Daily Question

Question for Tuesday, September 10th, 2013: Previous Next

If you were to vote today, would you vote “yes” or “no” on the $134.8 million bond issue for the renovation and improvement of school buildings and facilities in the CH-UH City School District that will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot? Why?

I would vote no. I'm completely against this bond issue.I live in University Heights and do not support any issue that will close University Heights schools.

I'm inclined to vote "no" because I don't think it's sound educationally or with respect to property values to close schools and, as we've seen this year, lay off teachers. How much has the district reduced spending for sports?

NO
This is a very bad idea. It goes against preserving and enhancing our neighborhoods via neighborhood schools

I would vote yes. The current plan is much better thought out than the new-fangled nonsense called Plan C by the consultants. The Lay Facilities Committee has investigated and addressed the real needs of our current students, as well as made provisions for likely future developments. Kudos to everyone who worked so long and so hard on this issue!

No....in fact a RESOUNDING NO!! Bond after Bond after Bond is never going to improve the students of Cleveland Heights education! Until test scores improve I see no reason to turn over yet another giant chunk of money to this failure of a school system! Cleveland Heights is supposedly one of the nicest communities to live in, yet has one of the absolute worst school systems. It's pitiful actually to know just how much we are paying for such terrible performance already!! A glitsy new building isn't going to improve the education in the school, it's just going to cost me and everyone else in Cleveland Heights more to watch flock after flock of underachieving students and parents who just don't care come and go through a more expensive building. Improve the results and I'll improve my attitude toward spending more on the schools.

Phase I completely ignores the 2,600 elementary school students, their families, the equally derelict condition of the buildings (compared to the HS and MSs), and their neighborhoods for another decade.

It does, however, build a $7.5 MILLION OLYMPIC SIZE swimming pool as the $100 MILLION High school renovation.

This is a part of the $55 MILLION in *elective* renovations in the comprehensive plans. Those $55 MILLION are not eligible for state funding.

"Lowest possible cost"? That's laughable, except it's our tax $.

No. My taxes are too high already. What will the private schools see from this increase?

I would vote no. I always vote for levies to support what happens in the classroom. We must do better in terms of educational outcomes. This bond issue will add significantly to property taxes at a time when most homeowners have seen a big reduction in home values. It is not the time to add to homeowners financial burdens -- unless it relates directly to educating children.

I plan to vote YES unless I learn information that causes me to change my mind. As an older citizen I would like the indoor pool to be better than it is. It truly is substandard. For me this is the type of thing that causes me to think about living elsewhere; there is a shortage of this type of thing that has me looking at other communities so that I can have a better quality of life in my next years.

At this point no. Money is already tight for our family and I think the district needs to attend to other matters first. I realize a strong school system makes for a strong community but sinking that much money, I believe, is not necessarily the answer.

I would vote no. Enough is enough. So few students and such poor performance. Who fares well in our district? The same students who always did: the gifted, the special needs' kids, the lowest performing group. When will those in the middle get a good education?

No!
Our property taxes (on a house worth ~$120K) are *already* $350 every month, 12 months a year. Find another way to pay for the school system!

I would vote "no". It would be nice to see student performance increase measurably. I can't believe that student performance is low because the buildings are not modernized, air conditioned, and laid out better. good students often have a desire to learn irrespective of the physical facility. perhaps a meaningful segment of the student body need that desire to learn instilled in them by the faculty. we have never been told what it would cost per year to do the maintenance that the board says is too high to afford, and what if it is scheduled over several years? also, cost of heating is lower now than it has ever been in decades and will remain low for the foreseeable future due to shale gas. so, we can tolerate this inefficiency. there will be an operating levy next year, and it is usually 7%+ which will effect many residents and their financial resources. the Plain Dealer reported that the CH levy will be $207/$100,000 of home assessed value, not the $167 that the school board told us, due to funding that will not be coming from Columbus. lastly, why is it that we do not have a school board that represents all sides of issues like government at all nor most levels?

I will be voting yes. Improving the learning environment is part of improving educational outcomes and can contribute to a culture of educational excellence. This issue amounts to a vote of confidence in the future of the schools, and passing the bond issue will help keep young families in the Heights. As a young person, a no vote will make my family strongly reconsider whether we will stay in this community we love.

Absolutely will be voting no and encouraging everyone possible to do the same. (While at the same time suggesting they vote yes for the operating levy next year) There are no guarantees what will be done with the $$, there will likely be a new superintendent as Ms. McDaniel is here for only one year, and the district has proven to be untrustworthy in making these types of decisions. The voice of only a small sub population was listened to in this entire lengthy (years) and costly (hundreds of thousands of dollars so far) examination of the issue. There has not been a truly objective look as every entity has something to gain. There is no guarantee of NO learning communities and the Lay Facilities Committee specifically decided against declaring that maintaining an elementary school in UH is important, which leads me to believe that as soon as they close Wiley in Phase 1, Gearity is next in Phase 2....leaving the citizens of UH with basically nothing except extremely high taxes. There is no good faith that UH will retain anything but the bus garage (which no one else wants). In addition, the last I checked, residents of UH are not allowed to purchase pool passes to utilize the family swims and lessons at Heights High (something about paying for lifeguards)...so the "promise" of a planned community pool does nothing. I think they should have looked at the cost of doing the elementary schools first....the general consensus is that the ROX buildings are in the worst shape but they are preserved...I think the analysis of using the Blvd site as a middle school was skewed....I think creating a middle school at Monti and Rox creates a problem for people who want their kids to walk/bike to school and I am worried about the racial balance at those two middle schools. In general there has been basically no transparent real communication (not just posting of information, but actual dialogue/communication). Just agendas that need to be met. Until this district administration and BOE prove that they are willing to openly examine all options, NO it is.

