Panel faces unique issues

By Denise Dick | November 23, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

BOARDMAN

Confusion remains about who will oversee consultants contracted to provide services outlined in the Youngstown schools’ academic-recovery plan.

“We need at least a part-time person to make sure people are doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” James Hall, a member of the commission, said at a meeting Monday.

Though incoming superintendent Connie Hathorn said he would be responsible, Hall said no one can serve two masters.

“If I’m Dr. Hathorn, I work for the board. Who works for us?” he said.

Atty. Kim Hall of the Ohio Department of Education said that’s an issue that’s been raised with the state superintendent.

“You’re in a unique position statutorily,” Hall said.

The commission doesn’t have a budget, and members aren’t in the school district day to day.

Hall said she would take the concerns back to Deborah Delisle, state superintendent of public instruction.

“Because this is all new, we’re trying to continue to develop as we move forward,” she said.

The commission, appointed early this year after the city school district was declared in academic emergency, is the first in the state. Members designed a recovery plan aimed at getting the district out of academic emergency.

One of those outside service providers, Pearson K-12 Solutions of California with offices in Ohio, hasn’t yet visited district schools. The company is to provide monitoring and oversight of the plan. The cost is about $100,000.

Judith March of EdFocus, East Palestine, attended Monday’s meeting and provided an overview of that company’s plans. EdFocus is performing a systems audit for roughly $100,000.

March said the company will conduct a series of observations in classrooms to get a snapshot of what’s happening. The observations aren’t evaluative, she said.

The company also will observe meetings throughout the district that pertain to academics. It will interview people in the district — teachers, central-office staff and others. Finally, it will review all pertinent documents. That step is expected to begin next month.