LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS – Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights [online 5-10-2016]

MAY 10, 2016

All board members were present.

Middle school programming

The board heard a presentation on the master facilities education programming for middle school planning. Five goals of the strategic plan centered on the district mission statement: student outcomes; educational approaches; parents and community; valued professionals and a culture of excellence; and operational resources. School visits and conference calls were made to the Bedford, Fairview, Plain Local, Shaker Heights, Solon, South Euclid, Wadsworth and Westlake school districts, as the board is considering a fifth–six grade and seventh–eighth grade middle school structure for Monticello and Roxboro middle schools. The other districts have this structure, which the district can evaluate.

Areas analyzed included student population, educational programming, special education, technology, teacher collaboration, state testing, athletics, equity, teacher certification, leadership support, and a number of other curricular and operational functions. Currently 1,209 students are enrolled at Monticello and Roxboro. For the year 2020, student projections are 708 for fifth–six grades and 762 for seventh–eighth grades.

The findings included a clear and shared focus; curriculum, instruction, and assessments aligned with state standards; effective leadership; frequent monitoring, learning, and teaching; focused professional development; supportive learning environment; and high levels of parent and community involvement.

The board asked questions but made no decisions.

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.