Questions & Answers Submitted to Board of Education on 3/9/2026

Hello Titans,

Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend and engage during the Board of Education meeting on March 9, 2026. We've gathered responses to several of the questions raised that evening and are sharing them here for clarity and continued transparency.

While board meetings are designed to conduct official district business, they also serve as an important space for community voice and thoughtful dialogue. We appreciate your participation and your continued commitment to our schools.

Q: Would we reconsider the length of the elementary school day in light of more responsibilities, more students, and fewer supports?

No, our students still deserve to have comparable instruction to students in other school districts.

Q: What was the decision-making behind eliminating dance?

We had to keep the connection between Project Lead the Way as a career tech program for middle school.  PE is required for middle school students. While we value all of our opportunities for our students, we were forced to make cuts to address our budgetary issues, and Dance, Money Matters, Health, and Choir were chosen to be discontinued.  We will continue to do our best to honor our commitment to the Arts, safe/responsible healthy choices, and financial responsibility.

Q: Did we conduct a disparate analysis of the staff impact of the reductions in light of our equity work?

1. No. Our reductions in staff are dictated by the negotiated agreements the board has with our unions and board policy for our non-represented staff.
2. However, once the reductions have been finalized, we can analyze accordingly.  It is important to recognize that our district, over the last four years, has prioritized equity in our hiring practices.  This has resulted in removing barriers and bias in our hiring decisions moving forward.

Q: Were the community and board made fully aware of all of the programming that could have been preserved in a paired schools model?

Yes. Please refer to the presentation provided on Feb. 9.

Q: Is there any consideration on revisiting a Paired Schools model to keep more programming?

Our school community made it very clear that they were not supportive of a paired schools model.  For that reason, we do not plan to revisit that option…as long as we can afford to support it. The passage of our levy in May will allow us to continue this model.

Q: Why are we paying Mary Mayse?

Long story short, it’s more efficient and more expedient, and we will reach out to her to help make all of the transitions for our staff next year happen more smoothly. As we have shared, we have dramatically decreased staff in operations moving forward. However, we are also currently in a time when we need answers quickly to plan for all of our changes next year. If we need additional support over the next few months, we will reach out to her to support with logistics to move boundaries and relocate staff.

Q: Why are we still offering STNA if only 6 students took the class this year?

19 students took the STNA course in its first year, and this course was offered in response to student interest.

Q: Why are we keeping an associate director of preschool and a preschool principal?

The Associate Director will lead site licensure and Step Up to Quality Requirements in addition to assuming 504 and English Language Learning responsibilities as a result of another position being eliminated.  The principal will lead the day-to-day operations of the school.

Q: Why isn’t a current principal being assigned to the autism school?

We cannot determine the staffing of the school for students with autism until we agree to many conditions of the negotiated agreements of several unions.

Q: Why can’t we just run preschool in the red? Offset costs with revenue from the autism school and Titan Virtual?

By law, we are not allowed to have a financial deficit in fiscal year 2029. Additionally, by law, we cannot operate our school system in a financial deficit which would be indicated by “run[ning] preschool in the red.”  Once we have the appropriate revenue, then we can consider expanding other school offerings.

Q: Will art field trips continue?

If they are grant-funded or are paid for with fundraisers.

Q: Why aren’t we replacing toilets at Garfield?

We have students in preschool now who use the regular restrooms.  We will have step-stools available where needed.

Q: What’s happening with savings for this year?

Any savings from this year help with preventing possible future reductions.

Q: Does the board pick up the pick-up for STRS for central office?  If so, for how many?

The board contributes 10% toward the retirement benefits for 34 administrative positions within the central office. This includes 16 classified positions and 18 certified positions. This is typical for school districts and is considered part of the compensation package. Years ago, LAA had this in their contract, but chose to roll it over into their salaries.

Q: What were the considerations to repurpose Frank Jacinto?

Enrollment trends from the prior four years, proximity to Lorain High, the city’s housing redevelopment plans, and our ability to keep as many staff together across all schools as possible.

Q: Would we reconsider the plan and cut more from the central office?

Our board approved the recommended reduction plan.  We will continue to monitor efficiencies and costs, and all positions will continue to be reviewed depending on our funding from all sources.

Q: How will teachers pack up their classrooms at their own costs?

We will have more information on staff who will relocate in the next two weeks.

Q: Is the board truly listening?

Yes

Q: How will we engage parents?

We will continue to engage families through multiple means - face-to-face conversations, surveys, social media, in-person and virtual town halls, and informal conversations — everything in English and Spanish.

Q: Could the central office spend more time in classrooms?

Central office presence in our classrooms has always been a priority. However, we will be losing approximately 30% of central office administrators next year. As a result, we will all need to prepare for less central office presence in our classrooms.

Q: Could the choir possibly be funded by grants?

The reality is that grants paying for staff salaries, benefits, and supplies almost never exist.  Regardless, we will continue to pursue grants to support our programming.

Q: Why aren’t we keeping team planning at the middle schools?

While we value team planning time, the reality is that there was no evidence that it was effective or even well attended. We have to make $17.6 million in reductions, and teachers having two planning periods is a more expensive middle school model.

Q: Could we see the list of central office cuts?