Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights 8-21-2018
AUGUST 21, 2018
- Middle school facilities cost
- Technology plan update
- Board approvals
President Jim Posch, Vice President Jodi Sourini, Dan Heintz and Malia Lewis were present. Beverly Wright was absent. Superintendent Talisa Dixon, Treasurer Scott Gainer, IT Director Frank Cikach and IT staff were also present. The meeting opened at 7:05 p.m. and adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Middle school facilities cost update
Doug Myers of Projects Management Consultants (PMC) updated the board on the middle school cost summary. Roxboro’s total cost is $19 million, and Monticello’s is $18 million. The total approved change order request is $140,426. These orders include fire-rated partitions that comply with regulation requirements, which the prior cost summaries did not include. PMC is trying to stay within budget but is finding that additional items need repair.
Technology plan update
IT Director Frank Cikach and his staff updated the board on the IT program and forecasted future plans. Goal five of the Heights Strategic Plan states that the district is committed to inspiring success by providing curriculum, instruction and assessment practices that will leverage the full range of technology and digital resources so students are engaged in rich, authentic and relevant learning experiences. The technology plan empowers teachers by offering a robust updated infrastructure with careful use of space and time. The district is one-to-one with devices in the classrooms, meaning every student and teacher has a device, e.g. tablet or laptop. The staff is equipped with laptops. The district is aware of cost-saving strategies, such as sales of older equipment, E-rate cost savings and reimbursement by IT service providers for out-of-contract bills.
The district has been designated as “future-ready” by building the right infrastructure; imagining the classrooms of the future; ensuring teachers are ready to use and benefit from technology; preparing administrators to lead and support teachers as they use technology; and including parents, community members, school board members and others in discussions. Factors aiding a future-ready district are managing teams, analyzing data, assessing gap analysis and completing leadership assessment.
Board approvals
The board approved a resolution authorizing the execution of a change order for $85,362 with Roma Designs for the high school baseball and softball field dugouts.
The board approved the five-year forecast for the district. Treasurer Gainer said many factors can affect the forecast; for this year’s forecast, some factors included the new tax bill, prepayment of taxes to obtain the current year’s deduction, an increase in property values, interest rate fluctuations and a positive cash balance.
Upcoming meetings are a regular board meeting on September 4, 2018, and a work session on September 18, 2018. Both will be held at 7 p.m. at the board of education offices.
LWV Observer: Lillian Houser.
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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.