City of Lorain Proceeds on Considering Donated Property Without Schools; City Expresses Support for School Administration and

Vows to Work Together for Success

Some weeks ago, the Lorain City School District approached the City of Lorain to discuss a potential collaboration with respect to property owned by Mr. Joe Lucas. The City of Lorain has been exploring potential sites for a service center to house multiple city operations, and the potential for collaboration with the school district was welcomed. After meeting with the schools on June 4th, the City, at the request of the School Board President, composed a letter discussing the potential for collaboration. Within the past few days, it has been made clear that multiple meetings and discussions have been held without the City's knowledge. These meetings included discussions and facts central to the decision making process. As a result, the City is moving forward on its own with assessment of the Lucas site along with other potential sites. The City is welcome to future collaboration with the schools as well as with other entities so long as mutually shared goals are established at the forefront of the process. Mayor Ritenauer supports Superintendent Branham, whether he finishes out his contract or whether he and the Board agree for him to continue on through December, and the School Board and wants to work with them in achieving success this November and beyond. While approaches to management will inevitably have philosophical disagreements every so often, the City looks forward to those conversations and ultimately wants to see the Lorain City Schools be successful and will work with the schools to that end.