001We call to order the Cleveland Heights University Heights City School District Board of Education meeting for April 7th, 2026. Thank you for joining us. This is a regular meeting of the school board and all items that will be discussed or voted on have been posted as required by state law. We are here to conduct the business of governing the district, to set goals, to hear reports from the superintendent and treasurer, to approve budgets, contracts, and personnel items, and to make policy for the district. We are not here to make management decisions or to solve the problems of individuals. Management is the responsibility of the administration. Miss Leam, will you please call the role? >> Mr. Heights, >> present. >> Mr. Tremble, >> here. Mr. Hoskkins Lily >> here. >> Mrs. Howard Prime >> here. Mrs.
002Krenshaw >> here. >> I will now turn the meeting over to our superintendent for the awards and recognitions. >> Thank you. Good evening and welcome and happy birthday, President Shaw. >> Thank you. Thank you. I'd like to begin tonight's meeting by honoring four Height Thai student photographers whose work was recently on display at the Beachwood Art Council's Illen Kelner jured high school art show. Heights high was one of 23 schools selected to have student artwork featured in the regional show. The four seniors whose work were featured are as follows. Uh and students as I call your name please come forward. Tama Buoie for Echoes of Absence. Marvin Leak for Lace Up. Lucy Moto for Water Flowers Burst of Color. And Malia Taylor for Phantom Photograph. Are any of those winners with us today? Okay. Doesn't
003look like it. Their teacher, Mrs. Is Nancy Race? Is she here this afternoon? Nope. Okay. Well, let's give them all a round of applause. All right. So, now we are on to the Superintendent Winter Reading Challenge Award. I am excited to congratulate the winners of the Superintendent Winter Reading Challenge. Students across the district were encouraged to read books throughout the winter with an incentive of winning some special prizes and they truly showed up to participate in the challenge. Students entered a raffle ticket at school for every book they read from December 20th through February 27th. The district held grand prize raffle drawings for elementary, middle, and high school. I was so impressed with the students efforts um that we decided once we um did the raffle uh we wanted to also add awards for most
004books read overall. The following students are raffle winners. Uh please come forward followed by the most books read. Okay, hold on. Make sure I have this right. Okay. So, raffle winners are Cruz Bell Cruz. Cruz is here. CRUZ NOBLE, second grade. Is that right? Second grade. Noble. Uh, Maxi Bowen. Is Maxi here? Ratcheta Maloo. Lillian Ganter. Gentner and Derek Elliot. >> Yes. Come on up, DEREK. OKAY. SO, these are our rapper winners. You can go to Miss Kavanagh. Go to Miss Kavanagh. And she has an award for you. So, the funny story I want to share about Derek. Derek, I went right before spring break. I was trying to find you to give you your award, but you were at the talent show that the high school was having. I didn't want to interrupt. So,
005thank you for coming. um today for this. Now, so these are our raffle winners. Um but we also have the most books read. So we're going to start with high school. Um for high school, ninth grader Himakshi Sharma. Is Hamachi Sharma here? All right. He will be getting his award. He read 24 novels. Who can read 24 novels? What a lie. There's some really good novels. >> Roxboro Middle School, uh, seventh grader Elliot Fleck read 23 books. Is Elliot here? All right. Okay. Now, elementary school, we had a student who was a first grader at Roxboro Elementary School. I actually met this student even before the winter reading challenge and was very impressed by her intellectual leadership. She read 79 books >> and she is here with us tonight. Please come up. Maharin Arisha. Now
006in the exact same class, although I do not see her here tonight, we had a student who read 203 books for the winter reading challenge. The media specialist told me that she would come down three times a day to get a book, complete the report, and put it in the raffle prize. And ironically, she didn't win the raffle. But, you know, we have to celebrate someone who reads 203 books. >> So, let's please also celebrate Briana Areola. So, you're going to take a picture slide off. You guys down. You know what? You can eat. All right, Nice. Thank you. >> You're right. >> Sounds like she was just getting steps in. >> I'm going sit in your seat. >> From Bombarder. >> Oh sh The student from Bombgardner is not here. >> Yeah, she's not
007here. That was Reita. >> Okay, she's not here. All right. Finally, we have our Tiger team members of the month for March. These Cleveland Heights University Heights staff members have been recognized by their peers for going above and beyond to contribute to the culture of excellence in our district. From Bombgardner Middle School, Kayla Saunders. Miss Saunders is an all-star teacher. She challenges her students to be great and pushes them to reach their full potential. Miss Saunders is very knowledgeable and reaches students in unique ways. From the board of education, bus depot options IT and Milikin, Bill Mattingley. Come on up, Bill. Come on up. Bill's attention to detail and planning everything out in advance has saved the day on more than one occasion. Bill is assigned to the elementary buildings and he won the respect
008of the teachers and staff and all of them in a very short time period. From Boulevard Elementary School, Laura Preston Flora is a creative, energetic, and compassionate teacher. She has taken on the second grade this year after 10 years with our fourth graders. That is a That's why I went back. >> Yeah. She brings music, song, and stories and makes learning fun and lively. From can Canterbury Elementary School. Tim Beachch. Mr. Beach always reacts quickly whenever help or items are needed. He is devoted to keeping Canterbury in tiptop shape. From Fairfax Elementary School, Akima Robersonson. Miss Akima consistently goes above and beyond for the students she serves and the staff she supports each day. She is the definition of a team player. always flexible, willing to step in whenever needed. From Gity Professional Development School,
009Jamie Blados. We can CL Jamie is the definition of an expert in early childhood and special education. She is an amazing resource for teachers and is able to find and implement the right strategies for students in any setting. from Heights High School. Deontay Jackson. >> Mr. Jackson recently took a group of Heights High School alumni on a building tour, having been asked to do the tour just minutes before the group's arrival. He undoubtedly had a full to-do list that day, but he put it aside to cover for a colleague in need from Noble Elementary School. Curtis Walker. Mr. Walker does a wonderful job of managing multiple priorities at once, ensuring that our school is taken care of. He really sees our staff as people first. Through his leadership, he unites he unites us around shared
010goals. From Oxford Elementary School, Caitlyn Rose. First year teacher, Caitlyn Rose. Mrs. Rose is filled with heart and is making a difference every day in the lives of Oxford Tigers. She may be in her first year, but her positive attitude and her willingness to give it all she's got for her students make her the perfect addition to Tiger Nation as a teacher. From Rocks Elementary School, Carrie Nicolleti. Miss Nick, as she is affectionately known by her students, has a heart of gold. She de demonstrates a caring attitude on a daily basis in and out of the classroom. Her positive attitude is contagious to all that work with her, both staff and students alike. And from Rocks Middle School, Georgia Underwood, I love that she has her radio on her still. Miss Underwood is an example
011of what a good employee is. She follows through to the end. She has been diligent and precautionary searches on a daily basis that have been instrumental in maintaining school safety. Congratulations to all of our winners. We're now going to take a picture. So, please stay here. Please congratulate Sorry. I think we're gonna have to >> bump up a layer. >> Whatever works for you. All right, I'll take it to you on the count of three. Ready? One, two, three. Congratulations. Coast to coast. >> At least two of them have diplomas from Heights High. >> Absolutely. Yes, they do. The one is apparent about it. >> There you go. >> All right. >> Well, that concludes our recognitions for the evening. >> Next, I'll turn it over to our pincher to sophomore Jesse Bowling, who is
012back once again for this month's student cadre report. He is a regular on this show. >> Fan favorite. An absolute fan favorite. I am back again. >> All right. >> You guys can't get enough of me. >> True. True. >> All righty. Uh, good evening board of education members, Superintendent Kirby and Miss Leam. My name is Jesse Bowling. I'm a sophomore at Heights High. And as a member of the superintendent's cadre, I'm here to give a brief report about what's happening at High Thai. Uh I am honored to be here this evening. Thank you for the opportunity. First, I would like to tell you about our about our athletics teams. Athletics wrapped up a successful winter season. Indoor track. The indoor track team had an impressive show at the state meet. Uh the 4x200 boys