"I would vote no. Enough is enough. So few students and such poor performance. Who fares well in our district? The same students who always did: the gifted, the special needs' kids, the lowest performing group. When will those in the middle get a good education?"

This was a quote from an earlier response...I wish I could like it!! The ELA performance groupings meet the needs of the vast majority of high ability and even gifted kids. There is an extremely small % of gifted and high ability kids whose needs cannot be met by grouping (especially if you add in math in elementary). But we are spending multiple $$$ on 4 classrooms in 2 buildings on ELEMENTARY school gifted ... by the way one of which is located in the wrong building (ROX).... and decimating the neighborhood schools by moving these children out and creating lots of ill will. it is ridiculous and would be easy to match the high ability kids in their home schools while focusing most of the attention and $$ on the middle...what do they need to succeed and thrive? Has anyone asked that question? Their parents aren't clamoring at the door for special classrooms or extra services so they get none. And my child would likely qualify for the gifted (just not sure we would take advantage of the "invitation")...just too young. REthink the whole thing and not just change randomly every year. We need consistency in thought and not just what works best for this small group thinking. Until I see evidence of that, I will not be voting to hand over lots of my money for who knows what. Paint the buildings, fix the immediate problems and prove to us that you actually care about the community

Absolutely YES! To those who would couple bond passage to improved test scores, ask yourselves this: if I had to work in a stifling room, 90+ degrees hot on a cold winter's day, how well would I perform? Be honest: you'd suck, just like I would. Fix the buildings first, use the money saved through new efficiencies from reduced expenses to 1) hire more teachers and 2) hold total expenditures in check. You can't have it both ways!

i toured the high school tonight, already knowing my position. so i'll just offer this...it's a testament to our teachers that kids get the good education they *do* get at heights, given the building conditions.

many people outright reject that a learning environment may contribute to better test scores...yet how many of us have chosen a job in part because of the view out the office window, or bought a house based on the adorable breakfast nook? emotional reactions, perhaps, but that's humans for ya. everything runs better when you feel comfortable and at ease, and you seek out those places.

the state of the facilities are a perfect example of the Broken Windows theory...if we don't start fixing things [to show that someone cares] these kids start to believe that no one does... and will act accordingly. this isn't a shiny new building...it's reversing 3 decades of deferred maintenance and bringing things up to BASIC CODE in many cases.

if you lean no, and are waiting for fact to rain down from heaven to change your mind, please SEEK them out before making a decision. this might be a great community to live in, but if we keep deferring these very essential responsibilities, someday it won't be. none of us can afford for this community to decline, whether you use the public schools or not.

i am not willing to look a single student in the eye, shrug and say 'eh, good enough, right? good luck, kid.' we may not have made this mess, but, welcome to life...it falls on us to fix it.

Yes. It is time to get the schools in shape, especially the high school.

Instead of just saying"eh...yeah the building are in bad shape lets spend hundreds of millions of dollars fixing them this way"...what about asking for fiscal responsibility from the district...maintain the buildings for goodness sake. Some of the elementary buildings have had cracking paint for two years...we have parents that are willing to sneak onto campus to scrape/paint exteriors....maintain what you have. Virtually nothing has been done in the past 3 years... I swear the district wanted to make the buildings be in the worst possible condition just to pass this.

We need to trust what the BOE and administration is doing with our $$ before we give them more to blow on whatever plan they decide. This vote is basically a blank check and I don't think we have the long term people in place right now to make that decision. Too much money for who knows what

"As a young person, a no vote will make my family strongly reconsider whether we will stay in this community we love."

yep. if you wince at the price tag of the bond, imagine trying to offload your house once all the young families flee to shaker or some other greener school pasture, and interest in the heights flags for a generation or so. $200/$100k of home value may seem like a bargain then. downtown is thriving, and there are plenty of cool communities that *are* investing in their schools. lakewood, for one, very successfully.

heights is a special place, sure, but if residents don't regularly putting actual monetary resources toward what they claim to value, well. whatever, the economic/educational outcome, it's not a place i'd want to move to. you can't talk the talk, how much you loooove the heights for all arts, local business, pretty streets and great community la la, then all out balk when an investment is asked of you in return to benefit the whole community, YOU included! mooch, i think is the word.

