Reaching Heights board endorses Issue 81

To the Editor:

The Reaching Heights Board of Directors enthusiastically endorses Issue 81. The plan was developed by CH and UH citizens after a year long effort and thoughtful analysis of district physical infrastructure needs. Issue 81 reflects the values of the Heights community—preserving the past, while preparing for future generations. 

Reaching Heights’s focus is excellence in public education. District buildings, especially the high school, have reached a point where they hinder rather than promote quality education. The costs to maintain these aging structures have become an inefficient use of taxpayer dollars.

Issue 81 correctly addresses the buildings that are most costly to maintain first—to see significant savings in ongoing operating costs sooner. Also, starting at the high school and middle schools positively impacts a larger percentage of district families. Placing Issue 81 on the ballot this year takes advantage of state rules that allow more dollars to be raised now than in 2014. This creates the ability to fund the complete renovation of the high school and middle schools now.*

Reaching Heights programs promote community engagement, assisting kids at every level in the CH-UH district. We have seen progress made in many areas and more work needs to be done on many fronts—one of these fronts is the deteriorating physical condition of the buildings. This is the right time and the right plan for our community.

* Editor's Note: the author requested that we change this sentence "for purposes of accuracy" after the letter was printed in the November print edition of the Heights Observer.

Saroya Queen-Tabor

Saroya Queen-Tabor
Cleveland Heights
[Queen-Tabor is president of the Reaching Heights Board of Directors.]

Read More on Letters To The Editor
Volume 6, Issue 11, Posted 12:36 PM, 10.29.2013