013took second place. Uh Adrian, Sirius, Maris, and Denoi. I hope I said that name right. Deion Diani. Okay, let's hope I said that right. Uh 4x400 boys took sixth place. Uh Adrien Sirius Harrison and Maris the 400 meter boys took sixth place Adrien West. The 3200 meter girls took seventh place Cassidy Thompson. Girls Wrestling had two representatives at the state tournament with both uh placing. Uh Tamaya placed sixth and Chelsea placed eighth in their respective weight classes. Boys basketball won a district's final over St. Ignatius and advanced to the regional semifinals. This is their second district final in four years. Heights athletics looks forward to a busy spring season. So, quick round of applause. Uh here are a few important events that are happening at High Thai. Page turn. Uh on March 6th, the No
014Hate Tour visited Heights High for a BMX uh exhibit style or exhibition style assembly where students saw award-winning BMX bikers perform tricks while learning about the importance of kindness and positivity. Almost 40 10th through 12th graders en uh students enrolled in lessons of the Holocaust course traveled to DC before uh Washington DC before spring recess to visit the US National Holocaust Museum, African-American Museum in the Arlington National Cemetery and tooured various major monuments. The trip allowed students to connect up close with the artifacts and evidence that they learned about as they studied the Holocaust and other genocides. Upcoming events in April, OST testing will be admin uh administered at Heights High through the month of April, starting with ELA2 tests on April 9th and 10th. In preparation for the start of the OST testing, Heights
015will hold a pep rally to encourage students to do their best on their upcoming tests and remind them of effective test taking strategies through various games and activities. High's National Honor Society will also hold study sessions after school in the cafeteria before each OST test to help their peers feel prepared. The opening night of the Creative Heights District Art Show will take place on April 14th at the Lee Road Library from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The annual showcase feature students artworks from all seven elementary schools, both middle schools, and multiple art classes at High Thai. The show is free and open to the community who can enjoy the artistic talents of CHU students through May 8th. The High Tai Drama Club will present William Shakespeare's As You Like It on April 16th and 17th at
016700 p.m. and April 18th at 1:30 and 7:00 p.m. in the school's main auditorium. Tickets are $5 to $10 and will be sold at the door with showrun passes available on request. Uh, last but not least, the IMD will conclude the year with their spring concerts April 30th and May 1st at 7:00 p.m. in the high school's main auditorium. The Thursday concert will feature performances by concert band and orchestra, philarmonic strings in symphonic band. The Friday concert will feature the Heights High Symphony and Symphonic Winds. Both concerts have no cost for admission. Um, and that is all I have. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> And that conclud Okay. We will now move on to statements from the audience. The board asks that you please refrain from mentioning specific students or employees
017by name in your comments. If your comments involve a student or an employee, the board asks that you please do not address the individual by name. We ask that you remain cognizant that we are in an open meeting and possibly in the presence of students. Also, please limit your comments to three minutes. After three minutes, the microphone will be muted. Thank you. Um, we will Angelo who will speak on district cuts. Go ahead anytime or um I'm Angel Folo. Um I just wanted to speak tonight briefly about um the fact that everybody knows that um based on decisions at the state level um a number of public most public districts are looking at a number of cuts. Um, some of these cuts are long overdue in this district. So, regardless of what your views are
018about state funding, um, Cleveland Heights, University Heights School District really needed to get some of their financial affairs in order much sooner than this. Um, we currently have three buildings that don't house students. Um, you need to offload some of those. the administration currently is far too big. Um especially with declining enrollment, the cuts need to come at the administrative level before you're cutting what's going on in the classrooms. Your legal expenses are ridiculous. As a side note, they're still heading into two years of a federal lawsuit against the district. a lawsuit I'm not part of but that I uh routinely mentioned at at board meetings and throughout the community um alleging violation of student of civil rights by the district. You have too many lawyers. The lawyers obviously didn't stop the pattern of wrongdoing
019and retaliation and you even have legal expenses for one of the lawyers that you've hired. Um, so these are where the cuts before you start asking for cuts in the building and before you ask the community for a levy or an increase in uh an income tax increase, you need to start making these cuts. And I would wish that you would be a little more open with the community about what those cuts might be. Right now, the district seems to have kind of punted to a volunteer parent group and um state funding advocacy group um that's not part of the district to get feedback. Most of that feedback is from a limited number of parents in the district. Um the district itself hasn't had any sort of community listening session or given any kind of
020information as to um there there's been no kind of Q&A about various things about funding. Um I've been to a number of these parent meetings even though I'm not I don't have a student currently enrolled in the district and it sounds like that a number of questions aren't getting answered. Um so those are some things that need to be considered. Also, it sounds as though a number of cuts have been decided and that the district isn't being transparent about them. And so, before you're asking for this feedback from parents on decisions you may have already made, you really need to um be open about what those cuts have been. >> Thank you. Um Carol, you on the topic of cuts to school social workers. Good evening. I'm Carol U. I am currently the school social
021worker at Boulevard Elementary and Roxboro Elementary. I was 21 years school social worker at the high school and I have a deep respect for the board and for our district. I love this district. I love the families, the students, and the staff that come here. Um, and I really wasn't going to speak. I was really here supporting a staff member who you guys have awarded. And I appreciate that you guys do monthly awards because this is hard work that we all do and it is a collection of not only the staff but the families. Um, and it does take a village. And in saying that, recently um, two of my colleagues have been rifted of school social workers. And there's not that many in the district. But I can tell you and I know that
022you know this that we are essential and that you talk to any principal and they will speak very highly of their school social worker and how much they depend on them. Not only for just the functioning of the day to help that day be the best day possible for its students, its staff, the running of a building. We fill in the gaps where there is a need, no matter where it is. We help with um any barriers to non-academic concerns and also academic concerns. We are team players and um I'm on the board of school social workers of Ohio and have been for 20 years. And this district, I will say, is a leader in the state of Ohio for how it has utilized its school social workers, the level of um what school social
023workers need to have to be able to be in this district, and I appreciate that we have school social workers of the year for the state of Ohio, at least three that I know of here, and for my colleagues who I have so much respect for and who are amazing. And I'll get emotional because at the end of the day, it's the kids that suffer. It is how we connect with our families. And really what it is is how can I make your day better? How can we look at what's going on and connect you to where your needs are, whatever it is? And that could be housing. Because let's face it, our families are in need. Our gas prices are going up. They're losing their housing. Food is going up. We are the ones
024who run the run the food banks that come in here. And I would be remiss if I walked out today and said, "You know what? I'm going to say something." We had a person who was an excellent school social worker who happened to retire from the elementary school and instead of hiring another >> You miss you. >> Oh, time. >> Yeah. Okay. I appreciate you rethinking this and just knowing how essential we are to your entire district and I appreciate your time. Thank you. >> Thank you for speaking. >> We will now move on to our consent agenda. Um may I have a motion to recommend the consent agenda? I motion we consider the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> Yes. Thought I had a question. Apologies. >> Any other discussion?
