Four individuals seek three seats on Lorain School Board

Mark Ballard II Age: 31 Education: Mississippi College School of Law; Morehouse College Family: Non-married; one child Job history: Paraprofessional; after-school tutor Davon Marie Jeffers Age: 47 Education: Studied psychology at the College of New Rochelle in New York. Family: Married, mother of four; husband works at Stanley Black & Decker in Elyria; oldest son, Davonte, serves our country as a 29-year-old U.S. Marine staff sergeant. Three youngest children, ages 15, 12, and 11, are all autistic, have IEPs, and attend school in Lorain Diamaris Rosario Age: 46 Education: Associates of applied science (preschool-K); certified chemical dependency counselor assistant (CDCA); bachelor's in social work. Family: Frank Rosario (spouse); children Angel, Frank Jr., and Tony; parents Juan and Rosaura Rivera Job history: Owner Little Angel's Care child care provider, 2003-16; paraprofessional, Lorain Schools, 2016-23; 988 Suicide (crisis interventionist), operator and case manager, Nord Center, 2019-24; resident services coordinator, Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority, 2024-present Website: Diamaris Rosario For Lorain City School Board Facebook Bill Sturgill Age: 75 Education: Graduate Lorain High School, 1968; graduate LCCC, 1975; completed apprenticeship training, U.S. Steel, 1975 Family: Married to Andrea DeAngelis Sturgill, 54 years; two children, six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Work: U.S./Republic Steel for 39.5 years; worked in utilities/maintenance as a HVAC/R technician; coached high school basketball for 30 years, both girls and boys LORAIN -- The Lorain Board of Education will have new faces after the general election next month. Four individuals seek three open seats on the board, with only one incumbent, Bill Sturgill, seeking re-election. Also seeking election are newcomers Mark Ballard II, Davon Marie Jeffers and Diamaris Rosario. Mark Ballard II's father, Mark, already serves on the board. The Ohio Ethics Commission confirmed there is no law prohibiting both men from serving on the board at the same time if Ballard II were to win in November. The top three votegetters will take office in January for a four-year term. What makes you the best candidate for the position? BALLARD: What makes me one of the best candidates is my extensive history of working and advocating for youth. I believe in empowering youth and allowing their voices to be heard. I believe that my education and life experience helps guide students, allowing them to make the best decisions possible for the future. JEFFERS: As a parent of three special-needs children, I have firsthand experience navigating the education and healthcare systems. I successfully advocated for their diagnoses, IEPs, speech and occupational therapy, psychiatric care, and support through the Department of Developmental Disabilities & Ohio Rise. These experiences have honed my skills in advocacy, communication, and problem-solving. I am passionate about using these talents to ensure all children receive the support, resources, and I want to bring that dedication to the school board to be a strong advocate for every student. ROSARIO: What makes me the best candidate for the position is that I am a native of Lorain and an alumna of Admiral King High School. I am a proud mother of three young adult sons who were raised here in Lorain, and are a product of Lorain Schools. As a parent, my primary focus has always been to provide a safe environment where my children can grow, build positive relationships, instill cultural values, and invest in their education. As a board member, I would strive to create the same supportive environment for your children. I will always consider how I would want to be treated as a parent and a member of this community. STURGILL: I've served the school district in Lorain for 16 years. I've worked with some really good people. I've always respected their opinions and insights. I think maybe the best quality is to work well with others. I always remember who I serve, so I ask myself two questions: Is what I'm doing good for students? And is what I'm doing sustainable? What is the biggest challenge facing the district and how would you address it? BALLARD: I believe lack of resources and lack of opportunities are the biggest challenges facing Lorain Schools. I believe that exposure to different career paths like agriculture and a requirement of career tech classes (a minimum of two classes within their high school career) would provide needed exposure and opportunities that would prepare students post-high school. JEFFERS: First, we must address student misbehavior by creating programs that promote positive behavior and ensure a safe learning environment. Second, I will work to improve early literacy rates through strong reading initiatives, early interventions, and resources to help every child meet benchmarks. Third, I will advocate for stable funding solutions and responsible financial planning to overcome levy challenges and pandemic-related budget strains. Together, we can create stronger schools and brighter futures for Lorain's students. ROSARIO: The biggest challenges facing Lorain Schools include financial issues, and trust in leadership. To address these challenges, I will focus on the goals of Lorain Schools. One key area I aim to improve is the financial situation by researching options to enhance our finances and develop a functional budget. My approach will involve prioritizing the needs of the district, setting measurable goals, analyzing expenditures, holding public hearings, conducting regular reviews and audits, and ensuring accountability in execution. STURGILL: The biggest challenge facing Lorain Schools, like most districts, is finance. The Lorain school district has two renewals currently on the ballot in November. Lorain's problem like most schools since COVID has simply been attendance. Our district combined with COVID and (House Bill 70) has been slow to come back. However we've seen an uptick in enrollment, and I can't say enough about our arts, music and dance programs. This alone has done well and formed some great partnerships. I believe we're on the right track. — Carissa Woytach