Community voices mixed reactions to Youngstown Schools' reconfiguration plan
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown City School District’s plan to consolidate its traditional middle and high schools drew a mix of support, concern, and questions from the community during a public comment session at Tuesday night’s school board meeting.
The meeting, held at Choffin Career and Technical Center, marked the first opportunity for the public to weigh in on the reconfiguration plan since it was announced earlier this month.
Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor laid out the timeline and structure for the proposed changes. Phase 1 begins in the 2025–26 school year, when all juniors and seniors will either attend Choffin or enroll in College Credit Plus courses. Batchelor said this part of the plan builds on what many students are already doing.
“Phase 1b is the big change that will not happen until 2026–2027,” Batchelor said. “We will unify our two traditional high schools and our two traditional middle schools into one unified high school and one unified middle school.”
Those new schools would be housed at the current East High School and East Middle School buildings. Early college programs would continue to operate alongside the unified campuses. The district also previewed Phase 2, which would move the early college high school and middle school into the former Chaney building by the 2027–28 school year.
Before public comment began, attendees were invited to scan a QR code and respond to three prompts about the merger: one word to describe how they felt, what mattered most in the transition, and what the district needed to get right.
During public comment, some parents applauded the district’s forward-thinking approach. “I think this is long overdue,” said Jodi Austin-Brown, a parent in the district. “But what I did have a problem with is the selling of the building — is that going to take away from our kids attending the city schools?”
Others raised concerns about staffing, safety, and how funds would be allocated once the plan takes effect. Denise Romo, a float nurse, said, “If we’re combining the buildings, how many staff cuts are you going to have?... We see 50 to 60 kids a day.”
Diane Gonda, a teacher at Chaney, urged the district to consider the academic and emotional impact of the transition. “We’re going to have to do some team building and community building if we’re putting everyone together,” she said.
Batchelor said the input was not only welcome but necessary. “We’re going to do our part, but we need you as a community to do your part... and I’m excited about what we’re building together.”
More opportunities for public input are expected in the form of future town halls and family nights. The district has also launched a dedicated website, YCSD.org, to track updates, visuals, and community feedback.