Definitely no, its not the buildings causing the poor ratings, its not the teachers (I don't think) it the students that come from destitute communities, such as East Cleveland, to live with their relatives and go to school in our suburb! But Cleveland Heights has one of the highest property tax rates, with one of the poorest school systems. There are many factors that have caused their decline. The implementation of charter schools (probably the worst idea in state history). It's pretty bad when you have armed guards in your high school.I agree with most above....fix the problems in the school before you go asking for more money.

No, because I believe we need a solid plan for the future and consistent leadership who will be here to implement that plan. I do not believe we should write a blank check without knowing who we are entrusting to spend it. Hire a good superintendent with a solid plan for improving educational outcomes, quit spending on select programs that pit neighborhood schools against one an other, reduce the top-heavy administration, eliminate an over reliance on consultants, and bring back important programs like library at the elementaries and career tech at middle and hs levels. In a district where 2 of every 5 children are living below the poverty line, a career tech education might be their best hope for breaking that cycle of poverty. I will vote yes only when I believe we are investing in the right things. Sadly, right now, we aren't.

I will vote YES! We all own the school buildings and we are required to maintain them -- that is one of the very definitions of public schools ("maintained at the expense of the public"). The buildings are in horrible condition and we simply must do this now or we risk spending much more later, while also lowering the quality of everyone's educational experience and, of course, the value of our homes. I am shocked that there is as much academic, musical and athletic success coming out of the high school as there is given its current condition (and, YES, people, there is!).

In regards to Garry's assertion that this plan ignores elementary students, I ask you to consider the following scenario: If you are a 3rd grader right now and the bond issue passes in Nov, with Phase 1 focusing on elementaries as Garry proposes instead of the high and middle schools, you would spend your 4th and 5th grade years in swing space at Wiley. Then you'd spend 6th and 7th grades in swing space at Wiley while the middle schools were renovated. Then there'd be one year off for another bond issue and design for the high school. Lo and behold, when that began, you'd spend 9th and 10th grade in swing space at Wiley. The current plan asks every student to sacrifice only ONCE, no more than one or two years in swing space. That is more than enough! We could never justify half of child's educational career outside of their home schools. That is simply wrong.

This bond issue is NEEDED and that need will not go away because people vote no. In fact, the need will grow. We cannot ignore this any longer. The time is NOW.

Please do not cast any vote if you haven't first gone on a tour of the high school. They are being offered every Mon, Tues and Wed at 6pm and Thursdays at 9:30am. Contact Joy Henderson to attend at j_henderson@chuh.org. Care enough to be informed!!!!!!

Absolutely, YES!! Our kids deserve a safe and updated educational environment. The building is in awful shape. If you are saying "no" to this, please tour the high school. These repairs and renovations will cost me $25 a month. I think my child's future is well worth that.

I will absolutely vote yes. Taxes will not go up much, and it is a small price to pay for a better educational environment for all our kids. I think it makes sense to do a big project all at once--it will be cheaper in the long run to do a big, coordinated revamp all at once than to keep fixing things piecemeal.

I will vote yes, and I am sad, shocked and stunned by some of the comments written here. The buildings in our community - the public buildings - are the responsibility of all of the public. It is our civic responsibility to maintain our streets or parks, and yes, our schools. This is not about the education - which by the way is excellent in so many ways - and it is not about poor kids coming up for East Cleveland. It is about maintaining our public property with pride.
For years the City Council and the Board of Education worked against each other, and for that, we have all suffered. It is a new day, and people are coming together, and working together, to make Cleveland Heights the desirable place that we all seem to care passionately about. If we let our buildings continue to decline, we will eventually have to pay for it. Walls will collapse; boilers will burst; and hopefully no one will get hurt. This is a real issue. It is not about a state report card (which is a whole other issue) or the teachers, or the kids who don't care about their education. This is about safety, civic responsibility and doing what is right.
This bond is needed, and this plan has been well thought out, and it has been transparent. This is a once in a generation opportunity, and I will be embarrassed for us all if this does not pass.

YES! It's an investment in the schools, the community and, selfishly, property value. My kids are in the schools, but only one will see the results of the improvements. Failure to invest in the buildings will only continue the perceived decline of the schools and the real decline of our property value.

Very strong YES. The people saying "no" most likely have never sat in one of the sweltering classrooms trying to focus on learning in May/June/even September. Take the tour of the High School. Our teachers are doing amazing work IN SPITE of the buildings, not because of them. And we all know this work will have to be done at some point in the near future. Does anyone seriously think it will get CHEAPER by waiting? It's our generation's turn to set the course for the next 100 years of students!

YES. I want to be proud of our community and our schools.

YES - ABSOLUTELY

1) All of the educational choices that a Heights family can make for their children need to be quality, viable choices. Upgrading the infrastructure is LONG OVERDUE and better positions the schools to educate and inspire.

2) All those who claim they don't want their taxes to go up because it effects resale are dreaming if they think that the physical conditions of the schools don't effect resale value of homes.

