LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights

MAY 5, 2025, regular

• Recognitions and awards
• Consent agenda
• Presentations
• Superintendent comments 
• Policy readings
• Treasurer’s report
• Board activities
• School funding resolutions
  
  

Present were Board Members Malia Lewis (president), Gabe Crenshaw, Dan Heintz, Jodi Sourini, and Phil Trimble. Also present were Superintendent Elizabeth Kirby and Treasurer Scott Gainer. The meeting ran for one hour and 50 minutes

Recognitions and awards

Superintendent Kirby congratulated and thanked the graduating members of the Superintendent’s Cadre for their efforts in support of the school. Additional recognitions and awards can be viewed on the district’s website.

Consent agenda

The board approved the consent agenda, which included meeting minutes, personnel decisions, business services, and finances.

Presentations

Patrick Fisher, a teacher at the high school, presented a slide show from a field trip to Washington D.C. with 30 seniors mostly from his Lessons from the Holocaust class. The cost was $600 for each student and funds ($7,000) contributed by George Annarella and the Holocaust Education Fund helped the students with costs. The students visited five museums and several memorials and wrote reports afterwards discussing the lessons learned and the relevance to the world today. The board expressed gratitude for this opportunity for the students and affirmed their commitment to experiential education for the students.

Nika Newsome, Jamine Martin, and Molly Fagali from the JOG (Jobs-for-Ohio’s-Graduates) and PACE (Planning and Career Exploration) programs from Youth Opportunity Unlimited (YOU) presented a report on the Heights students’ participation in the Youth Career Olympics locally, statewide, and nationally. Several students described the event and the growth they have experienced by participating in the programs from JOG and YOU. The Cleveland Cavaliers funded the cost of travel for the program. The board members congratulated the students and thanked them for their presentations.

Superintendent comments 

The superintendent welcomed Samuel Gifford, who will be the district’s new Director of Business and Operations, effective Aug. 1 upon the retirement of George Petkac.

The board welcomed Dave Bogner, the new director of the Career and Technical Planning District (CTE), which includes four school districts.

The CTE district has contracted with additional colleges for college credit in their chosen fields including Kent State for marketing and the University of Akron for health and technical studies. 

Two high school students spoke at the Rotary Club free speech event.

Kirby spoke at the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) annual lecture series about adolescence, social media, and mental health.

The board adopted a new curriculum called Creative Curriculum for the PreK classes after viewing videos from participants in the pilot programs. The state approved a grant to cover the cost of the program for two years.

Policy readings

Assistant Superintendent Paul Lombardo presented readings for three policy groups. The first two were on second reading; the last, on first reading.

Policy group D includes a new policy identified as 5780.01 Parents Bill of Rights which aligns with legislation recently passed by the Ohio legislature acknowledging that parents have the right to know about their student’s educational experience. The policy specifically refers to academic performance; significant sickness, physical injury, or any psychological trauma; any bullying, harassment, or intimidation; a request to identify as a gender that does not align with their biological sex; and any suicidal ideation, depression, or other mental health issues. Parents have the right to request a hearing to dispute the school’s decisions.

Special Education policy 2460ODE was rescinded and a new special education policy has been supplied in its place. The new policy provides that the district will comply with the ODEW special education model policies and procedures and with the requirements set forth in the IDEA (Individuals with Disability Education Act). The ODEW (Ohio Department of Education and Workforce) has yet to publish the model policies and procedures. 

Policy group E, Student Supervision and Welfare, provides for parental notification of problems related to sexual behavior, substance abuse, mental or physical health, or family relationships pursuant to the Parents Bill of Rights. Teachers and staff are required to notify a principal or administrator, who will determine what action will be taken. The administration is meeting with legal counsel to develop procedures and guidance for administrators responsible for notifying parents. The board expressed concern about preserving “trusted adult” relationships when developing this guidance.

No action was taken for either the Group D or E policies.

Compliance resolution

ODEW requires that the board pass a resolution regarding compliance with the model special education policies and procedures by the end of May. The board adopted the resolution despite concerns that the political attacks on DEI conflict with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Treasurer’s report

County auditors throughout the state oppose refunds of the districts’ cash balances as presently included in the Ohio House of Representatives’ budget proposal. Mr. Gainer explained that large cash balances can occur for many reasons including federal and state funds, levy cycles that generate large balances at the beginning of the cycle to accommodate future expenses, increased property taxes, and/or planning for major investments. The reservation of the cash balances is essential to school operations. An explanation of the cash balance carry/over concerns is attached to his reporting to the board and available at BoardDocs. Board members noted that this change would require public schools to seek levies more often and does not resolve property tax burdens. They also pointed out that private schools receiving vouchers are not required to provide financial transparency or refund money. The district receives property tax funds retroactively twice per year which results in large balances at those times. The restriction would also impair school districts’ ability to provide and follow a five-year forecast as required by state law. 

The financial statement for the quarter ending in May is available on the website.

Board activities

President Lewis attended the National School Boards Association’s conference in Atlanta and learned that education savings accounts are becoming popular in many states as a way to expand voucher programs and further undermine public schools. She attended the CWRU conference on adolescence social health where Kirby spoke. She also attended the City Club speech by Rep Jerry Cirrino, but he declined to answer her question about the Fair School Funding Plan. She attended the grandparents event at the Family Resource Center. She also traveled to Boise, Idaho with members of the administration to witness in action the Clarity of Learning program, which was recently adopted by the CH-UH district. A field trip is being planned for several Heights students to testify before the state legislature Budget Committee, although the schedule is yet to be determined.

School funding resolutions

The board approved two resolutions: one requesting that the state continue with an updated Fair School Funding Plan and a second opposing the cash balance cap on school reserves being proposed in the state’s budget.

LWV observer: Paula Goodwin

Documents for all board meetings, including PowerPoint presentations, 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.