Need for task force remains

The task force will continue to monitor school functions.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- Members of the Liberty Schools Task Force finalized recommendations to improve the schools and school board members have created a plan of action to implement those recommendations -- but the need for the task force is not over.
The task force was created to address discipline and academic issues as well as other parental and faculty concerns. The task force was divided into four subcommittees -- partnership, academic, safety and discipline, and a committee for the E.J. Blott School.
Those committees spent weeks meeting in an effort to compile a list of recommendations for school board members. Board Member Alyssa Lenhoff Dann, who is in charge of the task force, said there was a lot of tension between parents and school officials at the inception of the task force, but the tension eventually melded into a drive to reach a common goal. She said one of the more dissatisfied families recently sent flowers to school officials as a showing of gratitude for work done by the task force.
"It is just a 100-percent turnaround and support," she said.
Acting on ideas
School board members, in several meetings held last week, discussed dozens of recommendations from the task force. The board has laid out a plan of action for each of those recommendations. For example, the board has contacted a Youngstown State University student to assist in creating a guidance newsletter for the district. The district will also create an online Parent Assist Module allowing teachers, parents and pupils to share information about state standards and how pupils are progressing.
School board members have also agreed to more frequent unannounced drug sweeps at the high school, to form a committee to continually explore disciplinary problems in the high school and to possibly take steps to institute a modified uniform if the district's dress code is not fully enforced by the end of this school year.
Lenhoff Dann said the task force will continue to monitor activity in the schools. She said the task force is planning to create an academic hall of fame, speakers bureau and will continue to push for the involvement of more parents in all school functions.