Middle school consolidation information night planned for Dec. 16; facilities plan underway

In a Dec. 4 news release, the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District announced that its 21-member evaluation committee has selected both a design firm and construction manager at risk, and outlined its work in moving forward with phase one of its facilities plan.

“Now that the bond issue has passed, a lot of work is taking place so the school district can stick to its aggressive Phase 1 timeline,” said Angee Shaker, director of communications, in the press release. “The hiring of contractors, middle school consolidation planning and placing staff and citizens on appropriate committees, are in full swing.”

According to the news release, one can find continuous phase one updates on the district’s website, www.chuh.org, by clicking on the Phase 1 Facilities Plan button.

On Nov. 19, two weeks after CH-UH voters approved the bond issue to fund a portion of phase one of the facilities plan, the board of education (BOE) voted to close Wiley Middle School at the end of this school year.

On Dec. 16, at 7 p.m., the district will host a community information night about the closing of the school, in the Heights High Social Room. Announced topics will include educational programming; integrating staff, students and families into either Monticello or Roxboro middle schools; and celebrating the history of Wiley. 

“We are going to set up round-table discussions to capture the values, concerns and questions that everyone has around determining the new middle school attendance zones,” said Shaker in an e-mail. “Each table will select a staff member or community volunteer to enter the information into a laptop that will be available at each table. We will also have a ‘parking lot’ for comments and suggestions throughout the meeting as ideas come up, as we go through each agenda item. The parking lot consists of large sheets that anyone can go up [to] and write on at any time.”

In advance of the Dec. 16 community meeting, residents are invited to e-mail questions and comments to info@chuh.org. According to Shaker, after the meeting all of the information will be compiled and shared with the BOE, and will be available for all to see on the district’s website.

The BOE is expected to approve the hiring of the design firm Balog, Steines, Hendricks and Manchester (BSHM) and Gilbane/Ozanne as the construction team during its Dec. 17 meeting.

“Interviews are taking place on Dec. 10 to select an owner’s representative,” said Shaker, “which will assist the district in performing the duties and responsibilities that must be carried out during the design and construction of the facilities renovation project.”

On Dec. 18, the board will hold a special meeting with the design firm, construction team and the owner’s representative at the Delisle Options Center from 5:30–8:30 p.m.

Dec. 20 is the application deadline for volunteers interested in serving on the district’s Facilities Accountability Committee. The committee’s mission is to “review and regularly report to the BOE regarding the status, progress and expenditure of funds for Phase 1 of the district’s comprehensive plan, as authorized by district voters as Issue 81 in November 2013.”

The term of service on the committee is estimated to coincide with the anticipated completion of renovations to Cleveland Heights High School, in 2017.

Nominations should be submitted via e-mail to the Office of the Superintendent at the Cleveland Heights–University Heights Board of Education to Areda Walker: a_walker@chuh.org. Self-nominations are permitted. Information included in the nomination should consist of:

1. Name
2. Address
3. Relationship with the CH-UH School District, if any (alumnus, parent, PTA membership, etc.)
4. Professional knowledge or areas of expertise (finance, sustainability, architectural design, construction, community engagement, etc.)
5. Other current community involvement.