LORAIN — A disagreement between Lorain City School District Board of Education members unfolded during a recent meeting following public comments from multiple speakers addressing district communication and staffing concerns.
The exchange followed criticism from Julie Garcia, president of the Lorain Education Association, who spoke about a statement she said misrepresented the work teachers perform outside of contracted hours.
Garcia’s comments centered on a response that had been published on the district’s website following a March 9 meeting. The question raised focused on why the communications director position carries a $91,000 salary compared to lower teacher pay.
According to the posted response, most school-based staff work roughly 184 days per year and are off during scheduled breaks, while central office roles operate year-round. It also stated the communications director works more than 50 additional days annually, excluding nights and weekends tied to the role.
Garcia said she believed Communications Director Moriah Ballard authored the response. Superintendent Jeff Graham said that was not the case, and the authorship of the statement has not been identified.
Garcia told the board the statement was inaccurate and dismissive of the work educators perform.
“That characterization is not only inaccurate, it is deeply offensive and dismissive of the dedication and professionalism that educators bring to their work every single day,” Garcia said.
She said teaching responsibilities extend beyond the school day.
“Teaching does not begin and end with the school bell,” she said.
Garcia added that teachers regularly work evenings, weekends, holidays, and summer months, and often spend their own money on classroom supplies and professional requirements.
Following her remarks, board member Mark Ballard responded, saying speakers should direct their comments to the board rather than district employees.
“When you decide you’re going to come to the mic, you talk to the board, you don’t talk to our employees,” Ballard said.
He described some remarks as disrespectful, adding, “I think it’s on the edge of bullying people,” and, “I’m sick and tired of us sitting here and allowing these people to bully decisions with our administrators.”
Board President Courtney Nazario responded that the board represents the community and that residents have the right to speak.
“We work for the community and I feel that they have every right to speak,” Nazario said.
As the exchange continued, Ballard said, “They’re not allowed to be disrespectful.”
Nazario agreed that disrespect is not appropriate but said the board cannot control what members of the public choose to say.
“This is a board meeting. They are coming to speak,” Nazario said.
At one point, Nazario asked Ballard to lower his voice. Ballard responded, “Don’t tell me how to talk.”
The exchange continued briefly before moving on.
Later in the meeting, Lindsay Larisha, a teacher and community member, addressed the same issue, saying she reviewed the FAQ response and believed it could be interpreted as offensive, even if that was not the intent.
“It pointed out to me that it could be interpreted that way, and I could easily see why it was,” Larisha said.
She said the concern was not necessarily personal, but about how the response was received by staff.
“The fact that 99% of people who read that took that offensively, but the group of you guys who answered it didn’t, is concerning,” she said.
Larisha said teachers in her building reacted strongly to the statement and described her own experience working outside regular hours.
“I think I might’ve been the one that Julia was talking about spending four hours on a Saturday to write an IEP,” she said.
She also referenced Moriah Ballard, the district’s communications director, saying she had a positive interaction with her previously.
“I emailed her on a Saturday at like 8 p.m. and she replied right back,” Larisha said.
Larisha said concerns were initially about the position itself rather than the individual.
“Nobody was coming for her personally in the beginning… people were mad that we had a job that was a salary that is insane for the predicament that we’re in,” she said.
She later referenced a social media video, saying reactions increased afterward.
“That’s where I think a lot of people started to have the issue,” Larisha said.
She added that while the communications director has done positive work, concerns remain among staff.
“She’s done some great things… but it’s hard when it’s overshadowed,” she said.
Larisha also criticized how the FAQ response was handled.
“You guys have to do better when you answer questions like that because that was so offensive,” she said.
During the same discussion, board member Mark Ballard II said criticism toward the communications director began before the video was posted, including comments about her credentials and experience.
No formal action was taken following the discussion.
It is not known at this time who authored the FAQ response referenced during public comment or whether any changes will be made moving forward.