Cleveland Heights - University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights 12-13-11

DECEMBER 13, 2011

• Awards and recognitions
• Field trips
• New high school courses
• Race to the Top update
• Board of education policies
• Coventry building project
• Cramer Associates
• Jason West Memorial Scholarship Fund

All board members were present.

Awards and recognitions

Board President Eric Coble presented plaques to members of the Heights High football team, who were the undefeated Lake Erie League champions, and to members of the women’s soccer team, who were district finalists.

National Merit Scholars and Achievement Scholars also received recognition, along with the Citizens for Heights Schools Levy cochairs, for successful passage of the levy.

Field trips

The board approved the following field trips:

• The Cleveland Heights High School Vocal Music Spring Tour to Nashville/Memphis, TN scheduled for March 23-28.
• The Cleveland Heights High School Gospel Choir Spring Tour to Baltimore, MD, and Washington, D.C. scheduled for April 10-15.
• The Cleveland Heights High School American Sign Language trip to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., scheduled for April 16-18.

New high school courses

The board approved new high school courses for the 2012-2013 school year.

Race to the Top update

Joseph Micheller, director of special programs, discussed the partnership with John Carroll University on school and teacher evaluations. In evaluating teachers, a “value added” element will be considered. In 2014, another Ohio Assessment Standard will replace the OGT (Ohio Graduation Tests).

Board of education policies

At the second reading of the board of education policies, clarifications of the text were made. The board will retain the internal procedures for child abuse reporting specified under Student Supervision. Student absences do not have to be documented by a written note, which is optional for the parent. Electronic or phone documentation is sufficient. Employee use of tobacco on school properties will be discussed further at the third reading of the policies. Currently, there are designated smoking places. Suggestions included polling employees to determine the number of smokers, and the introduction of a smoking cessation program for employees.

Coventry building project

The board approved the Nov. 10 bid for the Coventry Building Fire Suppression project, which includes installation of a sprinkler system. This would increase the value of the building, and the cost would be recouped from building leases.

Cramer Associates

The board heard a proposal from Cramer Associates, a firm that advises on facilities master plans, to explore and broaden networks and partnerships for the schools. Michelle Cramer, representing the firm, explained their role as a strategic fundraising agency that explores local and national partnerships, especially in the nonprofit sector, and engages them for support. No specifics were discussed concerning a dollar amount to be raised, but a timeline for exploring partnerships will be from January to March 2012.  Goals would then be determined and partnerships identified.

Jason West Memorial Scholarship Fund

The board approved a $493 donation to the Jason West Memorial Scholarship Fund.

LWV observer: Lillian Houser.

These meeting summaries are abstracted from LWV observers’ written reports. The summaries have been edited and prepared by Anne McFarland, Charlene Morse and Maryann Barnes. To receive e-mail postings of full reports, send an e-mail to mbarnes9515@gmail.com or join through Google groups using “lwv-chuh observer reports” as a search phrase.

These reports contain member observation and selected highlights of public meetings and are not official statements of the Heights Chapter of the League of Women Voters Cuyahoga Area. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.