The aftermath of last December's roof collapse at Lakeside High School in Ashtabula continues to create turmoil for the community, now exacerbated by the recent failure of a school levy and a pending lawsuit against the insurance company. According to Cleveland19, Ashtabula Area Schools Superintendent Lisa Newsome expressed an understanding of the community's rejection of the levy, stating, "Everyone believes in the community, the insurance company should pay for the building." In the same vein, over 75% of voters declined the levy intended to fund the school's reconstruction.
Filing a lawsuit against Liberty Mutual Insurance, Merlin Law Group represents the district's interest, saying the insurer should be responsible for repairing the damages caused by the snowstorm. The insurance company's refusal to pay claims for repairs needed after the collapse has left the educational institution in a perilous state, clinging to a lifeline that is unspooling, claiming that fair claims practices were not upheld by Liberty Mutual, WKYC reports.
Since the collapse, students and staff, as well as their academic journeys, have been displaced, funneled into a former elementary school building ill-equipped for high school curriculum demands. "They don’t have science labs, we don’t have our drone lab, we don’t have our shop, we don’t have our gymnasium," Newsome told Cleveland19, highlighting the lack of facilities necessary for an adequate educational experience.
The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division, alleges that Liberty Mutual engaged in unfair claims practices. This includes the refusal to take responsibility for early decisions such as authorizing the demolition of part of the school, causing further damage and environmental concerns. As reported by News 5 Cleveland, "Liberty’s unilateral decision to demolish portions of the high school has caused additional damage to the school, leaving the building exposed to the elements for months and creating serious environmental concerns and further deterioration," according to the Merlin Law Group.
The collapsed roof, a consequence of the heavy snowstorm that struck right before Thanksgiving in 2024, has left the Lakeside High School building structurally unsafe and unusable. Now, with the levy defeated and legal proceedings underway, the district is locked in a struggle to find the funds and means to restore the high school to its former state, enabling its 1,000 students to return to a conducive learning environment.
