As his friend Vanise Williams looks on, Nell’vonne Woods holds a phone so board members can hear a recording of an attack on an RTA train.
As his friend Vanise Williams looks on, Nell’vonne Woods holds a phone so board members can hear a recording of an attack on an RTA train. Credit: YouTube

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 more from Documenter Charlestine Pride 

Read the live-tweet thread from Documenter Gennifer Harding-Gosnell:

Watch the full comments from CMSD students Nell’vonne Woods and Venise Williams. 

Cleveland Documenters

Cleveland Documenters pays and trains people to cover public meetings where government officials discuss important issues and decide how to spend taxpayer money.