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Parents urge board to protect open-enrolled students from athletic and CTE penalties
Summary
Two parents asked the board to preserve high-school students currently open-enrolled, arguing OHSAA transfer rules and CTE program timing unfairly penalize students if open enrollment ends; speakers asked the board to grandfather existing high-school students.
At the March 18 meeting, two public commenters urged the board to reconsider an open-enrollment policy change that would end district participation in open enrollment and thereby force some students to leave.
Stephanie Benson told trustees the change risks penalizing open-enrolled student athletes because Ohio High School Athletic Association rules often require transferred athletes to miss seasons — including playoffs and scouting windows — which can damage scholarship prospects. She also cautioned that career-and-technical-education (CTE) program slots are filled early; students who change schools after a commitment point may lose access to those pathways.
Elena Phillips, a psychologist and longtime volunteer with the district, asked the board to 'legacy' current high-school students, saying moving her daughter — who has anxiety and CPTSD — would create significant harm. Phillips said she pays district taxes and wants affected students allowed to finish at Cuyahoga Falls High School.
Board members acknowledged the speakers and said they would consider the concerns; the policy change was presented as a first read and will appear again for action at a later meeting. No immediate exception or grandfathering decision was made during the March 18 session.
Ending: The board flagged open-enrollment as a forthcoming policy vote; staff and parents will continue discussions on any possible transition or grandfathering approach.
