Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights 4-18-2017

APRIL 18, 2017

Ron Register (president), Kal Zucker (vice president), Jim Posch, Eric Silverman and Beverly Wright were present, as were Superintendent Talisa Dixon and Treasurer Scott Gainer. The meeting opened at 7 p.m., preceded by an executive session, and ended at 8:05 p.m.

Equity plan update work session

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District developed an equity task force and LEAD Tool under the direction of Sandy D. Womack, director of principal leadership and development. The equity leadership team presented the approach and five-year plan, which was developed to study and ensure that equity would be promoted in the schools. Much discussion followed between the board and leadership team. Leadership team members are:

  • Talisa Dixon, superintendent
  • Joyce Bukovac, math teacher, Heights High
  • Rachael Coleman, principal, Noble Elementary School
  • Theron Ford, associate professor, Department of Education and School Psychology, John Carroll University
  • Krista Hawthorne, executive director, Reaching Heights
  • Lisa Hunt, parent engagement specialist, CH-UH district
  • Michael Jenkins, principal, Roxboro Elementary School
  • James Kravitz, intervention specialist, Heights High
  • Melissa Strouth, math, Heights High
  • Cheryl Walton, STEM, Boulevard Elementary
  • Shawn Washington, MSAN/AVID, Heights High

The team established a four-cornerstone approach to study equity that consists of 1) focusing on equity, 2) aligning staff and students, 3) transforming teaching and learning, and 4) leveraging policy and funding.

As part of the five-year plan, the district will develop an equity analysis tool and use it to review existing policies, programs, professional development, and procedures. They will use the LEAD Tool, created by The Oregon Leadership Network Education, which has been adopted by equity practitioners nationwide. The team traveled to Rootstown, Ohio, to study the plan of the Rootstown district, which uses the LEAD Tool. Each year has a different focus and goal:

  • Year 1: Engaging in self-reflection and growth, as well as equity and fostering an equitable school culture.
  • Year 2: Collaborating with families and community and developing organizational leadership for equity.
  • Year 3: Supervising for improvement of equitable instruction.
  • Year 4: Developing organizational leadership for equity.
  • Year 5: Influencing the socio-political context.

LWV Observer: Lillian Houser.    

To receive regular email postings of full reports, send an email 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.

Read More on Schools
Volume 10, Issue 6, Posted 10:06 AM, 06.20.2017