More than a week after the release of the draft plan to overhaul Lorain City Schools, district leaders are starting to share details about its implementation.
Lorain schools CEO David Hardy Jr. said Wednesday, ahead of a community meeting to discuss the plan, that in order to accomplish its 5 priorities, the district will have to shift its resources. That could mean unpopular cuts.
“I will have to cut certain programs. I will have to look at our staffing. I will have to look at every dollar that we spend with a level of scrutiny that I don’t think we’ve done in some time in Lorain,” Hardy said.
Hardy pointed to $600,000 the district spends in supplemental pay for teachers that will likely be redirected to other district needs.
"[That money] is not rendering the results, as you can see from our state rport card," he said. "What can we do differently to support our schools and support our kids with money like that? Is there a better way? I think there is."
The draft plan will be finalized this week and submitted to the district’s Academic Distress Commission, which must grant its approval before the plan can be implemented.
Lorain City Schools are under the control of the commission and CEO system as defined by state law. The structure gives Hardy full control of district policy, personnel, and budgetary decisions under the guidance of the commission.
