Parents Want to Make Classrooms 'Happier'

With most classroom walls stripped bare by striking Strongsville teachers, a group of parents got together Thursday morning to redecorate the school buildings.

"The classrooms are bare; there's nothing on the walls," said Laura Parish, whose daughter is a fifth-grader at Drake Elementary. "This is just a way to make a happier learning environment."

Parish organized about 30 parents to meet at the Strongsville Library today to help create new decor for bulletin boards, hallways and classrooms.

A number of people dropped off supplies and posters -- Pat Catan's gave the group a discount on the items -- or donated cash, while others sat down with scissors and construction paper to design their own wall art.

Parish said she has heard complaints from students about schools looking like "prisons" without any decorations.

"This is not about one side or the other," Parish said. "This is for the children."

The efforts are to go to all the schools: "Go Mustangs"- type posters for the high school and middle schools, and themed bulletin boards for art projects at the elementary schools.

Teachers removed all their personal items, including posters and decorations they had on their classroom walls, before going on strike March 4. 

Parish, who said she expected about 30 people to participate in the effort, said she was just doing what needs to be done.

"I've volunteered countless hours at Drake, and I'm not going to change that now," she said.