Fairview students protest teacher layoffs
Superintendent, student body discuss school funding crisis
By Kevin Kelley
Fairview Park
Published April 12, 2006

About 80 Fairview High School students, most dressed in black to protest the recent termination of 29 teachers in the district, briefly walked out of school Thursday to express their anger and frustration to reporters.

Members of the news media had gathered after word spread the students would march from the high school to district headquarters on Lorain Road at 1:45 p.m.

However, during daily announcements on the school’s closed-circuit television station, student council leaders urged their classmates to work together in a positive way. School officials also warned students about violating truancy laws.

As a result, all but a handful of student protesters stayed on school property.

“The reason we are doing this is for our teachers,” said Eileen Bringman, a senior and student council co-president, who spoke for the group of 80 students.

“We love our teachers, and they’re great. All of them,” she said. “But specifically the ones that are leaving — we just wanted to show our respect. They’re amazing. They’re our coaches, our advisors. They do everything for us. They obviously have great relations with their students. And we want our community to see how bad things are getting.”

Of the 29 teachers being let go, 12 are from Fairview High School. Eight teach at Lewis F. Mayer Middle School, and nine come from the district’s elementary school.

Students reported the mood among faculty members as one of disappointment.

All the cuts announced by the school board April 5 were made on the basis of seniority.

Bringman, daughter of former Fairview Park City Council President Norm Bringman, said the students were also showing their support for the 5.9-mill operating levy on the May 2 ballot. District officials have said the terminated teachers will not be rehired even if the levy passes. But Bringman noted the financial situation at the district will get even worse if it fails.

In speaking with reporters Thursday afternoon, Superintendent Brion Deitsch appeared more upset with Ohio’s educational funding system than he did with his protesting students.

“What we have here today, folks, is a situation going on all over the state of Ohio,” Deitsch said. “We have an unconstitutional school funding mechanism that tears communities apart to try to get issues passed.

“As you can imagine, (this) involves high school students, and they have an emotional bond with their teachers. And they’re just kind of working through that.”

Deitsch acknowledged the students’ anger.

“They’re upset,” he said. “They’re supportive of me. They’re supportive of the board. They know what we’re trying to accomplish here. But they’re frustrated, folks. This is their chance to be in school. And how many times does a community have to get dragged through the mud and torn apart in a way to try and fund schools?”

Students had been instructed to go to the auditorium to meet with the superintendent. But as Deitsch was addressing reporters, the group of 80 marched around toward the front of the school. The superintendent was asked by a reporter if he approved of what they were doing.

“Do I approve of it?” Deitsch asked rhetorically. “Whether I approve of it or not, I don’t approve of our school funding system, and that hasn’t changed.”

Deitsch said the students were demonstrating a high level of intelligence and concern in addressing the issue.

Bringman, who also addressed the state funding issue, said the students plan to challenge candidates for state office to take a stand on funding education.

“This situation isn’t unique to Fairview,” she said. “It’s happening everywhere. And something needs to happen.”

Junior Shane Perritt said students want the community to support the levy because they fear athletics will be cut next if it doesn’t pass.

“I still have one more year at the school,” he said. “I’d like it to be a good year.”

But the protest was led largely by seniors, Bringman said, even though they have little more than two months left at their high school.

“It will always be our high school,” she explained. “I don’t think we want to leave and have it fall apart. It’s a smaller high school, so we kind of know everybody. It’s important for us to see our friends succeed also.”

When Deitsch called for students to go to the assembly, many students yelled, “No!” But over the next 10 minutes or so, most entered the school building. About a dozen of the group of 80 resisted, but eventually student leaders convinced them to attend the assembly.

Afterward, Deitsch described the 35-minute assembly, which reporters were not permitted to attend, as outstanding.

“The kids asked me some brutally honest questions, and I was honest and frank with them back,” Deitsch told West Life. “There’s talk of the students working together in a positive way, maybe starting a student rally, getting involved in literature drops and different things with our (May 2) levy. It was a good opportunity for the kids to get to know me a little bit and me to know them a little bit.

“I was buoyed at the end by the number of students who came up and shook my hand and thanked me for taking the time to talk to them. (They said) nobody ever made them feel heard before and that they were glad I was here. So for a 16, 17-year-old kid to do that to an adult — that means a lot. I thought it was a positive experience.”

Last month, the board eliminated the positions of assistant superintendent, buildings and grounds supervisor, and student activities / athletic director. The contracts of three additional administrative officials — the high school principal, transportation and safety supervisor, and supervisor of food services – were reduced in length.

In February, the board announced that 13 support staff positions will be eliminated or reduced to part time, from a current number of 66. The number of coaches, extracurricular advisors and staff support positions covered by supplemental contracts will also be reduced from the current 183 to 104, a reduction of 79. The details of those cuts have yet to be announced.