3) For new families to enter the Heights, buy homes and use them as their primary residence (not rental property) they need to know that public education is a viable option

4) Heights High is well-maintained by staff HOWEVER it is in a vicious cycle of COSTLY repairs because the infrastructure is old and needs to be replaced with systems that cost tax payers less money.

5) Starting at the HS and Middle Schools makes sense to avoid incoming students perpetually experiencing construction through their time within the district.

6) Our kids are bright, every year they graduate with thousands of dollars in scholarships and accolades - We need to invest in their future; I believe that is worth roughly $17/month per $100K assessed value!!!

7)SHAME on anyone who says to our kids that they don't deserve a safe environment to learn. One that prepares them to compete and has facilities that are conducive to learning. That we don't care if they are prepared to compete because we figured we could just patch a few walls and they would be just fine! SHAME!

YES. I want to be proud of our community and our schools.

NO. And I agree with most of the reasoning the yay's are posting!
One of the most wonderful reasons to live in The Heights is the options it affords. Soo many schools to choose from to suit your family's needs: Private, Public, Parochial, Montessori. All within our reach! Where else in Cleveland can one live and have such choices?! We like CHOICE in the Heights. We CAN choose. Isn't wonderful? I agree with everyone saying that buildings are important. BUT -- Some things ought to be a grass roots effort. If one chooses a certain school while living here, and the buildings, bathrooms, etc are ridiculously gross, then please by all means get together, raise funds, ask for volunteers, and make it happen. Children deserve to be able to learn in that environment.
My Church and my younger child's school is also in the community -- part of the community -- part of the reason this community is GREAT. Part of the reason people MOVE here and pay the ridiculous TAXES. When buildings at our school needed updating - we came together as a community to make it happen, financially as well as our trade talents. I understand it's not PUBLIC, (and I don't want to start a whole other debate) but we never ask for for every single member of the community to pay for our church pews, our school bathrooms -- we come together united and MAKE IT HAPPEN. The Heights is wonderfully UNIQUE. This isn't suburbia where you've got one option for schools and it's the public system -- this is where we appreciate one another, understand our differences, and never want to force our agendas onto anyone else. We pay some of the highest taxes in Ohio. To ask citizens of this community - who love this community - to pay over a thousand more per year (yes, there are many who support this community who will have to pay much more that do not use the schools) is just pure gluttony. I have heard folks discuss fundraising at a local level -- I applaud that. Make it happen. Invite me and I may even decide to come to your fundraiser. Just do not force it upon me. We all have to make it happen at our respective institutions. This is the CHOICE we made when we decided to live here. If you dislike my opinion, that is absolutely your choice, But if you judge me for it - remember I am part of your community. I pay taxes. I keep my yard up. I am a good citizen. You WANT me to WANT to live here. Strong Schools Make Strong Communities. SO TRUE. What is unique about our community is that we have SO MANY schools to support. Choice is a good thing. Please let us start walking that walk. We are ALL ABOUT CHOICE.

Absolutely yes! The buildings are bad period! I took the HS tour and have been in many of the other buildings. They are old - we can't be talking about this same issue ten years from now. People have complained about taxes for the entire eighteen years I've been in the Heights. You don't buy a house in the Heights for low property taxes. We have no industry or large commercial - but that's why we like it. Beachwood has lower rates, but your house will cost you alot more. IT all works out. Besides, Kasich is giving everyone a 10% income tax cut - so for alot of people there will be an offset. Let's just get this done and move on.

I think it is interesting that my comments (which included a NO with an explanation) has not yet been posted. It has been over an hour since I clicked on "Submit". Is the Heights Observer trying to skew the true representation of public opinion? shame on you.
Editor's Note: There is only one staff person who looks at these Q&As and approves them for posting. I'm not sitting at my computer 24/7 and working on this exclusively. Give me a break!

I will absolutely vote yes.
I will vote yes because I believe in and choose to invest in the future of our community and the future of our children. I am stunned by the short mindedness I have read in some of these comments. It has been many decades since we have made a major reinvestment in our school buildings. If you spend any time in our schools you will see that our maintenance staff has done a heroic job with the funds they have available to them. The fact is that we have hit a point where maintenance just doesn't cut it any more. Systems deep within floors, ceilings and walls have been maxed out, patched and repaired to the breaking point. Our children are learning in cramped spaces with inadequate ventilation and climate control. Science spaces are dreadfully out of date. Continuing to throw money at bandaid fixes, when the intelligent choice is full renovation, would be irresponsible.
Quite frankly, after returning from the tour of the high school, I felt ashamed. We not only owe our children more, but we owe ourselves as a community more. We own these buildings and it is OUR RESPONSIBILITY, not only to maintain them, but to have them reflect our belief in education and the future vitality of our community.
I have children in all three levels, elementary, middle and high. I appreciate the consideration that went into the phasing. As a parent i understand that minimizing disruption and displacement is in the best interest of children and education.
This is about the condition of our public spaces and our responsibility to maintain them. As my father says, it is a no-brainer. But if your decision hinges on the question of educational quality in our schools, than your decision to vote yes should also be a no-brainer. I can tell you first hand that our teachers, curriculum, course offering, arts, music and enrichment are unequivocally first rate.
As another poster wrote, I will be embarrassed if this does not pass. And I will be deeply saddened. Saddened by a lack of commitment to the community I proudly call my own.