025Well, board member Trimble finds his question. >> Is the uh grant in the consent agenda or no? >> It is. >> Yes. >> Well, yes, then. >> Okay. I wanted to um just recognize that we have um received $124,500 grant um for kindergarten readiness boot camp and that is giant. Um, and you know, it is it's just an incredible opportunity for us to get the little ones, some some very little ones ready for school and ready to be students and come in and get the services that they need and to just really hit the ground running. And I just wanted to say a giant bravo to everybody um who was involved in um going after that grant and just thank you. Well done. >> Um also thank you for the there was a donation to
026Bombgardner Middle um for a um I think it was as part of a research project from Case Western Reserve. as a parent of a student there, I signed an optin at the beginning of the school year related to that and didn't realize that there'd be a donation on the back end. So, that's lovely. Um, and then, um, on the I guess this is more just a question for for Liz and the administration. Um, on the quarterly contracts, and I feel like sometimes when I ask these things, somebody in the room somewhere is like, Trimble, why are you asking this stuff? um on the quarterly contracts um the like cover sheet that we have on there. Is it possible to add an additional column that says um if there's a source of funding that is like
027not out of uh general funds? So like sometimes some of these things are grant funded. uh some of these things have or or maybe maybe it's just like a notes column if there's anything notable um to consider when looking at at some of these contracts because I think sometimes I have to kind of go in and dig around and kind of like read a contract to kind of sus out some of it. Um I think it would be helpful for me and maybe the community >> if it's not if it's not too much work. >> Sam already gave me the thumbs up in the back. Yep. I also want to highlight the work study partnership between our district and John Carroll. Um as a former work study student whose career in higher education uh you
028know began as a work study student. Um it gives students the opportunity to earn a paycheck while taking classes but more importantly it also gives them real career experience. Um, and so I'm happy to see that we are um continuing or forming a partnership there. >> Is there any other discussion? >> No. If not, Miss Leam, will you please call the role? >> Mr. Heights? >> Yes. >> Mr. Tremble? >> Yes. >> Mr. Hoskus Lily? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Howard Prime? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Krenshaw? >> Yes. We will now have the superintendence report from Miss Kirby. >> All right. Thank you again. Uh so uh this report will be aligned to the goals of our strategic plan. Um and those five goals we always include um at the start student outcomes, educational approach, families
029and community value professionals and culture of excellence and operational resources. So, as it relates to goals one and two, uh during the past month, we did have teachers participate in two-day professional learning sessions focused on our clarity work. It was during these sessions that teachers shared examples of how they are incorporating clarity practices into their classrooms. They showed some students self assessments. They showed learning progressions. They showed examples of students being in the writing pit. they showed ways that they help support uh strong writing um and ways to help students take ownership of their learning. So I believe this was the final um of the series of professional learning for this year and just very exciting to have so many teachers embracing this work. Um on the second day of training the focus was on
030providing feedback to scoop feedback to students. So that's one of the clarity practices. Um and we talked about um effective approaches for helping students identify the next steps in their learning because one of the central goals of clarity is for students to be the the captains and the champions of of their own learning through uh teacher clarity. Um also connected to goals one and two um we took a team of central office administrators and special uh instructional specialists um some teachers and three elementary school principles to Stubenville City School District. So Stubenville is a district that has received national recognition for the work they're doing specifically around third grade literacy um where they have every uh student hitting um proficiency on the OST test. But that work isn't just in third grade. They have very
031high achievement across grade levels. And so we wanted to visit there to really kind of understand their practices and some of the models. Um they were so very gracious in hosting us to their visit. We visit a middle school and elementary school. Um and their high school. Um you know it's about hour and a half you know a car ride down um close to Pittsburgh. The funny thing is that they said that at the middle school they were going to tell all the students to wear Steelers gear for our visit, but they weren't able to coordinate in time. We That would have been funny cuz they're like serious Steelers fans. Um but so yes, so we we wanted to again really learn from their practices. I really appreciate um that team and also those those
032folks from the district who are able to come and we will be debriefing to see like what's some what are some things that we can replicate or build and grow from for from our own practices. We were really impressed with we talked about this at the work session before. Um they they really invest in prek like it's a it's a big deal there and they really credit that to what they see in their um early literacy work. Um they also have a you know very structured curriculum um that they have been honing and refining over multiple years too as well. Um and you know really focused on strong classroom instruction. So I'm really happy to see that. Um under goals one and two as it relates to college and career readiness. We have lots of
033exciting things going on. Uh we do have a direct admission partnership with TRIC. So all of our students, all of our students who are seniors um get automatically admitted to try see if they would like to attend. Um we have just started rolling out the information about that just to make sure students can take that step if they um are ready to take that step. And so we're working with their administration and their communications department to coordinate this support for students. I know we have some trips going uh to try to see for kids who may not know about some of their programs, what's available for them. So, and we are very excited about that. We also have 24 students who are juniors in our jobs for Ohio graduates program compete in the Youth Career
034Olympics on Wednesday, March 11th at the Huntington Convention Center. Uh they covered topics there on financial literacy, prepare speaking, and career preparation. And we had Jordan Hatcher and Kenisha King place third in the knowledge bowl. Um we are very thankful to our job career specialist Ariana Washington and heights teacher Janice Andres for uh their support. Um for our middle schools they were involved in the Cleveland Clinic healthcare career careers program following an initial presentation to 80 students. 40 of them wrote essays conducted research and 12 created uh videos highlighting health career healthc care careers. So, Bombgardner students Reese Martin, who's in eighth grade, and Dylan Draft, seventh grade, created the winning video and were recognized at the Cleveland Clinic Hands-On Day. Um, as it relates to registration, uh, we continue to refine, um, and improve
035our registration processes. So, um, in collaboration with the registar, uh, the student services director did a thorough review of the district's online registration website. Updates have been implemented to ensure the registration process is current, accurate, and accessible for all families. These enhancements support a seamless and efficient experience for parents and guardians while maintaining compliance with policies and applicable state requirements. And I do want to say um you know, use every opportunity to remind parents that are interested in the intra district transfer process that opened on March 9th and those applications are accepted through April 17th. So for families, if you're not sure if your child needs to do an introductory transfer application, you should just do one just to cover yourself because we run into situations every year where a family doesn't think that they
