Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights 9-1-2015
SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
- Awards and recognitions
- Ohio HB70
- High school transition to Wiley School
- Field trip
- GMP
- Upcoming meetings
All board members were present.
Awards and recognitions
The board recognized seven Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District teachers who achieved master teacher status in the 2014–15 school year: Vickie Larkins-Forte, Heights High; Lorna Askew, Monticello Middle School; Yolanda Harris, Monticello Middle School; Katherine Lawrence, Heights High; Lia Radka, Roxboro Middle School; Karlene Sa’ad, Boulevard Elementary School; and Melissa Strouth, Heights High.
Ohio HB70
During the public comments session of the meeting, a community member asked the board to register its opposition to Ohio HB70 by supporting a resolution of the state board of education. HB70, which is specific to the Youngstown schools but could apply to other districts in the future, takes away local school board control when the school districts fail to meet testing goals. Later in the meeting, the board approved a motion to oppose HB70, and urged other school boards to express their opposition.
High school transition to Wiley School
During public comments, a community member thanked the board for solving the traffic problems that occurred on the first day of school at Wiley. On the second day, traffic flow went smoothly. A parent stated that her son was experiencing many transitions with the move to Wiley and that, as captain of the baseball team, he has questions as to where the team will play. Later in the meeting. Nancy Peppler, board president, commented on the smooth transition to Wiley, saying that student and teacher comments were positive.
Field trip
The board approved a field trip for middle and high school French and Chinese language students to Quebec and Montreal, scheduled for May 2–5, 2016.
GMP
The board approved the GMP (guaranteed maximum price) for the remaining work for the high school renovation, with a total value of $56,157,846. The design team explained that the construction is within the final budget of $92 million for the high school, and that costs for the elementary and middle school projects would remain within budget. The furniture will be bought later and remain within budget. The dollars for alternates [projects not budgeted],such as the orchestra pit and rainwater collection, would come from lower bids for other projects.
Upcoming meetings
The board will meet again on Tuesday, Sept. 15 for a special board meeting, and the Facilities Accountability Committee will meet at the board of education building on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m.
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.