The Lorain City Schools Board of Education held a special meeting on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Lorain High School’s Building C. All five board members were present: Jay Ferguson, Barbie Washington, Dr. Mark Ballard, Bill Sturgill, and Courtney Nazario.
The meeting included the approval of several key financial and personnel items, as well as a closely scrutinized vote to extend the school day for elementary students. That decision drew mixed reactions from educators and board members, prompting a lengthy discussion about transparency, staff support, and the district’s long-term strategy.
The board approved minutes from the June 9 regular meeting and the June 10 annual records commission meeting. Treasurer’s recommendations, listed as items 8.01 through 8.07, passed unanimously. These included the acceptance of 24 community donations, prompting a board member to note the community’s continued support, even after the school year had ended.
Personnel recommendations, items 9.01 through 9.10, were also approved without opposition. As part of that agenda, the board welcomed Thomas Price as the new Assistant Principal at Steven Dannis Elementary School. A Lorain resident, Price spoke briefly, saying he was excited for the opportunity to live and work in the district. He was joined by his wife and young son and received a warm welcome from the board.
A separate personnel item, 9.11, was approved with two abstentions. Washington and Sturgill both recused themselves from voting due to family connections to individuals affected by the measure.
Operational items 10.01 through 10.20 were approved unanimously. Among them was a $1.66 million contract with the Positive Education Program (PEP), which drew attention due to the high cost. Board members emphasized that this reflects the standard expense of educating students with exceptional needs and is consistent with other public school districts.
The most debated issue of the night was Item 11.01, which passed in a 4 to 1 vote, with Nazario voting no. The item implements a new schedule that adds time to the elementary school day, introduces soft starts and soft closings, and incorporates trauma-informed and play-based learning at the beginning and end of each day. Nazario expressed concern over the budget impact, lack of finalized attendance and behavior plans, and the risk of increased behavioral issues later in the day. She also noted that key aspects of the plan, such as before and after school logistics, are still undefined. Board members Ferguson, Ballard, and Sturgill spoke in favor of moving forward, stating that the district cannot afford to wait another year to improve outcomes and should trust the staff hired to implement the changes.
Teacher Lindsay Lauricia raised concerns during the public comment period. She asked why the district was moving forward with a plan that many teachers reportedly voted against and questioned why survey results had not been shared. She also pointed out that professional development sessions related to the plan were announced with little notice, preventing many teachers from attending. Administrators responded by saying that union representatives were included throughout the process and that additional professional development would be offered throughout the year. They also committed to reviewing the availability of survey results with Superintendent Dr. Graham.
Several board members pointed to trauma-informed training and recent sessions on structured play as examples of how the district is preparing staff for implementation. Ferguson noted that a recent session led by Amy Codel had been well received and suggested it be integrated into back-to-school training. Administrators said they would work with union leadership to ensure new concepts are supported, not imposed.
The board also praised the district’s summer meal program, which provides free lunches to children 18 and under from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lorain High School and other community locations. Some concern was raised about access for East Side families. Administrators acknowledged the need for improvement and said efforts are underway to address the gap.
Near the close of the meeting, the board entered executive session by a 4 to 1 vote, with Washington voting no. The session was held to discuss employment matters. No action was taken after returning from executive session.
The next regular board meeting will take place on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at Lorain High School, Building C. It will be the only regularly scheduled meeting for the month of July.