Cleveland Heights - University Heights Board of Education regular meeting highlights 12-18-2018
DECEMBER 18, 2018
- Public comments
- Update on the superintendent search
- Middle school change orders
- Mapping available elementary school space
President James Posch, Vice President Jodi Sourini, Dan Heintz, Malia Lewis and Beverly Wright were present. Superintendent Talisa Dixon and Treasurer Scott Gainer were also present. The meeting began at 7:32 p.m. and adjourned at 8:58 pm.
Public comment
Student outdoor time: Melissa Shmuck addressed the need for students to have greater time outside. She cited research showing the many benefits of interaction with the outdoors, including improved test scores, greater student engagement and fewer disciplinary issues. She gave several documents to the board for review.
Discipline: Melissa Wood expressed concerns over disciplinary actions in the high school. She felt that student disciplinary policies should focus on engaging students and less on punitive actions. She further suggested that additional efforts should be made in discussing discipline with staff and students at the high school.
Superintendent search
Board president Posch began by addressing concerns about the superintendent search taking place with the help of Ray and Associates. He wished the community to know that the board would be hiring the best candidate for our community and not one based on the applicant’s race or sex.
Middle school change orders
Doug Myers of PMC Consultants updated the board on changes to the middle schools designs and progress in the construction. The board unanimously passed a change order with a net total of $195,325 for unforeseen site conditions, meeting permit/code requirements, added work at the owner’s request, design clarifications, and credits back to the project.
Mapping available elementary school space
Board members Sourini and Lewis reported on their efforts to identify and label consistently the many spaces available in the elementary schools. This process is seen as an important step in determining both how many and which elementary schools will be closed. The board reiterated that the savings generated from the closing of schools would be used to enhance elementary school programs. This process is ongoing.
The next regular meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019 at 7 p.m. at the BOE building in University Heights.
LWV Observer: Robin Koslen.
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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.