Youngstown City Schools CEO discusses building closures, food distribution suspension

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown City Schools CEO Justin Jennings discussed school building closures, an award for Choffin Career & Technical Center, a financial update and the approval of the renewal levy during his monthly meeting Thursday.

Here are the highlights:

School building closures

Youngstown City Schools school buildings were closed and food distribution was suspended for two weeks due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, Jennings said.

While there will be no food distribution the weeks of Nov. 16 or Nov. 23, the YOUcare QUICKMed clinics at East and Chaney high schools will remain open for staff and students by appointment.

Call the East clinic directly at 330-740-4005, ext. 6938, or the Chaney clinic at 330-744-8822, ext. 6978. To make an appointment at either clinic, call 330-744-0221.

Jennings said staff will move forward with remote learning, but they will not be allowed to report to buildings for the next two weeks.

“This is for us to curb the spread of COVID in our school district, and I think it’s even going to help the community as well,” Jennings said.

The schools will be deep cleaned over the next few days so staff can return after Thanksgiving break.

Jennings said there have been a couple of areas within the district that have been hit hard by the coronavirus and the district's food distribution has contributed to the spread. Jennings said sports are still being played, but he will have a discussion with the athletic department to see if that should change as well.

A freshman basketball team at Chaney High School has been suspended from playing for two weeks due to COVID-19 spread. The team is currently all in quarantine, Jennings said.

If parents need to get in contact with the district, staff will check voicemail but callers might not get immediate answers. If there are problems with a student’s device, parents should contact the technology department since it will still be open or submit an electronic request on the district’s website.

As of now, Jennings said the district will remain online until January at least. Officials will continue to monitor COVID-19 cases to determine when classes could return in-person.

“If it does [remain online], we will be prepared to continue to move forward,” Jennings said.

Jennings reminded everyone to continue to wear a mask and social distance to protect yourself and others from the coronavirus.

“It is serious, and it hits home often and it's hitting so much faster than it was before,” Jennings said.

High Schools That Work award

Choffin Career & Technical Center was one of nine schools awarded the 2020 Gene Bottoms High Schools That Work Pacesetter Award for the Northeast Ohio region for the school’s improvements over the past year.

High Schools That Work offers regional and site professional development services and support for high schools in Ohio. The organization works with schools to implement new practices to help administrators, teachers, students and parents improve their school.

Principal Michael Seville said the school did not know much about the process when it first started. As students and staff started achieving some of the credentials, the confidence grew and changes started to be seen within the school.

“It has really revolutionized the culture of the building,” Seville said.

In the past three years, Seville said the report card grades for the school have improved because of the hard work from the students and teachers.

“I’m honored to a part of that process and we look forward to continuing to grow with that,” Seville said.

Finance update

Treasurer A.J. Ginnetti shared an update on finances since the district is three months into the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

Ginnetti said so far this fiscal year, the revenue in the general fund is about $36.6 million. The expenses in the general fund through September are about $31.7 million. As of now, the general fund revenue has exceeded expenses by about $4.9 million.

During September, the district’s miscellaneous expenses were larger than the previous month due to the final real estate settlement payment and the homestead rollback payment from the Ohio Department of Education, Ginnetti said. Utilities for the district were lower last month due to the timing and processing of the bills when the month closed.

For the first three months, all funds revenue was about $40.6 million with expenses being about $36.6 million. The revenue has exceeded expenses in all funds by about $4 million.

Renewal levy passed

The estimated $5.3 million renewal levy for emergency purposes for the schools for the next four years was approved on Election Dat Nov. 3

Mahoning County results showed the levy was approved by 13,719 to 7,931.

Jennings showed appreciation for the school board for putting the levy on the ballot and for everyone in the community who went out and voted to support the students and staff.

“The [levy] passed pretty easily so I just thank everybody from the community,” Jennings said.

The renewal levy was also $5.3 million when it was previously approved in 2015. The levy was also approved by voters in 2008 and 2012. The previous levy was set to expire at the end of the year.

This story was originally published November 13, 2020 at 4:26 AM with the headline "Youngstown City Schools CEO discusses building closures, food distribution suspension."