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Board approves operations package including professional-development contract; proposed board cell-phone policy fails
Summary
On Sept. 22 the Lorain City Schools Board approved minutes and finance items, authorized operations items 10.01–10.13 (including a professional-development contract with a not-to-exceed figure disclosed in discussion) and voted down a proposed board cell-phone policy after debate over necessity and enforceability.
The Lorain City Schools Board of Education held multiple formal votes at its Monday, Sept. 22 meeting, approving minutes and several finance and operations items while rejecting a proposed board cell-phone policy.
Early in the meeting the board unanimously approved a motion "to amend or approve the minutes of the September 8 meeting waiving the right to read the minutes." The motion passed on a roll call in which all five members present voted yes.
The board then approved financial items listed as 8.01 through 8.05 on a unanimous roll call. During that vote the superintendent and board members thanked donors and community partners identified in the finance reports.
The board moved to consider policy items 9.01–9.09 as a package. That motion passed on a roll call vote, 5–0, after a member pulled item 9.07 (a proposed board cell-phone policy) to be considered as a standalone item.
After separate discussion, the proposed board cell-phone policy — described by the mover as intended to limit use of phones at the board table and to reduce the frequency of texts and photos during meetings — failed on a 3–2 roll call. The final tally recorded Ms. Washington and Ms. Nazario in favor and Dr. Ballard, Mr. Sturgill and Mr. Ferguson opposed. During the debate the board's legal counsel, Tony Giardini, told the board that messages exchanged about board business during meetings can be subject to public-records requests. "If those discussions are going on by text message, let's say, those are public records because, effectively, those are comments or discussions that are being had, but not directly in the public," Giardini said.
The board also approved operations items 10.01 through 10.13 on a roll call vote, 3–2. The package included item 10.04, a contract for outside professional development proposed to bring national presenter Rick Wormeli in for an initial two-day session. Staff described the contract as written with flexibility up to a not-to-exceed amount and said it was structured to begin with two days of work with a district leadership team and follow-up as needed. Staff said the contract contains a $50,000 figure in its language but is not a guaranteed payout at that level; presenters also referenced a per-day figure of roughly $7,000. Ross, the staff presenter, said the initial two-day session had been recommended and that any follow-up would be scheduled based on the district team's needs. Ross told the board the proposed session dates included Oct. 8 and Nov. 11.
Board members who opposed the Wormeli contract said they supported professional development in principle but had concerns about the dollar amount, the contract's visibility in the agenda materials, and whether the district should prioritize other professional-development topics such as trauma-informed care. Supporters said the effort is aligned with the district's strategic plan to standardize grading practices and improve instructional consistency across schools. Staff noted Title II-A funds would be used, and staff also reminded the board that some Title II-A funds are restricted and may have limited rollover.
At the meeting's close the board voted unanimously to enter executive session to discuss two matters: employment and purchase of property. Board members recorded a unanimous vote to move into executive session; the chair noted no decisions would be made in executive session.
Votes at a glance - Minutes (Sept. 8, waive reading): Approved, roll call 5–0 (all yes). - Finance items 8.01–8.05: Approved, roll call 5–0. - Policy items 9.01–9.09 (package): Approved, roll call 5–0. - Board cell-phone policy (pulled from 9.07 for separate consideration): Failed, roll call 2–3 (Ms. Washington — yes; Ms. Nazario — yes; Dr. Ballard — no; Mr. Sturgill — no; Mr. Ferguson — no). - Operations items 10.01–10.13 (package, including item 10.04 professional-development contract for Rick Wormeli): Approved, roll call 3–2 (Dr. Ballard — yes; Mr. Ferguson — yes; Mr. Sturgill — yes; Ms. Nazario — no; Ms. Washington — no).
The board did not authorize immediate implementation changes tied to the Wormeli engagement beyond the authorization included in the operations package; staff said they will coordinate scheduling and follow-up and will provide additional information about the contract to board members upon request.
