Youngstown school board members lament loss of power, want private attorney

YOUNGSTOWN

School board members strongly criticized the academic distress commission that makes final decisions for the district and Superintendent Connie Hathorn for ignoring their advice and for the lack of improvements at the school system.

The criticism, ongoing for quite a while, took a turn Friday with some school board members saying they want to hire an attorney to determine whether the Youngstown City School District Academic Distress Commission is complying with state law.

School board member Jacqueline Adair, who raised the issue of an attorney, said of the commission: “I don’t like the way they’ve been treating us.”

Board member Michael Murphy said the district doesn’t have the money to fight the commission in court. But Jerome Williams, another board member, said, “I think we can spend the money. It’s wise money to spend if we’re helping the kids.”

Adair added that she didn’t want to use the money for a lawsuit but to receive legal advice about the power of the commission.

“I agree we need an attorney to explain the law and what can be done,” added board member Marcia Haire-Ellis.

The commission was appointed in 2010 after the school district failed to meet adequate yearly progress for four consecutive years on the state report card.

Read more of their comments in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.