The City of Cleveland is hosting a series of community listening sessions throughout February about future reuses for Cleveland Metropolitan School District buildings that will close later this year. In December, the school board unanimously voted for a plan that will shutter 18 buildings and shrink the district’s footprint to 59 schools – 45 elementary schools and 14 high schools.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb has promised a “robust process” of community input, citing the redevelopment of the old JFK High School in the Lee-Harvard neighborhood as an example of what the city can accomplish. In the future, that school site is intended to be a walkable mix of green and retail space as well as housing.
Bibb told residents at a town hall in the Collinwood neighborhood that the city would issue a request for development proposals (RFP) for vacated buildings. He also said that he wants to ensure the buildings wouldn’t go to “reckless charters.”
“We will make sure we’ll have a plan for these 18 school sites,” he said at the November meeting.
For those who can’t make the meetings, Cleveland is taking community input and ideas on this form
February meetings about the future of CMSD buildings
Collinwood area schools
Focus on Collinwood High School, Euclid Park and Hannah Gibbons
When: Feb. 5, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Where: Collinwood Neighborhood Resource and Recreation Center, 16300 Lakeshore Blvd.
Tremont Montessori
Focus on Tremont school building
When: Feb. 10, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Where: Pilgrim Church, 2592 W. 14th St., Suite 309
West Side schools
Focus on Mary Church Terrell, Brook Lawn (New Tech) and Louisa May Alcott schools
When: Feb. 10, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Where: Eastman Library, 11602 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
Miles area schools
Focus on Miles, Charles Dickens and Adlai Stevenson schools.
When: Feb. 12, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Where: Frederick Douglass NRRC, 15401 Miles Ave.
Valley View area schools
Focus on Charles A. Mooney and Valley View Boys’ Leadership Academy.
When: Feb. 17, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Where: Estabrook NRRC, 4125 Fulton Road
East Side schools
Focus on Mary B. Martin, Michael R. White, Bolton and Kenneth Clement schools.
When: Feb. 19, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Where: Thurgood Marshall NRRC, 8611 Hough Ave.
Details: Focus on Mary B. Martin, Michael R. White, Bolton, and Kenneth Clement schools.
Arts-focused schools
Focus on Dike School of the Arts and Alfred A. Benesch School.
When: Feb. 24, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Where: Thurgood Marshall NRRC, 8611 Hough Ave.
Details: Focus on Dike School of the Arts and Alfred A. Benesch School.
