Youngstown school board approves restructuring plan

YOUNGSTOWN — City school board members gave their blessing to a restructuring plan that will close three buildings and reconfigure and re-purpose others.

The board voted 5-1 tonight to approve Superintendent Connie Hathorn’s plan he says will provide more student choice, improve academics and reduce costs.

Andrea Mahone voted against the resolution and Rachel Hanni was absent.

President Richard Atkinson and members Marcia Haire-Ellis, Lock P. Beachum Sr., Michael Murphy and Brenda Kimble voted for the plan.

Haire-Ellis said she decided to support Hathorn’s plan after the superintendent told her the plan’s academic goal is to improve the district to “effective” on the state report card and to increase enrollment.

The Youngstown Schools Academic Distress Commission adopted Hathorn’s plan last week making it part of the district’s academic-recovery plan.

Mahone said she’s concerned about closing school buildings which will make them available for charter school use.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com