LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights
JUNE 27, 2023 work session
- Board actions
- Semester 2 Academic Update
- New administrators
- Treasurer’s report
Board President Beverly Wright, James Posch, and Jodi Sourini were present. Dan Heintz and Malia Lewis were excused. Also present were Superintendent Elizabeth Kirby and Treasurer Scott Gainer. The meeting ran 90 minutes.
Board actions
The board approved temporary appropriations for fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 and a consent agenda.
Semester two academic update
Dr. Felisha Gould, assistant superintendent of ed services; Allison Byrd, director of data, research and assessment; and Karen Heinsbergen, instructional specialist for literacy, presented the Semester 2 Academic Update.
Four key performance indicators were reviewed:
- Attendance— Overall school attendance rates remained about the same or increased compared to school year 2021-2022. The best elementary school attendance was Canterbury. Oxford Elementary and Roxboro Middle Schools demonstrated the most improvement. Needed corrections and messaging can take place on an ongoing basis, as attendance data are provided every three weeks.
- Chronic Absenteeism— Chronic absenteeism rate is the percentage of students who are absent 10 percent or more of school time and includes both unexcused and excused absences. Chronic absenteeism rates for all schools decreased from 2021-2022.
- Early Literacy Instruction— Acadience Reading, the reading diagnostic test, shows that kindergarteners who started in 2019 and 2020 are rebounding.
- Instruction – NWEA MAP (Northwest Evaluation Association measures of progress)— Assessments for both English Language Arts and Math are completed three times a year to guide instruction and adjustments to increase student performance.
A growing body of research points to the positive impact that high-quality instructional materials have on student learning in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. The district has researched instructional materials and implemented programs for ELA that includes Wonders, Heggerty, Group Core Phonics, and My Perspectives. Teachers are in the process of learning the new materials and many are looking forward to implementation in 2023-2024. New instructional materials for mathematics (Envision Math, Into Math and Reveal Math) will be piloted 2023-2024.
[The full semester two presentation can be viewed online through BoardDocs—see footer below.]
New administrators
Superintendent Kirby introduced three newly hired administrators: Christine Riley, principal of Boulevard Elementary School; Dr. Andrea Walker, principal of Fairfax Elementary School; and Dr. Michael Jenkins, director of curriculum and instruction.
Treasurer’s report
Scott Gainer, treasurer, reviewed the budgeting process. Zero-based budgeting was used to formulate the budget. The board approves the budget at the “Fund Level.” There is a positive cash balance predicted through fiscal year 2027.
Rea and Associates, an independent, private firm, will perform the financial audit for the district.
LWV observer: Judith Beeler
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) and recorded for later viewing.