March 19: Board Business Meeting, Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD)
Covered by Documenters Alfreda Williams (notes) and Ayanna Rose Banks (live-tweets)
Preserving Cudell Park
Several residents, including Samaria Rice, spoke to Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) officials about preserving Cudell Park amid new school construction. Rice is the mother of Tamir Rice, who was 12 when killed in the park by a police officer nearly 10 years ago.
“We want to work together, and I just don’t believe that CMSD considered the community aspect,” said Rice, who launched the Tamir Rice Foundation and said there is a memorial for her son in Cudell Park.
The park, located on Cleveland’s West Side, neighbors Marion C. Seltzer Elementary. Following a recent court decision, construction can resume on a new school. For months, some community members have said the construction could negatively impact the park.
Jamie Brazier, who lives across the street from the park, expressed concern about the number of legacy trees that will be lost due to construction.
“Nobody wanted to talk to us and that’s why we went to court,” said Brazier, who added the district could have avoided the additional legal costs in light of CMSD’s $168 million projected budget gap.
CMSD eyes school calendar shuffle
CMSD is considering syncing all of its schools onto the same calendar. Currently, schools operate under five different calendars, according to Chief Academic Officer Selena Florence.
The earliest CMSD could make a change is the 2025-26 school year. It plans to keep the same five calendars for 2024-25.
One benefit to having a uniform calendar is cost savings, Florence said. The use of multiple calendars requires “substantial financial commitments,” separate pay schedules and differentiated transportation supports, according to her presentation.
“The board will not vote on the adoption of the calendar until our April 23 board business meeting,” said Board of Education Chair Sara Elaqad.
CMSD Superintendent Warren Morgan said the district wants to hear from parents, students, teachers and other stakeholders on all decisions. And ultimately, he said, decisions will center on student instruction and data.
Want to give feedback to CMSD about the 2024-25 calendar? Click here and then be sure to select the blue button titled “District Calendar” to access the feedback form.
The form to sign up for public comment during the April 23 meeting should open on April 9. Click here to sign up.
New stadium at John F. Kennedy High School advances
CMSD approved a property exchange agreement for a new athletic stadium at John F. Kennedy High School in Lee Miles. The contract to design and construct the stadium is not to exceed $4.1 million, with the City of Cleveland covering about half the cost.
Read the notes from Documenter Alfreda Williams:
Read the live-tweet thread from Documenter Ayanna Rose Banks:
Suggested Reading
CMSD principal talks successful teacher looping; district faces transportation gaps
Alyssa Roye, principal at Robert H. Jamison Leadership Academy, champions “teacher looping,” and CMSD turns to transportation partners amid driver shortage.