Candidates for Lorain School Board answer student, community questions

LORAIN — Candidates for Lorain Schools Board of Education fielded questions from students and community members alike during a town hall Tuesday evening. Lined up across the Lorain High School Performing Arts Center stage, the four individuals seeking three seats on the school board answered questions ranging from how to make the high school more inviting to concerns with schedule changes and managing the district's finances during the event, organized by outgoing board member Barbie Washington and retired teacher Sandra Peloquin. Peloquin moderated the forum. Board member Jay Ferguson also won't be returning to the board next year. Board member Bill Sturgill is the only incumbent on the ballot for one of three seats being contested this year. The other three candidates in the race are Mark Ballard II, Davon Jeffers and Diamaris Rosario. Ballard II's father, Mark Ballard, already serves on the school board. Several high school students submitted questions for the evening's forum, including questioning this school year's move away from alternating 90-minute block classes to more shorter 50-minute periods each day. Rosario and Ballard suggested that students and staff be surveyed toward the end of the year regarding the bell schedule change to determine if it was effective. Sturgill, who has been on the board since 2010, said he normally puts his faith in those hired by the board to make the district's scheduling decisions and said changing back to longer block classes five years from now may see the same discomfort students are feeling from this year's shift. Jeffers said she did not want to see students overwhelmed and tired by their class schedules, and looked forward to working with the board to determine what could be done to address students' concerns. Another teen asked where the candidates saw the district in the next five to 10 years. Sturgill and the other candidates agreed they would want to see the district score higher on the state report card and Ohio's overall rankings. Jeffers wanted to see the district prioritize early literacy and math to improve its test scores, and also wanted to see its levies pass. Rosario's goal was to improve the district's connections with the community and see levies pass. Ballard, like others, said he did not want to see his alma mater at the bottom of the state's rank of school districts. Like Jeffers, he called for a proactive approach to reading and planned to work with community groups to help address behavioral concerns with struggling students. The district's need for funding came up a number of times. Alongside the school board race, voters in the district will see two renewal levies on the ballot. Issue 21 is the renewal of a 23.85-mill current expense levy. It generates about $11 million annually for the district. Issue 22 is the renewal of a 3.22-mill emergency levy that generates about $3.1 million each year. The four candidates and Superintendent Jeff Graham were in support of the renewal levies, each noting they were crucial for the district's fiscal future. As a board member, Sturgill learned early on that districts are often only a few years from insolvency, he said, adding Lorain Schools has not passed a levy for "new money" since 2012. He said he felt the district had done a fairly good job managing its funds thus far, but was unsure what the future held due to changes in state, federal and local funding. Jeffers hoped Lorain Schools' financial outlook would get better and said if elected, she would work with her fellow board members to address the district's financial needs. Lorain Schools' five-year forecasts have long forecasted looming fiscal cliffs, and the district recently slashed $10 million in spending through cuts and teacher retirement incentives. Rosario recognized the district was in a difficult position and called for using data to prioritize spending while being transparent and open with community members about the district's needs. Ballard echoed Rosario's theme of transparency, noting a need for listening sessions to educate families about the need for their support. A full video of Tuesday's forum is available on the district's YouTube. Early voting is underway. Election Day is Nov. 4. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.