Covered by Documenters Charlestine Pride and Gennifer Harding-Gosnell
Unsafe routes to school: Nell’vonne Woods, a student at Cleveland High School for Digital Arts, shared with CMSD board members sound from a video documenting what he and two classmates endured recently on a Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority train, which they use to get to school.
“I have never been so scared in my life,” said Woods’ friend, Vanise Williams. “I felt attacked, for no reason, cornered, and had nothing to defend myself with.”
One board member, Leah D. Hudnall, told the students she was in tears. “I believe someone owes you an apology.” Hudnall said she was assaulted while riding public transportation when she was a Cleveland schools student 20 years ago.
Trauma response: Staff members from John Adams and Glenville high schools questioned the district’s support for teachers who have witnessed gun violence near the schools. Andrea Dockery-Murray, a teacher at John Adams College & Career Academy, spoke about the traumatic experience and how many “triggers” remain around the school. She asked that the district do more to help.
Read the live-tweet thread from Documenter Gennifer Harding-Gosnell:
Watch the full comments from CMSD students Nell’vonne Woods and Venise Williams.