Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights 2-21-12

SPECIAL MEETING, FEBRUARY 21, 2012

• Open enrollment
• Dress code
• Technology plan
• High school restructuring

All board members were present.

Open enrollment

Superintendent Heuer reported that Hanover Research found that 79 percent of Ohio school districts have open enrollment. Joseph Micheller, director of special programs, explained how the district could increase funds by opening the seats not filled by district students. Because grants are running out, these funds would be used for professional development. The district would receive state funds for these students with little increase in expenses. Vincent Colaluca, superintendent of Austintown, who was present at this meeting, told how open enrollment has affected his district. The Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board is not ready for open enrollment for the 2012-13 school year, but would like to study it further.

Dress code

During the levy campaign last fall, 76 percent of the people surveyed favored a dress code. The present guidelines are ambiguous and hard to enforce. Jeffrey Johnston, director of student services, will ask students how their dress affects their behavior, achievement, pride, and so forth.

Technology plan

Donald-Anthony Phillips, director of information technology, presented a plan for enabling education through technology. The plan will be done in two parts: 6 to 12 months and 12 to 36 months. Board Member Nancy Peppler asked that teachers be accountable for using the technology.

High school restructuring

A campus principal will supervise all small school principals and answer parent questions. The same core curriculum and the Pathways thematic education program will be in all small schools. Scheduling will be more flexible and will enable students to take courses in other small schools. Grant money for equipment is available. Some changes will be in effect for the 2012-13 school year, but other changes need to be negotiated in the next teachers’ contract.

LWV observer: Adele Cohn.

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.