Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights 6-28-22
JUNE 28, 2022
- Board actions
- Presentations
- Treasurer’s report
Present were Board President Malia Lewis and members Dan Heintz, James Posch, Jodi Sourini, and Beverly Wright. Also present were Superintendent Elizabeth Kirby and Treasurer Scott Gainer. The meeting ran two hours and 13 minutes.
Board actions
The board approved a consent agenda that included personnel changes, business services, and financial reports. The board also approved temporary appropriations for the fiscal year 2023 budget.
Presentations
Dr. Felisha Gould, assistant superintendent, and Allison Byrd, director of data, research, and assessment, reviewed the strategic plan goals and Key Performance Indicators. The PowerPoint (see Board Docs, “District Data” on the agenda) presented data collected on attendance and early literacy. Attendance for school year 2019-2020 was 92.3 percent. In 2020-2021, because of COVID, students moved to remote instruction and attendance dropped to 88.3 percent. Daily attendance for 2021-2022 increased after the first semester. The school year ended with district overall attendance rate at 90.21 percent.
The percentage of students with chronic absenteeism for 2021-2022 is 45.5 percent. Chronic absenteeism is defined as students missing 10 percent or more of scheduled school time including both unexcused and excused absences.
Dr. Gould praised attendance secretaries for keeping tabs on student absences and reasons. She praised school social workers who have advocated for families in need of resources. “Quarantine at home” code was used for 1600 students. Both students and staff have been impacted by COVID, and incentives are being used to recognize and reward student attendance.
Early literacy (K-2) has been impacted. Skill gaps need to be filled while teaching grade level standards to maintain consistency of literacy instruction. Re-engaging students and families will help attain the district’s strategic plan goal of 100 percent grade three literacy by 2026.
Middle school and high school grades in English/language arts and mathematics were presented. The grades increased when students returned to in-person instruction. Building Level Action Plans for 2022-2023 have been written to address math and ELA focus areas.
Ms. Kirby said that there will be additional data sessions in the fall as more of the data is assembled and analyzed.
Mr. Posch, Mr. Heintz, and Ms. Lewis stated how critical math is for post high school success and asked about plans to improve math scores. The board discussed the need to assist individual students who have difficulty with abstract reasoning.
Ms. Kirby strongly stated a need for tutors. The tutors would work across all schools in ELA and (particularly) math. This is a paid position.
Treasurer’s report
Mr. Gainer noted that the majority of the budget is allocated for salaries and has already been approved. He presented budget items for non-salaried items. An “appropriation” is the legal approval to spend money that has been allocated. Budget units are broken down by departments, operational units, and other designations. Principals and project managers are managers of their departments’ budgets.
Mr. Heintz stated that part of the permanent improvements appropriation recently went toward Smart Board upgrades.
Mr. Posch said there continues to be difficulty in setting a budget without confirmation of money from the state.
The board approved the budget.
LWV Observer: Rosemarie Fairman.
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 BoardDocs go to “MEETINGS” in the top menu; click on “Agenda.” Board meetings are livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/CHUHSchools