036needed to do one. You know, there are different unique situations. Um so please, please, please complete an introductory transfer process or if you don't want to do that and want to check, please call the board and we can review your specific um case just to let you know if that is needed. Um, parents will receive notification of the decision no later than May 8th of 2026. As it relates to um, goals one and two, we already talked about the superintendent reading winter reading challenge, but I just want you to take a look at the pictures there. Um, our winner there, who did not come tonight, but is Briana right in the top left corner. Could not make it. very serious. First grade, 203 books. When I came in the room, she looked right at me
037like she knew I was here to give her her award. So, um so very proud of them. We were so excited about this and had such, you know, such a great response. We are going to do a summer reading challenge. So, um the uh curriculum instructor department is putting that together. So, thank you all very much for that. as it relates to families and community. Uh the gun safety parent series has definitely gotten off the ground. Um the first of three webinars in the gun safety series were held on March 18th in partnership with the city of Cleveland Heights and the CHPD. That can be viewed at that link, see something, say something. And there is another uh session that's going to be scheduled for late spring under valued professionals. We uh discussed this at
038uh the most recent work session. Our current curriculum coordinator is going to become the new principal for Roxboro Elementary School next year. So although we are sad she's leaving that position, we're excited she is going to be leading Roxboro Elementary School. Um as Shelley Pulling will be retiring at the end of this school year. So Amanda Zapotchney, again, congratulations. During this past month, we also celebrated social worker appreciation week, which was March 2nd through March 6th, and Grounds and Trades Appreciation Day, March 7th. So, thank you to all those um folks in those roles who do really important work. I certainly agree with Miss U on the contributions um of our social workers and the work they do every day. Um, in addition to our grounds and trades, uh, crew that work, rain, sun, sleep,
039snow, tornado, fire, >> fire, all those all those things >> hanging out on the roof throw throwing snow on burning >> for your work. >> Then under goal five, I did want to use this. I knew we were going to talk a little bit about this. So, I appreciate those who spoke out um for public comments on uh the challenges that we're facing and decisions around managing um our fiscal resources. During this past month, uh Miss Leam and I did do four meetings um in the district. Um we picked different locations across the district so that staff could come and kind of hear more about our current fiscal and financial landscape. It is very very tough. It is very very tough. I mean I know another way to to put it there's and to Miss
040Fulla's point is something that everyone is experiencing state is federal. Um one thing that um Angel and I have have been doing from the beginning of the year because for those of you who have been watching the board meetings we have in our goals um to really make reductions just kind of knowing the coming tornado um that was coming fiscal resources. We've been sitting down every week to really review budgets, review resources, um to really understand where um we can make reductions without impacting any staff. That was the first attempt. Um but quickly saw that that wasn't going to be possible. One of the slides that um Angel would talk about when we did those meetings were the percentages of our expenditures. And what percentage is really personnel? It's like 70%. So, if you're going
041to make a significant significant budget reduction, um there's going to have to be uh some cuts to personnel. The decision-m framework that we used um was really to uh keep cuts away from the classroom as much as possible um and to really um focus on ways we could streamline in other areas. Um I understand that people probably really want to know very specifically who are the people what all those things but there are um you know there's confidentiality there are processes that we have to follow as relates to um making reductions this past month we did uh notices of um of reductions um they weren't reductions themselves but notices of reductions um And one thing that there's a process that happens across um all of the negotiated unions where um you have a notice but
042there also may be opportunities for people to have other hiring opportunities if there are openings if there are things like that. So that process also plays out which is why districts don't typically say this number this this because things are going to change and shift around a little bit. Um and so we are in that process um of you know we've done notices and then you know those subsequent meetings that happen connected to that are happening. One thing that I want to be clear about because I I understand people who don't live in this world probably don't understand that um if we make a reduction in a position that for someone who is not in a classroom or in a particular kind of uh job in a classified staff member um depending upon their contract
043they may have rights to a position of someone who is in a classroom. So, it's not that if we make a reduction, the person in a non-classroom position gets reduced. There's a process where you apply the language of of the uh labor contract there. Um, but again, there's also, you know, things happen. There's resignations, there's retirements, all those things happen over the course of a summer and the spring. So, um I know that pe I know it's hard to ask people to to be patient and people probably want want to know all of the information, but it's actually really not available because it's continuing to kind of play out. Um and most importantly, um I don't want to do anything that's in violation of any anyone's contract or or your privacy as well. So, I
044appreciate um again, I appreciate the push uh from Miss Folo to really take a look at all of our expenses. That is important. And I appreciate uh Miss Hugh your advocacy for social workers and those pieces without confirming anything you said. Those are really important those are really important roles. I will tell you that one one reason I really love working I love working with Scott. I love working with Angel too. One of the first things that she said when she came into the role, this was in a a leadership retreat and we were doing our work around vision and she said, "My role is to make sure I protect the resources that this our community trusts for us." Right? So to be a a faithful and careful steward of those resources and she is
045>> cuz she says no >> a lot as she should >> or she asked a critical question and I appreciate that. So um so these are these are really tough and difficult times. Um and and with my commitment and also Sean Patton's commitment as it was Paul Lombardo's commitment. If there a staff member who who we're not able to place just because things may not, you know, work out. Maybe there's not a retirement resignation or a new opportunity or things like that. We are fully committed to helping people find um other positions. You know, I'm in conversation with other superintendents already around these kinds of um opportunities. So um I I I just want to share that um we have really we are not perfect but we have tried to be very deliberate very thoughtful.
046This is a six seven-month planning process um that has that has been in place. Uh the parents for United Public Schools is a is a group that started I think it was last year. Um they were doing advocacy around fair school funding and um approached us just to say they wanted to provide space for parents also to really understand what's kind of happening with finances um from their from their unique lens. Um I do think that I want to think through what community engagement looks like through this process. I'm not sure if it's appropriate like for this part, but I want to kind of think I'll think that through. See, we'll kind of talk through that because, you know, we did do the meetings. I think people had really good questions. We had members of
047our staff who are also community members who are asking questions using both hats actually. >> Um, and you know, it is a tough time. Anyone who's reading the news understands that we are in a very challenging fiscal situation. If you are in a public school any place in the state of Ohio, any place in the state of Ohio, it's it's challenging. Um but I I do appreciate um everyone's everyone's feedback. We will continue to uh work on this as well. So that's on our operational resources side. Um there is also a a petition. I believe this the pup's petition. um again being proactive and so we wanted to put that information link here really trying to continue to push and advocate for um for fair funding. You know, it's I can tell you it's challenging.
