YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown School Board held a special meeting on Friday to discuss the next steps for the boards' strategic plan and the future of the district.

Board members stressed they need the help of the everyone including faculty to push for the passing of House Bill 154 which has already passed through the House.

They are calling for a repeal of House Bill 70 which instated the academic distress commission for districts like Youngstown currently under state control.

"They just seem to make it harder every step of the way for what we have to do and something has to change," said Board member Michael Murphy.

Board member Ronald Shadd said, "Unfortunately everything we thought was going to happen bad with House Bill 70, happened."

The board says to call the Governor's Office directly and relay the message that House Bill 70 has not improved the district's test scores, has removed experienced teachers or principals from the district and has caused the community elected school board to be castrated and rendered obsolete.