YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Youngstown City School District hosted a town hall Wednesday night at East High School, inviting the public to weigh in on its two-phase reconfiguration plan and learn more about what’s ahead for local schools.

As part of Phase 1, Chaney and East will merge into a single unified high school and middle school, both of which will be housed in the current East buildings, beginning in the 2026–27 school year. The district also plans to relocate the Rayen Early College middle and high school programs to the former Chaney campus by the 2027–28 school year.

Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor emphasized that the changes are rooted in community and student input.

“Part of the reconfiguration is going to allow us to do more with less, but at a higher level,” Batchelor said. “Whether you agree with consolidation or not, I think the research is pretty clear.”

The town hall included a breakdown of district-wide survey results, which Batchelor said helped shape the district’s top priorities moving forward.

“Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve done surveys for scholars, staff, and the community,” he said. “Safety, identity, and transportation were among the top concerns.”

During public comment, some residents voiced concerns about student behavior and the need for stricter expectations.

“Something has to be done at the middle school level, as far as the attitudes and behaviors of these kids,” one speaker said, noting the challenges teachers face in classrooms and the lack of parental involvement in discipline efforts.

Others focused on student engagement and ways to retain Youngstown students who are currently leaving for surrounding districts.

“We gotta do something for them,” another speaker said. “If we don’t come up with new programs or whatever, we will end up with four or five babies in our school. And it don’t make no sense.”

After taking questions from the community, the district revealed the new official school names: Youngstown Unified High School and Youngstown Unified Middle School. Batchelor said the names were chosen based on scholar, staff, and family feedback through surveys and focus groups.

The district also unveiled several mascot finalists, which will be put to a public vote in the coming weeks. The options include the Phoenix, Defenders, Lions, Wolves, Wolfpack, Chargers, and Titans. 

“These changes are just the beginning,” Batchelor said, “and we hope the reconfiguration sets the foundation for a stronger future.”