048You know, Bob and I were looking at a grant opportunity that we're trying to weigh whether or not we're going to apply for, but you know, the the specs of the uh application, it's they're funding 20%. I mean it's like a 80% cut in what they're funding you know like it's you know our after school programming not being funded. So it's so many things. >> So it again it is important that we are you know really careful and thoughtful and continue to advocate too as well. Um so and then just wanted to share on the other side of operational resource in terms of our fiscal resources. Um we were able to after the weather cleared to get the turf uh replacement done which is really important for the safety of our athletes. So thank you
049Sam and team for shephering that process. I know that there were some delays. Um and then finally uh dental health services are coming to the Heights Wellness Center the 13th through the 17th via Metro Health. And again as Jesse said just reminding folks of the district art show that is coming up on uh April 14th. So this is the we have eight more weeks of school left. This is this is eight eight weeks left. It's going to be a busy eight weeks. Lots of things going on. Um and just we want to give a couple things here in terms of um the upcoming events and those pieces. Um but there's there's definitely more than five things coming up even in April, but we have lots of things happening. So um that concludes um my report
050in terms of um things happening in the district during this past month. I just had a thought when I saw upcoming dates uh and I'm going to say it out loud because it's in my brain and I'll forget it. Have we invited uh our two new mayors to uh commencement >> or uh graduation? Not commen. >> I think I know I've mentioned it. I don't know if we've invited them. So, we'll make sure >> because they are both new. >> Yes. >> Thank you for the reminder. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Anything else on the report? Otherwise, we're going to go to the board policies. >> Okay. Board policy. >> Yep. Okay. Next part of the superintendent report is the first reading of policies group C. Okay. Good afternoon or good evening. Uh this is group
051C policy. Uh this policy um the uh there's a a few new policies which is our AI policy as well as our name image likeness policy. There were a couple of adjustments in grading as well as class rank and then the rest of the policies actually followed into our school finance um team. Uh so the committee has worked uh we had several meetings prior to um and then was able to present to you for the first reading of this group of policies um for the today's meeting. Any questions? >> I do. >> You want to pull up a chair, Sean? >> I'm ready. You want you want to lead off? >> Um, so yeah, so the um the AI policy. >> Yes. >> Holy Lord. >> Yep. >> Um, one thing just I think that
052we need to talk about some of this in executive session because I think it's related to security. >> Okay. Um, and um, yeah, I feel like I there's so much in there to d to digest and so much of this is on the just the the outer edge of my understanding of what world I'm occupying. So, um, I think a the, you know, let's talk about some of it in exact session and b I'm going to have questions. >> Sure. um the NIL policy. I think it might benefit all of us to have Joe Damato. I'd like I'd like to have invite Joe to weigh in on that if he could just come and talk about his thoughts about uh about the NIL policy um and the um religious uh >> release time. Um, I
053would like to know what is the minimum the state minimum amount of time. It says at one point drafting note most districts will have a maximum of five periods per week so that students may attend release time each day. I'd like to know what the state legal minimum amount of release time is >> in periods is for high school and middle school presumably. I mean correct what what do you do for elementary school, >> right? >> Because they're a reg a statutory decision there. I will also just because we're talking about this, the state of Ohio um requires us to work with partners. Uh however, if those partners disrupt the day, if those partners do not deliver the kids back as scheduled, um we there is no legal way for us to break a relationship
054with one of these providers. There's no way in law for us to say you have broken your part of the deal. We are no longer doing business with you. >> So they can just keep the stews as long as they like. >> Uh there is no legal remedy for providers of this content for us to break ties with them. >> There's the maximum amount of of >> There is a maximum amount of time. Yeah. Okay. But it doesn't look like we have selected a minimum format. Correct. Okay. >> I've got uh and I don't know how as a group how we want to do this. If people want to jump in on any of mine, feel free to jump in or I could just roll through and other people could roll through their lists if
055they have lists. um for the um grading. Um and this is just a question on um on I guess how Nola and for folks in the room and at home. Um, Niola, uh, is the provider that that, um, essentially boils down a lot of like Ohio revised code and and changes from the state and turns them into policies and kind of sends us a lot of boiler plate that we can then make changes to. Um, the the Neola provided uh policy on grading has a lot of Pinkedked out stuff like the old stuff. Um, is that um just no longer an option? Uh there there's a lot of like minutia around grading that just is no longer in the policy. Is that gone to like administrative guidelines or is that just like we're not >>
056Yes. So what what Nola did is those are the recommendations as the team was reviewing the grading policy. We felt that the that the stuff that was marked off should not would be not be applicable to Cleveland Heights. Yeah. And so those those what when gives us the policies those are the recommendations and as the committee we feel that what would be the best course of action and as a team looking through and reviewing um we felt that the the minimum was more of a a better fit for Cleveland Heights. >> Yeah. I I don't disagree. I mean I I think a lot of that grading minutia belongs in administrative guideline versus board policy anyway. Um I mean it's it is really like in the weeds anyway. So I I was just curious uh on
057that one. Um the policy on class rank. This is um I guess more of like a philosophical question both for the board and maybe for um if we can legally take this out, Sean. Um uh so the this there's a line at the beginning the beginning of the class rank section says the board of education acknowledges the usefulness of a system of computing grade point averages and class rankings for high school students both to inform students of their relative academic placement among their peers and to provide students uh prospective employers and institutions of higher learning with a predictive device so that each student is more likely to be placed in an environment conducive to success. So I wholeheartedly uh as a board of education member acknowledge the second part of that. But for myself personally
058as one person I don't know if I do recognize the usefulness of students individual students to be able to compare themselves to their peers. Um just for the use of comparison um I think that class rank is a useful tool for getting more money for college and career uh or for you know for secondary purposes. Uh but I think that you know from looking at it through an equity lens uh being able to say I'm this rank I'm that rank. Um, when I think about what my high school rank was, uh, I don't think it was a very predictive very predictive of my current uh, status and I don't think it was very useful in comparing myself to my peers at the time. Uh, so I don't know if I necessarily agree with that. I
059would be in favor of taking that part of it out. Uh, so I'll happy to table that for now, but just kind of throwing that into the universe. I think for some students though can use rank as um a to give healthy competition for academics. I think rank can be used that way as well. you know, >> well, a practical application of that is that um there's a governor's scholarship that is given to the top 5% of a graduating class and it's a $5,000 per year scholarship um as long as you attend a school in Ohio. So, there is some practical value for kids to know where they are. um especially because we do weighted grades and so the earlier kids see where they are, they can sort of strategize about taking courses with weighted