Yes. Every child in our district deserves a classroom that fosters learning in a building that is safe and updated. We need to show a commitment to the ongoing welfare of the teachers, staff, and students in our school district. Investing in our public schools will make our community more attractive to new residents. It's time for us to step up and show that our community values education for all of our students.

Absolutely YES. Generations before us paid so that we could have these buildings. Now we need to invest in this and future generations.

I support it because I want kids to continue to get the first rate education I got from the Heights schools. It's that simple.

YES! I want to be proud of our community and our schools when other students and visitors come to our buildings. This is our chance to set the course for the next 100 years of students!

I will vote FOR this issue. Voting against these necessary renovations because you don't like the gifted program at RoxEl is like refusing to fix your leaking roof because you don't like the paint color in your kitchen. The two are not related! Come on, people, pay attention.

After taking the tour of the high school this week, I will be voting with a resounding YES! This is not some fly by night plan that was cooked up by a few well-to-do folks in the district. The Lay Facilities Committees have been studying, debating, soliciting community input, listening and adjusting plans based on feedback and concerns about costs for 3 years on this issue. Most of the folks on these committees are VOLUNTEERS who are passionate about maintaining a strong public school option for CH residents and who want CH to thrive, like myself. I applaud their work.

With two children in the elementary level of the district, I would not be able to look them straight in the face if I told them I was not willing to pay the additional monies it will take to get the high school (and middle schools) in decent shape for their future enrollment. The building conditions in the high school are appalling and building improvements are absolutely necessary NOW for the safety and well being of students and staff. This is not about new Ipads or smartboards. This is about funding for leaking roofs, dangerously dilapidated HVAC systems that are being maxed to capacity & causing uncomfortable and toxic environmental conditions. This is about what looked like black mold forming in the female locker room from leaks and floors buckling in hallways and the social room(that even caused our tour guide to trip and fall during our tour!) This is about completely outdated science labs that are not equipped with proper safety equipment so that students aren't able to conduct specific experiments due to hazardous conditions. This is about limited space for athletics so that athletes sometimes train in what resembles a long prison hallway with water seeping through and damp, musty smells in hallways without proper ventilation. This is about limited cafeteria seating and outdated kitchen facilities where temperatures exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This is about noise levels from heating/cooling systems that make hearing/concentrating difficult, as many of us adults witnessed on a 90 degree evening. This is about a patchwork of buildings that are difficult to navigate and present dangerous security conditions for students. This is about an amazing arts program that needs better rehearsal space where decibal levels don't exceed OSHA limits because of the number of musicians rehearsing in one space. These are things I witnessed in person in a 2-hour time frame. I can't imagine spending 6+ hours a day there. Our students deserve better than this and should be congratulated for functioning so well under such horrible conditions!

If you are a homeowner in CH because you enjoy its vitality, diversity, walkable/bikable neighborhoods & close proximity to Cleveland's renowned cultural institutions & downtown, it only makes sense to support your public schools to make them a source of pride in our community. If we continue to ignore and procrastinate in dealing with the immediate needs of our school facilities, we will continue to lose population, property values will decline further and our children will suffer from our lack of support. If you have children in private schools or are an empty nester, remember that investing in a community means investing in education for our children, and not just a select few. Please vote YES for the future of our children.

If you have not toured the High School yet, please, please go take a look. I am all for community projects. As a past president of a PTA, I was all about fresh paint, brightening up spaces, and working with our schools to make what space we have worked better. But we are way past that point. We are talking about asbestos abatement, and mechanical upgrades. Do you know that pigeons die and fall into the High School vents regularly! This is not about a new window, or a brightly colored wall. This is about 100 year old buildings with systems being held magically together with parts that will soon run out and will no longer be available. This is about real structural improvements. This can not be fixed by the best of bake sales. The time is right. The need is real. Come on people, pay attention.

Yes. Absolutely. My son and all the children deserve this. I do wish our state/nation funded our schools differently and that it weren't so dependent upon property taxes. I know that the citizens committees did good and thorough work on the plan. I thank them for their time and commitment to the greater good.

Absolutely yes, I will vote FOR Issue 81.

Take the tour. See for yourself.

The teachers and students, admin, maintenance & security workers at the high school ARE successfully teaching and learning and moving forward with the current building. But let me tell you, they deserve better. Way better.

The plan aims to create facilities at the high school (and beyond - a Cumberland Pool rehab is included, for instance) that embrace and welcome the Heights community. An indoor pool, an auditorium, a revamped sports stadium, beautification of the grounds. This is forward thinking. No one has said, "Rebuild our schools, and we'll deliver better test scores." It's quite simply time to act on buildings are failing. They are failing structurally, they are failing the people who learn and work under their many roofs (that's one of the problems at the high school - 70+ flat roof lines to maintain), and the buildings are ultimately failing this community. Let's acknowledge the advancements that have been made in efficiency, safety, and security in the last 100 years. Neighbors, I encourage you to think beyond your bank accounts and property lines. Think about this community as a whole. Think about the positive awareness this project brings to the city, the influx of money to small businesses, and the job opportunities. Let's bring these buildings up to date.

