LORAIN, Ohio — The announcement took a lot of folks by surprise.
"I'm frustrated at the morale of the district with teachers," said Lorain teacher Steve Cawthon.
CEO of Lorain City Schools, David Hardy, says teachers at the high school will have to reapply for their jobs. He says its the worst performing school in the district.
Daniel Garvey, the executive director of Lorain High School, sent a letter to his entire staff following Thursday's town hall meeting where the announcement happened.
In part, the letter says:
"This means that every staff member who wishes to remain at Lorain High School will participate in a selection process in which their experience, commitment and belief in the potential of our scholars will be deciding factors on where they will be teaching next year."
"When people hear essentially that you're not good enough, and you're going to have to reapply for your job that's really a sucker punch," said Cawthon.
Cawthon not only teaches social sciences, he's also on the academic distress commission. It's supposed to be a liaison between the state and the school district after they were taken over by the state under House Bill 70.
"Where people go that aren't chosen, I have no idea how that would work, currently we don't even have enough staff as it is," said President of the Lorain Education Association Jay Pickering.
Pickering represents Lorain teachers and he says he had no idea about this before the meeting and says he's not sure if this is even legal.
"My knowledge of the contract, my knowledge of state law and everything else tells me I am not sure how that is going to work," he said.
News 5 tried to talk to CEO Hardy after the meeting, but he dodged our cameras with a security guard by his side.
One parent says he welcomes changing up the faculty.
"You have teachers that don't want to change," said Lorain parent John Public. "How can you be proficient and your whole class is failing? You're proficient? I don't think so."
Hardy will hold a follow up meeting with Lorain High School teachers Friday, February 22 at 2:30pm in the Lorain High School Media Center.
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