Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights 8-19-2014

AUGUST 19, 2014

• Sale of Millikin
• Facilities work session
• Public comments
  
  

All board members were present.

Sale of Millikin

The board authorized the sale of the former Millikin School building for $650,000 to Mosdos Ohr Hatorah, effective within 120 days. Mosdos must obtain an occupancy permit from the city of Cleveland Heights.

Facilities work session

Representatives from BSHM Architects presented an updated plan for the redesign of Heights High, reflecting changes made in response to suggestions and concerns expressed by the board, staff and community members. The architects said they are getting closer to achieving the goals requested by various working groups. A representative from Ozanne construction said his firm will come up with a cost estimate for implementing the plan that fits the budget.

Heights High’s original façade will once again be visible from Cedar Road with the removal of the science wing, added in 1959. New wings will be constructed off the building’s east and west sides, which will complement the historic architecture. There will be four floors but five levels, with windows on every level. Ramps will be used only where necessary and some of the original stairwells will remain. There will be fewer classrooms than in the current structure, but more common spaces, circulation space, resource areas, a teachers’ area, and conference rooms. Science rooms will not be separated from other classrooms, as they are currently. Music areas will be clustered together, and open performance space will be added as backup for when the auditorium is in use.

The existing auditorium and art space will remain as they are. They are larger than required by the Program of Requirements and result in the plan having more square footage than can be supported by available funds. Therefore, square footage will have to be eliminated elsewhere. Designing some spaces to serve multiple purposes could achieve this goal.

The main student entrance will be on the east side of the building so as to be accessible from both Cedar Road and Washington Boulevard. There will be a “tower entrance” on the Cedar Road side. Security will have views of multiple entrances.

Board suggestions included skylights, replacement floor tile similar to the original, a pleasing façade toward Washington Boulevard, and restoration of the original architectural grandeur.

Public comments

The chair of the Facilities Accountability Committee noted the need for volunteers to help save artifacts from the buildings being renovated. He suggested improving website accessibility with a place for community engagement, and finding more funding for improvements to the career tech area.

Stressing the importance of art and music spaces, several speakers suggested use of the auditorium by non-school groups to bring in funds; inclusion of community areas to display student art, and bring together people associated with the arts but not involved with the schools; larger dressing rooms and restrooms near the auditorium;  more dance space and more storage space in the music area. Several commented that arts strengthen academic performance and keep people in the district.

Several speakers also emphasized the importance of a healthy physical environment and a renovation process free of toxic materials, with particular attention [given] to carpeting, cleaning products, plastics pollution, and artificial turf on athletic fields. Their suggestions included recycling at all stadium and sports events, and hiring an environmental overseer.

Resident Allen Wilkinson stated that technical education and science are linked and should be in close proximity to each other. He also suggested that career education be on a par with other subject areas.

LWV Observer: Nancy Dietrich.

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.