LEA president speaks on staffing concerns.
LORAIN — An emotional exchange during the May 11 Lorain City Schools Board of Education meeting highlighted ongoing tensions surrounding the district’s recent levy campaign, staffing decisions and the broader state of the school community.
During the meeting’s first public comment period, Julie Garcia, president of the Lorain Education Association, questioned district priorities following recent layoffs and staffing reductions. Garcia said the community supported the levy to strengthen student services and classroom support rather than expand administration.
“Our students do not build relationships with administrative titles,” Garcia said during public comment. “They build relationships with teachers who guide them every day, the counselors who support their mental health and future planning, and the educational staff who work directly with them in classrooms.”
Garcia also said voters approved the levy because they believed in investing directly in students and urged district leadership to prioritize positions that impact student learning and well-being.
Shortly afterward, Assistant Superintendent Michael Scott addressed the board and community, delivering an extended statement focused on unity, healing and the challenges facing the district.
Scott said every role within the district carries value, even if positions are not all the same, and urged the community to avoid dividing itself following months of difficult public debate. He reflected on his own experiences within Lorain City Schools as a student, teacher and administrator, saying many difficult decisions over the years were made out of necessity rather than desire.
“I feel compelled to share that every role in this organization has meaning,” Scott said. “And now every role is not the same. But it is time that we come together as a community and value all the roles within our district.”
Scott also spoke about the emotional toll recent months have taken on staff and the community, describing the period as “hard” and calling for residents and district employees to move forward together.
“We are a good district,” Scott said. “We are not defined by a number on a report card on a given day that a student sat down for a given test. We are more than that.”
During his remarks, Scott referenced the district’s efforts to rebuild programs and student opportunities following the COVID-19 pandemic, including music education and wraparound support services. He also thanked the community for supporting the district levy and said the work of rebuilding trust and improving outcomes is ongoing.
The comments came during a meeting that also included student recognitions, scholarship announcements, music program honors and district academic updates
