Lorain City Schools board approves new start times and extended-day plan over staff objections

The Lorain City Schools Board of Education voted 4-1 on June 25 to adopt new elementary start times and an extended-day approach that includes "soft openings" and "soft closings." The motion passed with Missus Nazario voting no and board members Doctor Ballard, Mister Ferguson, Mister Sturgill and Missus Washington voting yes.

Board member Missus Nazario said she continued to have concerns about the proposal’s cost and implementation, calling the behavior plan “still a concept or a statement” and saying the district did not have “an exact amount budgeted of how much this is going to cost the district.” Her remarks opened an extended discussion about attendance, behavior and staffing. "I still have concerns about this as most know," Nazario said during debate.

Superintendent Dr. Graham and other supporters said the district has prepared professional learning, trauma-informed training and behavior supports intended to accompany the time change. "We did put together a package of professional learning that can continue to be transferred over," a representative speaking for Superintendent Dr. Graham said, citing trauma-informed sessions offered over the summer and the plan to replicate those sessions at the start of the school year. The superintendent’s office said leadership would work with building teams and union representatives on schedules and implementation details.

Teachers and staff at the meeting raised logistical questions about who would supervise students during the adjusted arrival and dismissal windows, how time cards and supplementals would be handled and whether the district should delay the change until attendance and behavior plans were more fully developed. Lindsay Larisha, identified in the meeting as "teacher and community member," asked directly, "I would like to know how many teachers voted yes on the time change. Because I know I didn't, and I know all the teachers that I talked to did not want the time change." Larisha and others requested access to survey results and more concrete plans before implementation.

Board members and district leaders acknowledged the concerns and said follow-up work is required. The superintendent’s office said many staff members attended summer training sessions (the district reported about 173 staff attended at least one session) and that additional job-embedded professional learning would be provided during the school year. The board majority argued the change was necessary to increase instructional time and support student outcomes; opponents said the district should have delayed to finalize attendance and behavior protocols and to ensure adequate notice for staff.

The board’s vote implements the schedule change as approved at the meeting; specifics about building opening times, precise attendance protocols and the finalized staffing allocations for dismissal supervision were discussed as future steps. Board members said they would work with union leadership, principals and building leadership teams to set staff start/stop times, clarify supplementals and finalize parent communications before the school year begins.

The decision follows months of discussion, committee meetings and summer professional development sessions. Board members said the change will be monitored and can be revised if it does not meet district goals.

Ending: The board scheduled its next regular meeting for July 14 at 5 p.m.; the district said it will provide additional implementation details and training schedules to staff and principals before the new schedule goes into effect.