Enthusiasm has started building in the Coventry neighborhood and around the CH-UH City School District as the Music Settlement announced its plans for the reuse of the Coventry Elementary School property.   

Under terms of a premilinary agreement with the district, the Music Settlement will purchase the Coventry School site to develop a state-of-the-art early childhood learning center. The plan calls for investment by the Settlement of nearly $20 million.

“Our current programs in University Circle are at capacity and we need to expand. After lengthy studies we have found the Coventry site to be the best location for current and future students,” said Charles D. Lawrence, president and CEO of the Music Settlement.  

On Oct. 13, CH-UH City Schools, Cleveland Heights Mayor Ed Kelly, and the Music Settlement leadership hosted the first of many community dialogue sessions. During that session, Lawrence said the former Coventry Elementary building will be replaced by a new LEED-Certified (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) building. “This is about reenergizing a vacant site and contributing to quality of life and identity in Coventry Village,” Lawrence said. 

CH-UH Superintendent Douglas Heuer is enthusiastic about the project. "This is an opportunity to ensure that the site of the former Coventry Elementary School continues to serve the community as a place of educational opportunities, in line with its original mission. The Music Settlement will offer new and exciting programs for our students, and all of our community's students. We look forward to a successful ongoing partnership that benefits our students and the community."

The Music Settlement is gathering community input and expects to have an architectural design completed in Spring 2010. Maureen Ischay, director of development for the Music Settlement, said the goal is for the facility to be operational by August 2013.   

The next community forum is planned for January 2010. Details about location and time will be forthcoming, but interested parties can e-mail questions or comments about the project to Maureen Ischay at mischay@themusicsettlement.org.    

Angee Shaker is coordinator of communications and community engagement for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District.