Joseph Meranto
YOUNGSTOWN – Outgoing Youngstown Schools Superintendent Joseph Meranto is optimistic that current Education Committee and CEO Justin Jennings can work together to remove the district from the control of a state emergency academic commission.
However, Meranto warned that the district needs stability in its leadership to achieve this goal.
“It can’t change every few years,” he said. “Real change takes at least five years.”
71-year-old Meranto, who has worked in education for 50 years, announced on May 12th his plan to retire at the end of this school year.
Meranto said the best way to help teachers improve is to speak to and support those on the front lines – teachers, school principals, and construction workers – who work with children on a daily basis.
HIS VOCATION
“When I was nine years old, I knew I wanted to be a teacher,” said Meranto. “It was my calling. I learned from my father that people should do what they can to help people. I’ve seen it do that all his life. “
The native Youngstowner grew up in local Catholic schools – St. Anthony and Ursuline High School and received all of his higher education at Youngstown State University. Meranto’s first
Teaching job was in St. Anthony. He stayed in Catholic schools for the next 32 years.
“I was the first male teacher in St. Anthony and later the first lay director,” he recalls.
The teaching in these religious schools had a tremendous impact on Meranto’s view of education. He still has his first contract with St. Anthony, where he made $ 5,300 a year.
“We didn’t make a lot of money,” said Meranto. “It was the relationships I had with students, their families, and my fellow teachers that were important.”
Parish schools are very different from public schools, he explained: Directors are like superintendents; they do everything. Only five people worked in the main offices of Youngstown Diocese.
‘SOMETHING ELSE’
A good friend asked Meranto to apply for a job in the Youngstown School District in 2003 when a job opened at the Career Center.
“I wasn’t looking for a job, but I felt it was time to do something different,” he said. “I wanted to go to a place where I could have the greatest impact on the students. I felt I could have a greater impact on Youngstown students than in Catholic schools. “
Ben McGee was the principal of Youngstown when Meranto was hired as principal of the Choffin Career Center high school. Within a few months, Meranto was responsible for both high school and the career center’s adult program.
McGee is a member of the Youngstown State Academic Emergency Commission.
One of Meranto’s first decisions was to change the overall philosophy of the Career Center, from a place where students with a grade point average below 1.7 went to a place where students wanted to be due to the variety of programs.
“I’m a strong advocate of technical schools,” he said. “If it were up to me, every student would take a career tech program.”
‘Peacemaker’
The district’s first CEO, Krish Mohip, approached Meranto in 2017 to become the district chairman.
Being a superintendent under the CEO model of the Academic Emergency Commission is different from being a superintendent without the supervision of the commission.
“Usually it is the headmaster who, in cooperation with the elected school council, develops and implements the district policy,” said Meranto. “My job under (former CEO) Mohip and now (Justin) Jennings was to be a buffer and bridge between the CEO and the school board.”
In practice, it became more and more difficult to serve as a bridge as Mohip began to communicate less frequently with the members of the elected education committee.
“I tried to be the peacemaker,” said Meranto.
It was important to him to try to understand the views of the Executive Board members and the views of the CEO.
“Although they have no power under House Bill 70 (which the commission set up), school board members are still the elected voice of the people,” Meranto said.
As it became increasingly clear that Mohip would not be returning to the district, Meranto asked to help find the next CEO.
When Jennings was waiting to be interviewed for the job, he was sitting outside Meranto’s office.
“I told him that if he got the job I wouldn’t tell him anything unless I was asked directly,” said Meranto. “You should judge people for yourself.”
‘GREAT ASSET’
Jennings described Meranto as a great addition not only to the district but also to the Mahoning Valley education.
“We had a lot of conversations,” said Jennings. “He helped me understand the district. He was a mentor. He was a great connection between me and the board. “
Jennings named Meranto to head the district’s Diversity Committee and wants him to continue working on it after he retires.
“He helped create it,” Jennings said. “I think it’s important to have a certain consistency.”
Meranto described Jennings as having a different philosophy in dealing with the school board than Mohip. He attends every other school council meeting to provide information and answer questions.
“He asked me to find answers to all of the board’s questions,” said Meranto. “He’s very open when it comes to giving you information.”
Meranto admits that there are still tensions between the duties of the CEO and the elected board of directors.
“From what I see, they believe they should be involved in making decisions beforehand,” Meranto said. “It’s kind of a dilemma after what the law says. It’s a difficult situation for both the board of directors and the CEO. “
Meranto hopes the Board of Directors, Academic Emergency Commission and CEO find ways to work better together.
JOINT MEETING
A first first step is June 16, when the commission and the school council will have a joint meeting.
Meranto said he believes everyone can learn to work together to achieve the common goal of educating the students and releasing the district from academic hardship.
“One of the main problems is not within the schools, but rather problems that students face before they enter the buildings,” said Meranto. “Problems that most urban school districts face. We need ways to address health and psychological problems as well as good nutrition. ”
Youngstown Schools have provided some answers by adding health clinics in the two high schools and will expand the program to other schools this fall. The district is also looking for dental clinics.
“The district is reviewing all-round services that were included in the original HB 70 legislation when it was introduced,” Meranto said. “I think the district is going in the right direction.”
But he added, “I think the best thing for Youngstown is for the elected board of directors and CEO to work together and focus on what can be achieved by working together to provide the stability that is currently required.
“We have to stop trying to blame the school system for social inequalities. Poverty and its problems created the problems in urban America. “
“It’s easier to blame schools than it is to solve these problems,” he continued. “I’m really optimistic that this is and will be possible here in Youngstown. It’s time to move beyond politics and just focus on the kids. ”
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