060grades in order to secure that position if that's what they want. >> Yeah. And that's kind of my I mean, >> yeah, >> I'm all about using it to go after 20 G's. That's my >> Right. >> But I agree it does not always uh predict how successful one might be in life. I agree. Um >> um the there was a little bit of a twist in the food services policy and I just just calling this out for uh folks in the room. Um there is a religious instruction component to the food services policy at the very end. Um and and that is um uh because we get state reimbursement, we can get reimbursement for sending it seems a packed lunch with a student who is leaving at lunchtime to go do their religious instruction
061during the lunch hour. Um so just calling that out. I'm not sure. >> I had a question regarding that as well. >> Will we give students like a bag lunch? >> That's what I was kind of wondering like the mechanization of that. Yeah. if if they were to go to that at that time, if they choose, then we would yes, we would still provide them some type of nourishment and it was a bag lunch so that we would be able to provide them the lunch that they get. >> Also, the there's like a whole section about like cultivated protein food products and food misbranded as meat or egg products. It's very clumsily worded. I get it that it's like the legal ease that probably has to be there for that reason, but boy oh boy,
062did I read it over that section two or three times. Was that due to some legislation that was passed? >> Correct. Yeah. It was some and this was a an add-on um right before like right after they released this the group of policies. Then there was a special release like two weeks later and then we put that policy on and reviewed it for um the food services. >> Yeah. Um and then finally the AI policy. >> Can I ask another food services question? It mentions um summer um meal options. Is that something we provide? Yes. >> And we service it ourselves as opposed to a third party. >> Okay. Okay. >> But like where the >> past is it held at like one particular school or >> Yes, it's going to be held that we
063were still working through where we are doing our summer programming. Um but yes, there were uh usually a couple sites that we had selected the last couple summers where students can come up and um receive a meal. >> They breakfast and lunch or just like lunch. >> So like usually it's a lunch. >> Um but I think they they I think the food services have some options on there and that we would work with AVI in order to provide that for our families. >> Really important work. >> I just had a quick comment on the grading policy. It looks like is it missing the policy number there? >> The policy greedy policy was 5241. >> Okay. >> Did it not have it listed on there? >> I see it on there. And there's also a
064a typo in paragraph 4. Just superintendent. It's >> got it >> spelled a little different. >> B minus for grading also. >> Well done, Mr. Trum. Um, so on on the AI one, and and you know, this is one that I think we're going to probably drag to the to the final reading for sure. Um, I'm curious if this could be split into two separate policies. um one for staff and administration and one for students because it it I think it would be helpful if I were a student and had a question to for a student to look at this or for a parent to look at this. It this would be tremendously difficult to to comb through this. I mean it's it's six dense pages. Um and I'm this is I'm not being critical
065of you Sean, but I mean just of the policy it's there's a lot going on. Um, also it's pretty clear that we have just about every one of like the options checked. Um, and and I wonder if we need to. Um, >> yeah. >> If if and and that's something that to maybe talk about um maybe back in committee if the committee is going to meet again. I'm not sure if they will. um or if they could have an ad hoc meeting potentially just to maybe do another run through on this. Um um on the on the board side of it, I mean Furpa and the stuff that would go into any AI models and be any like student or staff data that would go into any company's intellectual property uh is like the privacy
066concern stuff is the biggest thing for me. Um but the mechanism by which the district is being put in charge of that I'm it's unclear to me how we would do that and even if we have people who are are are capable from a time perspective or have the specialty to be able to to do that. I mean there's as I read this my brain went was there's there's so much you know AI stuff being baked into so many different products right now so many different websites so many I mean it's it's like you know >> is it possible for us to live up to what's been checked >> yeah yeah yeah is this achievable >> even with the best of intentions >> exactly >> we don't want to pass a policy for something we
067can't deliver >> right or pass a policy that then a bunch of people are spending all of their time combing through terms of service and end user license agreements to see is this the right thing for us. Um I think the spirit of this is that you know we're not feeding student information into you know Elon Musk's gro AI that's going to then you know >> do creepy stuff with our students data. Uh I think that's the the the spirit but just the the implementation of this I think is is really really tricky. Um, and so yeah, I just think we should we should continue to chew on this one for a little bit. >> Okay. I want to piggyback a little bit on what you said there also, which is not only is this
068extremely difficult to vet, um some of the language in here, we are um giving ourselves a legal burden to you know, for example, the AI systems must be reviewed to to confirm they are non-discrimin discriminatory, fully accessible, etc. Some of these AI systems are black boxes. Like the people who run them don't always know exactly how they're working. If we are saying that we will have to um confirm certain things about how they work, we are putting a legal burden on ourselves to make sure we do that and it is an impossible uh task. >> Agreed. >> Yeah. Um there has been some uh some guidance from OSBA on on some of this AI policy. I mean a lot of it's emerging. Um, but I do wonder if Gabe if we can reach out to
069uh the state association and see if there's any resources like I'm wondering if there's a you know OSBA approved list of tools like can we is there something that there's like a like a approved list of tools that can be prevetted that as a district we don't have to send our folks to chase after um to to take some of the administrative burden off. uh and then you know like lowhanging fruit essentially um I'm not sure if that's possible but >> or are there recommend like I assume educators have recommendations and tools that they you know are used to working with or >> so this is such a new policy in such new territory for all of us that uh I agree that I think this is going to be a policy that will probably
070we we anticipate a lot of revisions and review even I know the board may like approve some of and some of the recommendations that we made um in talking with the other um our team here as well as uh Mark and and and Mike and Rachel and myself. We believe that this policy will be something that is going to continue to evolve um and constantly recommend changes not only through uh the legislature but also as AI kind of just >> like morphs I guess the best way of saying it. And so that's >> Yeah. And so yes, I I I we will get back as a committee. We will review this. We have a tech committee meeting this week. Uh we will talk about that during our meeting and um and then come back and
071then um be prepared for the 21st to talk more about the AI policy. >> Yeah. One thing I'll I'll briefly share uh and I shared this with Mr. Hines earlier today on the phone as we were talking about this policy. Um uh I work in in telecom data science and a a year ago uh my employer forbade uh any of us to use any AI tools. They said all code that's written anything that you're doing has to be all done by the humans. And then uh about 6 months ago they started saying okay here's some tools that you're allowed to use. Uh and uh a week ago in a quarterly planning meeting our VP of of our division said I want every single one of you using every tool at your disposal to get every
072ounce of productivity out of this team. So it's like in a year it went like from one way hard the other way. So it's like you're right this whole landscape is changing so fast that I mean this is a policy that that also for the policy committee we might want to put this thing on a a tighter revision schedule than than you know the one that it's on right now. this might be like every >> two cycles or whatever. >> And and I just wanted to add, you know, we're constantly looking at, you know, AI on all sides, but we remind you, Dan, I'm sure every room knows this, but HB96 kind of has mandated that this be in place by July 1st. So, it's it's going to be one of these moving things that
