Youngstown Schools eye opportunity to regain local control
After years of state oversight, Youngstown City Schools is taking the first steps toward regaining local control with the creation of an academic improvement plan.
The pathway to local control is all thanks to recent legislation signed into law by Gov. Dewine in July. To get there, the Youngstown City School District's Board of Education will need to fulfill specific requirements laid out by the state.
"We need to take this serious," state Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan said.
The Youngstown Board of Education held the first of three community meetings, Tuesday, to gather public input in order to construct the three-year improvement plan.
The other two meetings take place Aug. 17 and Aug. 31 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at he commons area of Choffin Career and Technical Center.
Lepore-Hagan says the creation of this plan will ensure local control does not again lead to failing grades handed out by the Ohio Department of Education.
She said one idea she's eyeing to revamp the school system is implementing wrap around services at local schools.
"[It's] where school buildings are open throughout the day an throughout the weekend and into the evening," she said.
She added the services help schools with community outreach.
Current school board member Jackie Adair added her input, focusing on an academia-first approach. She told 21 News she'll look to bring the idea of year-round schooling to her fellow board members.
"You get your Christmas break and your Spring break, but you don't get the whole summer off. And, hopefully, that model--we can introduce it here in Youngstown," Adair said.
Even before Ohio took control of Youngstown schools in 2016, Ohio's Department of Education deemed it a failing system. Lepore-Hagan said this time, there will be more accountability amongs those in charge if the district regains local control.
"When it was taken away, I think we realized, if given the chance, we're not going to mess up [again]," she said.
In order to regain local control, Youngstown School's improvement plan will need to be approved by the state superintendent. The state auditor will also be mandated to do a special audit at least once during the implementation of the plan.
