Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights 8-17, 31-2021

AUGUST 17, 2021, Work Session

 

  • Financial report
  • Pandemic relief fund survey results
  • Strategic plan evaluation

 

Present were members Dan Heintz, Malia Lewis, Jodi Sourini, and Beverly Wright. President James Posch was absent. Also present were Superintendent Elizabeth Kirby and Treasurer Scott Gainer. The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. and adjourned at 9 p.m. 

Financial report

Mr. Gainer said there has been little activity because the school year is just beginning. Because the district’s bond debt has been refinanced, the district will be spending less on interest and requiring less tax from homeowners. Several board members said they desired the district to move from making levy requests every three years to a five-year cycle instead.

Pandemic relief fund survey

The district will receive $17.5 million in pandemic emergency relief funds that is to be spent by September 2024. This represents 14 percent of the 2021-2022 budget. The district administration surveyed many stakeholder groups; the survey included items concerning the needs of special student populations such as English language and special education learners. Overall, responses were similar between groups and centered on academic instructional loss and social and emotional concerns. Specific areas mentioned were tutoring, after school activities, additional staff, and air conditioning for school buildings. All groups considered five-day-a-week in-person schooling to be paramount.

Strategic plan evaluation 

The board discussed at length the school district’s strategic plan and the manner and metrics that will be used by departments to evaluate progress toward established goals.

Upcoming meetings include a work session Tuesday, Sept. 21, 6:30 p.m., which will include an update on equity. 

LWV observer: Robin Koslen

AUGUST 31, 2021, special meeting – The board held a brief four-minute public meeting before adjourning to executive session for discussion of personnel and legal matters. Malia Lewis was absent. The board approved a consent agenda and appointed Beverly Wright as delegate and Malia Lewis as alternate delegate to the OSBA Capital Conference in November.

Documents for all board meetings can be accessed from the Board of Education webpage: www.chuh.org/BoardofEducation.aspx. Go to “BoardDocs” in the menu; on Board Docs go to “MEETINGS” in the top menu; click on “Agenda.” Board meetings are livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/CHUHSchools) and recorded for later viewing.

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Volume 14, Issue 10, Posted 12:15 PM, 10.01.2021