073we have to get through it so we're compliant and then I think we will be tweaking this multiple times as more information comes out. So, >> that's helpful, Mark. Thank you. And this is one of those things too that when we attend conferences, we'll have opportunities because there will be there will be sessions at all of our conferences around this sort of thing because it's so present. I was at OEC and every other session was about AI. So, one perspective or another. So, >> and I just had um one question regarding um policy 6220 and maybe Miss Lam um it's the budget prep policy. Do we need to make a selection um for option one? Do we need to choose A, B, or C? Are we selecting all of them? for the cash balance reserve
074option one. So this this um when we talked about this in um in committee, we didn't make a selection yet um based on kind of where we are right now. So, we could um make a a selection on a cash balance policy, but be based on where we are today and our forecast, we could trigger some action then. Um so, we're not in the at the space, I think, where we would recommend one thing or another for um the cash balance. Um but but yes, we some of the language we have um adopted and and struck and then there's there's some things that we um may just want to have deeper conversation about. >> Okay. Some policies will say things like, you know, you have to have 90 days cash at the end of the
075year or it triggers some action. Um and then I I would recommend um just the language around notifying the board and the board making a decision on what next steps would be. >> Any other discussion regarding any policies? >> No. Well, thank you. Thank you. >> And the last uh topic under superintendent's report is a motion to approve the resolution for the 2627 membership of our district in the Ohio High School Athletic Association. >> So may I have a motion to approve the resolution authorizing the 2627 membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association. >> So moved. And I second. >> Miss Leam, will you please call the role? Any discussion? >> I have one piece of discussion. >> Okay. >> And that is that I plan on voting yes for this. Last year, I
076cast a no protest vote uh for this one. Um and then sent Joe an email explaining why um which was due to language changed in OSAA uh in how they handled um trans students in their participation in sports. Um while that has not changed, um there's way bigger problems on that front at the federal level. Uh and uh I do want all of our kids participating in sports. Uh and I will be voting yes today. >> Miss Leam, will you please call the role? >> Mr. Trimble, >> yes. >> Mrs. Howard Primes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Heights. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hoskus Lily. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Krenshaw. >> Yes. >> We will now move on to our treasures report. From Miss Leam. Okay. Good evening. Um I tonight I'll be talking about some bills
077to watch um as part of the three things report. Trying to navigate the screen. I'm not sure if it's Here we go. Um, this is in conjunction with goal five, which is to inform and educate all stakeholders regarding district finances and school funding in Ohio. So, tonight, um, I just want to reiterate, there's been some action on some of the bills. Um, as we talk about how um, school funding is working in Ohio, these are bills that continue to threaten the security of school funding. Um, as Miss Fullo mentioned earlier, this is something that is happening all across the state, um, federally, all across the country. This is unprecedented times as as it relates to, um, school funding in Ohio. Um, so one of the bills that I want to highlight is House Bill 261,
078which is the homestead exemption/budget commission changes. Um, couple of weeks ago, there was a hearing on on House Bill 261. The homestead exemption, for those who are not familiar, um, is the exemption for our seniors and disabled um, community members. You have to be 65. If you are disabled, you are also eligible for um a homestead exemption. You have to be below a certain um income level. And the state has historically reimbured school districts for um the homestead exemption. So whatever they exempt, they then give the school district um to make up those those funds. um they introduced a substitute um version of that bill. Um one of the things that they are proposing is an expansion and now only granting 50% of the funds that are due to school districts for the expansion. So
079this is yet another way that they are taking funds away from school districts or decreasing their investment um in public schools. The second bill I would like to highlight is House Bill 420. This is a continuing levy sunset. This is one of the most threatening bills um that I've seen to date as this bill looks at levies that have been passed um that they are planning to sunset after um which means they would expire after tax year 2029. So all of the voted millage that we currently collect on our um levies that have been passed that are continuing, we would have to go back to the ballot for massive and I do mean massive amounts of millage. If that is not passed, even though it is continuing, if that is not passed, it would be
080detrimental to how we operate. we would not be able to function without those those things being passed. And then they want to set terms on all of the levies going forward. Um again, as the primaries approach, as you all are vetting candidates for election, know where they stand on public school funding. This is the most critical time that we are in for school funding. As mentioned earlier, every district, no matter where you are, what your needs are, is undergoing some type of funding disruption and cuts. Um, so this is one of those bills that I strongly urge you all to pay attention to what is going on and again, not just advocate, but know where candidates that are representing you stand on these these items. The last bill that I want to um highlight today
081is House Bill 617. This is taxes on capital gains. This bill proposes to exempt capital gains from both state and municipal income taxes. This shifts more of the burden on our home owners. So if this bill were to pass um particularly for school districts who have um started to explore the income tax levies um which currently is not under the same threat that other um like property tax levies have been um here recently. This would exempt capital gains which is included in the um traditional um tax base. And so again taking taking funds out of out of that tax base um and shifts more of those that burden on to our um local taxpayers. So um again advocate advocate advocate. I cannot say that enough. But also pay attention, please, to where your elected officials
082stand, particularly as um we approach the primary season. And that's all I have for today. Thank you. >> And talk to your friends who live in other House districts and Senate districts. >> I would like to at a future board meeting invite Senator Kent Smith to visit us. Um, I I think he has uh a a a uniquely profound perspective on a lot of this both as uh a state senator and a former schoolboard member uh from the Uclid school district. Um, and uh, I recently had the opportunity to see him present and and the the just the way that Ohio um, uh, the way that we pull um, from from the different buckets of tax uh, to fund uh, uh, schools versus our our neighboring states is is backwards in my opinion. Um, and
083this House Bill 420, uh, and and Angel, um, you you you you use the phrase we, uh, and I believe you're using the Wii in the statewide public education sense, not just in the, uh, Cleveland Heights University Heights sense. I mean, we're talking Armageddon for public education in this state. >> I mean, yeah, ju just absolute. I mean, I would have to think conservatively that instantly you would have half to twothirds of the districts in the state going into state control. Uh I mean because they wouldn't pass a levy uh of that size in one election and then they would be underwater. Um I mean it would it's terrifying. So >> yeah, it strikes me that, you know, this um legislature has walked so far away from their constitutional mandate to create a system of
084of um funding a thorough and efficient public education that it's as if the words don't exist. >> Yeah. And it's it's taking away home rule at at the local level. I mean, it's it's, you know, uh, a legislature that's unwilling to do anything about funding at the state level, but then also cutting off the ability to try to save ourselves. Uh and not that we want to raise taxes on local tax base, but it's like what other options do local districts have when state >> disrespecting the will of the voters as expressed at the polls. >> I think that's the one of the most important points is that the community has voted for said levies to continue. Um but they are creating these commissions uh to strip us of those funding of of that funding.
