Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights 6-17-2014

JUNE 17, 2014

  • School bus parking
  • Voluntary student health insurance
  • Facilities update
  • Program of requirements
  • Public comments
  • Fundraising techniques


Board member Eric Coble was absent.

School bus parking

The board approved a nonbinding proposal for the district to lease from Park Synagogue certain property for school bus parking. This proposal must go to the city’s planning commission, and costs and numbers are forthcoming. Facilities project monies would pay for expenses including fencing, lanes and electricity.

Voluntary student health insurance

The board approved the recommendation to offer voluntary student health insurance for the 2014–15 school year. Few students accept the offer for this insurance.

Facilities update

Steve Zanonni, facilities manager, presented an update about the facilities and associated enabling projects, including the following:

  • The program of space requirements was given, which included space requirements for 1,680 students. Space for departments and offices was also listed.
  • Documents for changing Wiley Middle School to a temporary high school were given to the City of University Heights.
  • Bus parking recommendations at Part Synagogue will go to the Cleveland Heights Planning Commission in August.
  • Monticello’s paving project is completed.
  • Roxboro’s auditorium project is scheduled for July 7.
  • The task of finding a temporary pool for the high school is in process. Contacts with other schools and communities, such as Warrensville Heights, are scheduled.
  • The stadium project is on schedule.
  • The public meeting process for the high school was completed. There were more meetings than with other projects. There was good participation and discussion of building space utilization, use of classrooms, career tech, and which career tech programs to include, such as the culinary program.

The board’s discussion of Zanonni’s presentation included requests for more information on the culinary program and the expense of equipment. The [new] pool was noted to be bigger than the old one, and a black box theater was discussed. These projects need much more research.

Program of requirements

The High School Reconstruction Project Program of Requirements (POR), dated June 17, was also addressed. Space footage requirements are not calculated on a strictly per student basis but according to program needs. Suggestions from the public, teachers and staff on how to use the space included:

  • The design of the cafeteria.
  • The space requirements for science preparation and storage.
  • Visual art space, and art studio inclusions, such as for jewelry design.
  • The student flow of the building and how to place the various departments.
  • Community access and public use of the building and security issues.
  • A box office setup for the auditorium.

The budget is below the estimate, but, because there is no design yet, it is based on similar projects. The numbers will change.

After the discussion the board approved the POR, with an estimate of $78,822,144, and the project schedule. The board authorized BSHM Architects to continue with the schematic design phase according to the POR.

Public comments

After debate among board members, an exception was made to allow audience participation for four speakers, each limited to three minutes. The speakers stressed that the public wants a response to its suggestions, and that no answers were given to questions about increased programs for auto mechanic, fine arts, and culinary students. They also urged that career tech offerings be competitive with programs offered by other area schools.

Fundraising techniques

Board Member Eric Silverman suggested that a list of fundraising techniques be compiled that could be used to report on what works to generate funds.

LWV Observer: Lillian Houser.

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.

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