"The plan aims to create facilities at the high school (and beyond - a Cumberland Pool rehab is included, for instance) that embrace and welcome the Heights community. "

Is this true???

Just a quick comment/correction. The renovations include a complete renovation of the Heights High pool, that will be open for and welcome expanded community use. Improving access to year round swimming in the heights, in facilities that will be a pleasure to use, but NOT a renovation of cumberland pool.Thanks!

I will vote no because I know too many people living on a fixed income in this community who simply cannot afford this over the next 30+ years. (Yes, many won't live THAT that long, but when it is a choice between eating for the rest of your days or paying for new school buildings, many will make the appallingly selfish choice to eat. Shocking, I know.) I am embarrassed by the moral high ground some of the people who say they will vote yes are taking on this issue. Perhaps the "no" voters should be tarred and feathered and driven out of town or marked with a scarlett letter. Isn't that how people were publicly shamed in the past? This public persecution would all be done "for the children" of course.

"I will vote FOR this issue. Voting against these necessary renovations because you don't like the gifted program at RoxEl is like refusing to fix your leaking roof because you don't like the paint color in your kitchen. The two are not related! Come on, people, pay attention."

You pay attention!!! It has to do with the ability of the administrators to make honest thoughtful decisions. And they have not proven they can do that. In here gifted there stem here with no support. Lets get rid of library in elementary schools.. Lets change from philosophy a to b all th while losing principals left and right. Why would we write a blank check to this group until we see what settles with the new Boe and new super. I am not trusting that heuer won't be brought back. Who is going to manage this huge amt of $ .

The way they have handled the gifted program is just the tip. You get a clue!

I'll vote NO. Because it ignores the equally horrendous elementary schools.

What you see there, is how they will look, except even worse, 10 years from now.

How's that going to impact housing values?

In other news:

From the June Survey the BOE commissioned for $14,000:

"Support was higher in Cleveland Heights wards 1, 2 and 3 with 66% voting For both times. The campaign should try to increase turnout in these three wards."

Looks like they all just saw the link to this question on fb.

YES
We live in the best city, have the best teachers and produce the best students...one of only 8 school districts in the state that received 4 "A"s for moving every grade level within the year- that included all four categories of kids from gifted to special needs. All of our kids are being served. But our high school and middle schools are horribly inefficient, dark and lack the latest technology pipelines needed for our programming. Money is tight in our home too but the extra $200 a year is worth it. And its the right thing to do- think of the kids. Please.

I will vote YES. We disrespect and disregard our kids by requiring them to learn in dilapidated buildings with terrible HVAC and outdated grids. Take the tour and you will be horrified by conditions at Heights, and I say that as a proud alum. We can't afford to wait for the mythical perfect plan. This is a solid plan, and it takes advantage of a window for additional government funding. Communities need to invest in their schools and their children, even in tough times. The need is great and the time is now. YES.

The LFC voted to include a $7.5 MILLION Olympic sized swimming pool at the high school.

The state will not co-fund any of that

Wonder what the annual electric bill would be to heat that?.

Or how it enhances the delivery of education to any elementary student?

For everyone who wants to spend lots of $$ for a few hot days:


So before we spend lots and lots of money because our poor students spend a few days a school year in very hot and not air conditioned buildings….a few things to ponder:

Many many houses in CH and UH do not have air conditioning. Many of the students are very used to spending time in hot buildings.

We rarely use our snow days…why can’t we use a few calamity days at the end of the year when we reach extreme temperatures.

Students are not allowed water bottles on the hottest days. Students at middle schools had their water bottles confiscated on days when outside temps hit 97 + degrees last week. Just in case they had alcohol in them. But they were allowed them at lunch (guess the threat of alcohol doesn’t matter at lunch?) Elementary school students are only allowed to fill their water bottles at lunch and if they forget them, too bad…you get no water in the PM (these are 8 year olds). Allowing water and a little humanity would go a long way to helping with the hottest days. Not hundreds of millions of dollars.

YES,but only after I talked to a friend the other day who went on the tour and convinced me. It may be quite true that, esp in the high school, there are kids that come and go all the time. And the scores, if you feel they are meaningful data, are bad. And yep, who knows how many more superintendents we go through. But I'll tell you one thing. MY KIDS are in the Heights Schools. I trust these teachers and personnel with my kids. And I would like my kids to have the opportunity to go to a school that isn't crumbling and tired. We keep our home updated and maintained. So why not put some TLC into our schools. It DOES matter what the physical premises of our schools look like-to our students, to homeowners. There is integrity in voting for this bond issue.

Just a quick comment/correction. The renovations include a complete renovation of the Heights High pool, that will be open for and welcome expanded community use. Improving access to year round swimming in the heights, in facilities that will be a pleasure to use, but NOT a renovation of cumberland pool.Thanks!

