Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights 7-15-2014

JULY 15, 2014

  • McDaniel’s last meeting
  • Fundraising campaign
  • New curriculum and instruction director
  • Work session on facilities


All board members were present.

McDaniel’s last meeting

This was Superintendent Nylajean McDaniel’s last meeting. The board members thanked her for her service as interim superintendent.

Fundraising campaign

In response to a request from Board Member Eric Silverman, McDaniel asked Sue Pardee, the district’s coordinator of school improvement and federal programs, and a grant professional, to explore a facilities fundraising initiative. She noted that the Lakewood, Brunswick and Avon school districts have successfully raised funds from either private or corporate sponsors, with a naming-rights option.

New curriculum and instruction director

Joseph Micheller, the curriculum and instruction director, is retiring. The new superintendent, Talisa Dixon, introduced his replacement, Sandy Womack, who is from the Canton school system.

Work session on facilities

The community Facilities Accountability Committee has established subcommittees to address certification, relocation of the various schools, safety and security, architectural preservation, the need for a swimming pool, private fundraising, community engagement, maintenance of the renovation schedules, and follow-up on changes.

The architects presented the first set of schematic drawings of changes for all floors of the high school, including the Washington Boulevard and Cedar Road levels. Goals in this initial design phase are to renovate and reflect the history of the building; ensure accessibility for all; be environmentally responsible; and consider security, public programs and access, and traffic patterns. The floor plan must provide access for all, be flexible, be open to the community, be adjustable for future expansion, provide for good student circulation, and maximize collaboration of the teachers and staff. Other considerations are: [reflecting the] community’s values, access to technology, energy efficiency, and architectural aesthetics. Other parameters include zoning, sensitivity to the neighborhood, the existing football stadium, daylight, stormwater, safety and security, an appropriate budget, and the project guidelines.

The board commented on the square footage of areas such as the physical education facilities, pool, music rooms, and classrooms. Relocation of parking, the physical area required for parking, and the number of parking spaces were also discussed. The board requested clarification concerning areas of public access. There was much discussion of preserving the 1926 façade of the building, as well as some of the other areas of the school. Silverman said he was unhappy with the drawings, claiming the 1926 building style was not being considered.

Six community members commented on these initial drawings as to their scale, the loading dock, media café, culinary program, office space, square footage given to athletics, the possibility of a freestanding pool, the auditorium, corridors, and the science classrooms. Due to the lateness of the [hour], the architect promised to address these community concerns online. One community speaker said that the facilities committee has not responded to the community’s questions in a timely fashion.

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 of Greater Cleveland. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.

Read More on Schools
Volume 7, Issue 9, Posted 12:17 PM, 08.16.2014