Schools remain on their individual pathways out of state control. Without a change in state law, each must meet a majority of their benchmarks to see a return to local control by 2025, with the option of two one-year extensions. If, after June 30, 2027, the majority of those benchmarks are not met, the districts would revert back to state control as outlined under House Bill 70, with an academic distress commission and appointed CEO. Brent and McNally's legislation is similar to legislation the pair announced in September. Its co-sponsors include Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, who has introduced several pieces of legislation over the years in an attempt to release the three districts. In a news release announcing HB 387, Brent said Lorain, Youngstown and East Cleveland schools have been left with an "education dictatorship that has not improved the quality of public education. "Demolishing the Academic Distress Commission gives the power back to our local communities' school board members who are elected to make decisions for our students," she said in the release. HB 387 has been referred to the Ohio House Primary and Secondary Education Committee and awaits its first hearing. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.