All board members present.

Extension of the elementary school day

Superintendent Heuer explained the need for more instructional time in the elementary schools and how the district compared with other school districts. According to the superintendent, his plan to extend the student day until 3:30 p.mm (except for Tuesday) could be done within the contract with the teachers’ union.

Both Joseph Micheller, interim assistant superintendent, and Sally Levine, director of elementary education, spoke about new state standards and the need for more instructional time. The present elementary schedule has 1,130 minutes a week in core subjects (language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies). The extension would add 60 minutes.

Tom Schmida, president of the teachers’ union, said that the elementary teachers see the need for more instructional time, but also the need for the planning time that the change would drop. The union’s position is that the extension is part of the terms and conditions of employment and should be discussed with the union. Schmida said he is willing to collaborate with the superintendent. The survey of the teachers had some good ideas for adding instructional time that were different from the superintendent’s plan. The school board directed Superintendent Heuer and Schmida to collaborate and come back with a plan before April. The change would take place for the 2010-2011 school year.

Angee Shaker, coordinator of communication, presented the results of a parent survey, which showed that the majority wanted the change to start at the beginning of second semester, Jan. 25, 2010.

Stephen Shergalis, director of business services, discussed the changes in the bus routes. Nylajaen McDaniel, director of human relations, said the change would increase cost because it would add a half hour to the aides’ schedule. However, the after school program’s cost to parents would decrease.

Student rights and responsibilities

Joseph Micheller, interim assistant superintendent, gave board members copies of an interim student handbook with changes. The board will vote on the changes at the next meeting.

Eight-period day at the high school

The administration and the teachers’ union have to work on a plan for an 8-period day at the high school that would give students more flexibility in taking classes.

LWV observer: Adele Cohn.

JANUARY 19, 2010

Eight-period high school day

Marc Engloglia, principal of Legacy School, spoke about the process of developing schedules so that students, counselors, teachers and principal were in alignment.

Jane Simeri, a teacher in the Renaissance School, spoke about how intervention within the school day should be developed for the 72 percent of students who received a D or F on their first semester 2008 report card. The union was consulted for a solution and three proposals were given, but not acted on.

Karen Kastor, a teacher in the Legacy School, spoke about extending the school day for Educational Options for Success (EOS). It is a flexible school with teacher core planning time where every 9th- and 10th-grade teacher has the same schedule. Students would have an intervention period where teachers would provide help.

Marc Aden, principal of REAL School, spoke about the comprehensive team of schedulers who will work to meet the students’ needs.

Board members asked about when the electives and AP classes were to be scheduled. The goal for this extended day would be to increase 9th- and 10th-graders’ GPAs.  The proposal for the 8-period day was tabled because the union had filed a grievance.

Choir and Singers Spring Tour

The board approved the High School A Cappella Choir and Singers’ Spring Tour to Charleston, S.C. scheduled for March 19-24.

Policy adoption

The board adopted updated Board of Education Policy sections, which include:

a.     7530 lending of board owned equipment

b.     7540.02 district Web page

c.     7540.03 student network and internet acceptable use and safety

d.     7540.04 staff network and internet acceptable use and safety

LWV observer: Lillian Houser.

Former Milikin Elementary School land

Hans Pitsch asked the board to keep the Millikin land green and replace the playground.

Eight-period school day

Tom Schmida, president of the Cleveland Heights Teachers’ Union, spoke about the change to an 8-period day at the high school. He stated the union was at step two of the grievance process, but was willing to wave the timeline. He said, although the union was willing to accept some changes, there were too many unknowns and he would work with the superintendent. The board approved the new high school courses and the 8-period day at the high school.

Virtual summit for African-American males

David Peake, a counselor at Roxboro Middle School, presented plans for a virtual summit of African-American males. He felt this would change attitudes and help close the achievement gap.

College field trips

The board approved the college tour field trip to the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, Ohio State University and the College of Wooster.

Betty Levy Scholarship Fund

The board accepted a $100 donation from Mr. and Mrs. Dan Freidman for the Betty Levy Scholarship Fund.

Letter in the Sun Press

Nancy Peppler, school board president, commented on a letter to the editor in the Sun Press, and asked that writers come and visit the schools before commenting on them. She thanked the people who wrote in response to the negative letter.

State of the Schools address

The State of the Schools address will be Thursday, Feb. 4, in the Social Room at the high school. It can also be viewed on the district’s TV station, channel 22.

LWV observer: Adele Cohn.

This is an expanded version of the report published in the printed Heights Observer.

These meeting summaries are abstracted from LWV observers’ written reports. The summaries have been edited and prepared by Charlene Morse, Marilyn McLaughlin 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.