NO. No way. No how. How is this the lowest cost??!! Taxes are high enough. We ALL have old buildings to update and maintain - from our houses to our churches ... With no air conditioning or pools. Our homes and churches are important to this unity too. Ridiculous. Raise the money a different way.

QUOTING: "One of the most wonderful reasons to live in The Heights is the options it affords. Soo many schools to choose from to suit your family's needs: Private, Public, Parochial, Montessori. All within our reach!"

This absolutely howls of class privilege. Who's reach, exactly?? Not everyone who lives in the Heights has that kind of buffet of choices. Let's talk about choices, then. If a resident CHOOSES to purchase a house to which the bond issue will add another $1000 in taxes and also CHOOSES to pay tuition, they may be hard pressed to find sympathy. Honestly, it sounds like that citizenry is doing alright.

It's our duty as a community, whether your family uses the schools or not, to make sure that every single child has the chance to succeed, without having to "choose" a private school. We don't get to choose to fund public education, we do it, sacrificing somewhat perhaps, because it's the right thing to do, for *every* child.

Absolutely NO -- and I will work to defeat this issue. We are already the highest taxed district in the state ... 2nd for schools, but our RITA taxes push us to first place! No great honor, when we have failing schools....when we are bulldozing homes and people cannot sell their homes at any price.

We had a levy in only 2011; why didn't they tell us THEN that we needed boilers or "all new buildings"? It's a brazen lie, that will put us into bankrupting debt when the plans overrun the budget -- like City Hall (*with glass pyramid!), like library (*with glass bridge!), like skating rinks, etc. THEN WHAT?

BTW: other cities do fine with attractive older schools they keep in great shape -- Shaker, Rocky River, etc.

Lastly: I do not have air-conditioning in my HOME. If I can tough it out, so can young healthy kids! This is just for teachers and spoiled administrators...there is only about 4 weeks of warm weather, what a waste of money this will be!

NO NO NO NO ... do you people not remember the huge cost overruns of every other project in this city? It won't ever come in at budget -- Ron Register and others have admitted it will be $1000 more each year, not $217 (on a $100K home)....

If you want to never ever be able to sell your home, because of sky high taxes and bad schools, just vote for this idiotic, pie-in-the-sky plan full of fancy swimming pools and air conditioning for overpaid administrators (remember? we have more administrators per students than any other district in the STATE!!!!)

Absolutely YES, for reasons already well explained by many other people!

I would vote no - our real estate taxes are the highest in the state - even more than Shaker. I now have grandchildren and am helping them attend college with the few dollars I have. No higher taxes - find another way

Will the residents of South Euclid who live in the CHUH School District and University Heights residents be allowed to use the new pool at the high school if this bond passes? Or will it be like the new Cleveland Heights splash park, the Rec Center and the swimming lessons/free swim at Heights High? For CH residents only.

I would vote NO no matter when the vote was held. I am paying enough taxes. Too many renters moving in with no stake in this community. My property values are not reflective of a community on the upswing and it is past time to stop these levies. And the one next year!

NO for many of the reasons stated above. Trying to plan a school to "last 50 years" totally ignores the changes in technology(LEED, etc) and climate that surely will be coming upon us. WE SHOULD NOT RUSH TO DO THIS because of state funding coming due to energy efficient improvements. An article in the Sunday PD of Sept 15 stated that funds distributed in this way in other districts in OH over the last few years DID NOT CREATE THE COST SAVINGS that were projected. That's just the beignning of my objections..we are NOT Beachwood, we are NOT Solon, we are NOT Shaker. We have a school population that has an awful reputation along with insanely high taxes. I'll put those $$ into my own home first before doing it for the schools, and keep my fingers crossed I won't lose the investment if I do. To the young families out there it's your choice to stay or leave, but spending more and more on the school system hasn't produced the results or improved it's reputation, and that has become a sad tradition here.

Yes! This is a community that values education and our schools should reflect that.

Yes! I am so frustrated by diatribes from people who have not set foot in the process. If you attended any of the many meetings over the last 2 years, you know that the administration-driven plan proposed last year was rejected by the school board, and a less expensive citizen/parent-driven plan is proposed to correct the very problems that nay-sayers are complaining about. If you want a say, participate! Through no fault of the school district's, this is the way schools are funded in Ohio. We live in an almost totally residential community with little room for new construction, thus no new tax base, so funding public education falls to us, the residents.

Yes. I'm a special educator in a local high school and know how delicate a learning environment can be. The smallest distraction can completely undermine a student's success. After touring the High School earlier in the month I am shocked that students and teachers even show up, let alone do as well as they do. The physical state of the school is unacceptable and embarrassing compared to other schools. I also have a masters in educational leadership. Were I principal of the school I would be very hesitant to let my staff come to work, let alone students. There are a lot of arguments against the bond issue listed above. None of them adequately address the immediate safety and learning environment needs of the students and teachers.

