Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights 9-4-12

September 4, 2012

• Recognitions
• Transportation concerns
• Early college at JCU
• Aquatics supervisor
• Grant monies

All board members were present.

Recognitions

American Foreign Service Award

Natasha Madorsky won an American Foreign Service Award, first prize, for her essay on South Sudan. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton previously had presented her the national award. 

Teacher Leader Endorsement

The Teacher Leader Endorsement program recognized 23 teachers who completed a year-long, ten credit-hour course at John Carroll University. These teachers received the highest license held by teachers in Ohio, in conjunction with the Race to the Top program.

Master teachers

Fifteen teachers received master teacher recognition.

Shine Arts Enrichment grant

Using a Shine Arts Enrichment grant of $850,000, the high school is recruiting 30 to 50 “at need” freshmen to begin an enrichment program for incoming freshmen, which will provide after school and weekend intervention.

Excellence award for The Update

The district’s quarterly newsletter, The Update, won a merit award for its “get out to vote” video and a merit award for its early childhood information, promoting schools from the perspectives of parents and teachers.

Transportation concerns

Parents whose children attend Lawrence Language School in Broadview Heights, a private language-disability school, had been told they were not eligible for busing based on the district’s claim that the ride is more than 30 minutes. Board policy only approves busing for trips less than 30 minutes. The parents maintained that the trip to Lawrence from Gearity, which is the measured start point, takes no more than 20 to 25 minutes.

Parents also complained that one child was tested without permission at Gearity School to determine eligibility to attend the Lawrence.

Another parent said that her daughter wants to attend the gifted program at Wiley but is assigned to another school and bus. She said her daughter is being harassed by a neighbor at the bus stop and needs this transportation and transfer. Her other two daughters attend Wiley and are transported by school bus.

Later in the meeting, the board heard an update on the transportation services. At the Oct. 18 meeting, the board hopes to review policies impacting both district finances and family needs.

Early college at JCU

The board approved a program in which the R.E.A.L School, in partnership with John Carroll University (JCU), provides an early college opportunity to allow students take college courses before graduating from high school. John Carroll will provide support and mentoring to the students.

Aquatics supervisor

After discussion, the board, in a split vote, approved hiring an aquatics supervisor. Board members Ron Register and Kal Zucker voted no.

Grant monies

The board approved the acceptance and appropriation of grants from 21st Century Shine, $200,000, and Title III-Immigrant, $4,416.

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.