A Collinwood mom who launched a Substack two years ago to chronicle Cleveland schools has quietly turned herself into one of the district’s most relentless watchdogs, turning public records into a steady drumbeat of scrutiny. Her posts, paired with a companion Facebook group, have grown into an influential feed that now nudges reporters and officials to explain decisions that land directly on parents and students.
Karr builds stories from public-records requests, spreadsheets and internal memos, then posts documents and short write-ups that other reporters often mine for leads. As documented on her Substack and in reporting by Ideastream Public Media, those records have surfaced questions about administrative pay, consultant contracts and district practices.
Eclipse Gate And Early Pokes At CMSD
Karr’s profile jumped after what she calls “Eclipse Gate,” when CMSD CEO Warren Morgan posted a Perk Plaza video that misstated an upcoming solar eclipse. Karr told reporters “this is not how an eclipse works,” and her reporting prompted the district to share a script of what Morgan had been scheduled to say on camera, according to Cleveland Scene…