At this point I'm leaning toward voting NO on this issue. I can see that the schools need to be upgraded, but am concerned about the unstable school district leadership and how this is impacting a much-needed effort to improve educational outcomes in the district. There have been several superintendents since I moved here in 2004 and none of them seems to have been able to implement an effective plan for improving educational outcomes. The district currently has an interim superintendent, which means that more change is on the horizon and we have no idea what direction that change will take or if it will lead to better educational outcomes. There is no clearly articulated plan in place. In the meantime, CH taxes are through the roof and our per pupil spending is among the highest in the state. Another operating levy no doubt looms in the next year or two. The school board and district administration are spending a great deal of money with very little to show for it.

No. Sign on the dotted line for a 38 year debt (that's what a bond issue IS) that does not even address the facilities needs at the elementary schools? No.

Yes. $20 per month (per 100k of property value) will be more than repaid in the value increase your homes will experience if the city's schools are a point of pride instead of embarrassment. Concerns about administrative leadership are also moot. Superintendents, school boards and other administrators will always be tempered and ultimately responsible to the school board and lay facilities commmision. Individuals don't make or break a project like this, communities do. I believe that Cleveland Heights and University Heights can be the types of communities that will see this type of project through.

This is a very poorly though out plan. Actually, there is no plan. I have not seen one word about what they are actually going to do. Additionally the flyer that the BOE just mailed out never mentions that there is an 8.6 mill levy next year and they will be coming back for another 80 million in seven or eight years for the elementary schools. This has cost us $650,000 and is very poorly thought out.

A definite NO. Bad plan and bad timing with no concrete plans.

No, we really don't need this tax increase. I think a lot can be done with city schools under the existing budget. Let's do that first!

It is your opinion that "concerns about administrative leadership are also moot".....

I believe the poor leadership we've had over the past 6+ years is a great reason to question whether to commit 130+ million dollars to these people who will determine what is ultimately done with that money. The recent auditor's report supports that concern. Who knows what direction the district is headed... pathways...choice...IB/STEM based on where you live...taking away library...learning communities???

Agree the buildings need work, updating and renovation...Absolutely do not agree that the leadership concerns are moot. Will vote NO as long as the current people and processes are in place.

Strong yes. Our schools are in need of substantial overhaul, and Issue 81 is part of a smart plan to provide our students the learning environments they deserve.

No - a poor plan, once again funded by the people who use it the least. Perhaps tax the people of East Cleveland as well, they seem happy with the free education they are getting. And please stop with the property value nonsense. A shiny new building will not improve the scores, and isn't that what you are really looking at?

Yes! Education is too important to the young people of our community. It's also important for housing values.

YES!

NO. Folks on here REALLY need to be careful with the insults. The folks in this community who are paying MORE THAN THEIR FAIR SHARE do NOT need to be told they need to do more. Do you REALLY want these citizens leaving? How are you going to make up the difference when you shoo them away? How are you going to attract folks to live here with all of this intolerance? The hypocrisy is alarming. Enough is enough.

I would vote yes. The buildings need a lot of repairs, and there is nothing more important than the education of out children.

YES. This plan can change the perception of our schools, it can lead to increased utilization of the schools by a larger percentage of residents with school-age children and, in the long-term, will reflect well on our property values and our future as a community.

I would vote no. I do agree the schools need attention and I agree that the timelines are good- starting with the high school first, otherwise all the elementary school kids would be under construction for all 12 years. But, I have to wonder why there has been no savings from schools already closed and thus less teachers & administrators. Also they are no longer looking at sustainability for the future - at one time they were going to use geothermal heating which is no longer on the table. It would cost more initially but would give huge savings for years to come, and so maybe less need to increase taxes every two years. And I always hate to see schools closed, how does that appeal to anyone looking to move into the city?

I'm voting no because I feel there needs to be more due diligence on the plan before we spend $134 million. I'm not holding out for the perfect plan because I know there is no such thing. However, the previous administration manipulated the facts to get a plan closer to what it wanted. A new administration will likely see it differently. The need is not going away, but a more cost-effective solution might be out there. There is always more than one solution to every problem.

I'm going to vote yes out of probably misguided hope that Cleveland Heights can be turned around. My kids go to private school and my taxes are already astronomical. I hope for improvement in the school system so I have a prayer in hell of selling my house as soon as my kids leave for college. Unfortunately, this increased burden on top of the already ridiculous taxes we pay in Cleveland Heights coupled with substandard schools does not make Cleveland Heights an attractive place to live. I'm already planning my escape.

No. I wrote to both the Superintendent and Mr. Register with some questions regarding whether or not cuts had been made to sports programs and never received a reply. Moreover, given the lackluster academic performance of the District, I question whether the District's overall priority with respect to academic achievement.

If Issue 81 passes, this community takes on a 38-year debt at more than 4 percent interest. Almost every Cleveland Heights resident working today will be retired long before the debt is retired. Many will be dead.

Make it a $500 flat tax and see how quickly it is shot down.

I am voting "No."

No. The schools being kept open and closed do not make sense given the neighborhoods of the children that attend the schools.