Teachers' Strike Roundtable Canceled Due to Public Safety Concerns

A Community Roundtable scheduled for Friday at the Ehrnfelt Recreation Center has been canceled because Strongsville safety officials feared there would be overcrowding issues with several simultaneous events in the City Commons area.

"From a safety perspective, we just can't risk a mishap or anything getting out of hand," Safety Director Charles Goss said.

A community group planned to have a town-hall type discussion on the teachers' strike starting at 5:30 p.m. at the rec center.

But Goss said the AFL-CIO is organizing a rally on the City Commons that will start at 5 p.m.

"When you organize a rally, you never know if you're going to get a couple dozen people or hundreds," Goss said. 

In addition, the rec center will be open for business, and a memorial service has been planned for the area near the Castletown playground in honor of the victims of the Cracker Barrel shootings, he said.

At 7:30 p.m., family and friends of Kate, Kayla and Kerri Allen will plant a lilac bush and place a bench at the playground to honor the mom and daughters killed a year ago in a domestic violence incident.

A news release from Goss says that "due to public safety, security and traffic concerns," the city's recreation department has been forced to rescind a permit issued to the roundtable organizers.

"With so many people there at the same time, it could have become problematic," Goss said.

Jeff DeJongh, one of the organizers, said he was disappointed, but hopes to reschedule the event. He said the group may also look at other venues.

The forum was to be a way for parents and residents to gather to ask questions about the teachers' strike and talk about ways to help the students and community.

School Board members said they would not attend. 

Tracy Linscott, president of the Strongsville Education Association, which represents the striking teachers, said she did plan to be there.

The AFL-CIO is organizing a rally on the Commons to support the SEA, she said.