085Um, but thank you for the way that you break down um these various House bills and uh and put it in terms to where the community understands to where if you're not in this work, then you can understand the direct impact that these bills would have on our children's future, which is really what it is. So, thank you. I also want to make the point that these um Ohio legislature property tax uh fixes >> um are circular in a way. They are it's a shell game, right? So um if property taxes which fund schools predominantly are reduced then it means a shortfall for schools. If schools have a shortfall we have to go back to voters with a levy request which then raises property taxes. So, uh, they get to be the good guys by
086lowering your your property taxes and we have to be the villains to ask for more while at the same time they are cutting funding on the income tax side from the state. Um, it's a shell game. It makes state legislators look good in the short run, but it's uh ultimately doesn't lower the tax burden um or in the worst case it does, but schools will be destroyed. suffer >> along with other things if there are no property taxes. >> City city government in 1975 40% of the state budget went to public education. This year 20% of the state budget went to education. Education. >> Yeah. >> I'm sure our rankings were a lot different then to >> No. No. In 1975, there were no rankings. In 1975, there were no end of course exams. My
087Cleveland Heights University Heights public education never had an end of course exam, never had a state report card. My parents who knew me pretty well even though I was the youngest of seven. I got lost a little bit but they judged the quality of education that I received at the Cleveland Heights University schools by when I was a senior and I applied to three colleges. I tried I applied to my stretch college my like yeah I had to hit that and my backup college. And that's how parents sort of measured the success of the local schools, you know. >> Well, and I meant the state public education ranking compared to >> Oh, right. Oh, heavens. We were fourth in the country. >> We were ranked fourth in the country when >> one party left office
088and a ruling party took over >> and now we're in the 30s. >> Yep. Well, thank you again, Miss Lane. Very nice job on that. >> Yes. Excellent as always. >> Um, >> well, good evening. I want to begin by congratulating our students um who were recognized this evening from the art show winners to the winter reading challenge participants and tiger team members of the month. Your achievements reflect not only your hard work but also the dedication of our educators and families who support you every day. Um, of course, we always look forward to hearing from our student representatives. As we know, student voice is an important part of our work and we value the perspective our students bring to this board. Uh, as we move through tonight's agenda, there will several important items that
089reflect the ongoing work of our district. Our consent agenda includes key personnel actions, new appointments, and recognitions of service, as well as business and finance items that support the day-to-day operations of our school. I again want to acknowledge the acceptance of a donation to Bombgardner Middle School and the approval of the kindergarten readiness boot camp grant. These investments are critical to strengthening student learning and ensuring our youngest learners are set up for success. Additionally, this evening we had a first reading of of several board policies, including those related to food services, artificial intelligence, and financial practices. And these discussions are important as we continue to ensure our policies reflect both current needs and future readiness. Finally, I want to thank our superintendent and treasurer for their continued leadership and updates which help guide our decision
090making and keep our community informed. As always, we remain committed to transparency, strong governance, and keeping students at the center of every decision we make. Thank you. Uh we will now move on to any committee reports if there are any. >> Uh Reaching Heights uh has a new interim executive director, Maisie Adams, who is um >> the person who does everything. >> Yeah, exactly. Yeah, she does a lot. Um I think she's currently working to get uh Heights High named a historic Landmark location. Thank you, Dan. Landmark. Um because she's on the Landmark Commission. Um but she was formerly on the Reaching Heights board and had some capacity to step in. Um their previous executive director stepped down. Um they're um beginning a new executive director search. Um and they um recently moved into uh
091the Dile building. Um so uh they're going to be continuing the great work that they do from there. >> Thank you. I I have one that I wish I didn't have. Um, as you know, I'm the the um ambassador, if you will, to the Heights Schools Foundation. And um we are um building a great celebration weekend of the Heights 100 anniversary of Heights High in its current location over the weekend of uh June uh 20th. And um as part of this in February, I asked uh for an update on the security plan for the three events. There's a Friday night, a Saturday night, and a Sunday event. For our our February meeting, it was not provided. It was promised for our March meeting. it was not pro provided. I um communicated on the first of
092this month that I had still not received anything. Today I received a security plan for Friday night's event and Saturday's Saturday night's event, not mention of Sunday's event. And I'm troubled and I'm worried. Um, and so I don't know what we do, but I don't know how we move forward with an event that there is no security plan for and so I just have to put that to the board. I don't know what to do. But >> could you tell us a little more about the various events on Friday, Saturday? >> Friday night is going to be a fantastic community party on the football field with bands and food trucks. It's going to be amazing. Um, Saturday is more of a fancy pants gala. Um, much smaller, 4 to 500. Um, and Sunday is, um,
093sort of just a big community party. Uh, again, back on the football field and track. And I have done everything that I could think of. Many of you know that I've talked about this, certainly Gabe, um that this has been a worry of mine that I just it has not seem to have gotten the attention that it requires and I'm at the point where I feel well, as I said, I I don't know what to do. I have a hard time thinking we can move forward with an event where we are not confident in our ability to hold a safe secure event. >> I'm not sure if we could say that yet. I think we should. First of all, this is unique because this is not they're using our facilities. So these are separate entities.
094Um, my suggestion is that the high schools foundation meets and kind of looks at the plan, kind of the state of things. We can have our safety and security and operations folks at the meeting. I mean, Sean and I do big event security a lot. So, we have a good eye for what needs to be in place, you know, for like night events. But, I think I would do that first just to kind of see I understand what you're saying in terms of like the information and all of that. and when the when the uh when it's first discussed a year ago, you know, I myself had questions about it. So, um just having experience doing big events and knowing how much you have to plan for those pieces. But I do think it's getting
095in the a better place. I don't think it's 100% there. Um but I would say maybe we should meet with some of the leadership like Sean and I and Ricky Sam. We can meet with the leadership of Fight School's Foundation. Maybe um the president also often kind of talk it through. Anybody else? >> When is our I don't have it in front of me. When is our our next work When's our work session? >> The 21st. >> Is the Friday event much different from the Sunday event? Could the Friday plan be >> Sunday is like a more >> family? Father's Dayish. >> Yeah, it's a Father's Day kind of. >> Yeah. Are we expecting like the same number of people or more people? I guess what I'm saying, could the Friday plan be duplicated on
096Sunday? >> It probably could be, >> but this is probably for them to tell probably for them to tell us. >> Um, I would like to call for um the Heights Schools Foundation to present to us in executive session on the 21st a comprehensive look at their comprehensive security plan. So I was going to say the same I mean if if because you had already proposed with the AI policy that we meet on yeah being exec on safety and security. So if we're already calling for safety and security we could do both things at the same time seemingly >> and also the work session is is just a general update for night schools foundation. So >> will probably be here anyway. Yeah. >> What luck. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, >> but I also would
097like to hear from their board and what um what plans they have in place um to support the events um and that if there is a cancellation, you know, that >> it'd be something that their, you know, that their board sees that needs to happen. Um, >> yeah, maybe they could call in or something. If if if we're meeting an exec, we could give them a call in or something. >> Oh, I think No, I think they need to be here >> at this point. If their leadership's here, >> um, okay. um separately um Phil and I attended um Kent Smith's town hall on education a couple weekends ago and as um Phil mentioned it was brilliant and Kent Smith has a fantastic presentation um that we were talking immediately we need to invite Ken
098Smith to do that in a public forum at Heights High and invite all of the neighboring boards of education to attend. Um, not just the Cleveland Heights University Heights community, but but Shaker, Beachwood, Uklid, East Cleveland, they're everybody needs to needs to learn from the slides that Kent Smith has because it is a really comprehensive overview of everything from taxes to proposed legislation, the whole bit. and he tells the story as a legislator and a former school board member. Um so I really do think that we need to pursue that night. Uh and I'd love for us to host it because um we've we just can. >> Yeah, agreed. >> Is the presentation somewhere? Did he um post it? >> He did not as far as I know. Yeah, he he said he was like
099working on slides the night before. I think he was, you know, real >> running and gun kind of. Yeah. >> Okay. >> But I also think that invit invitation to that meeting went out to all of those school boards. It did. Yeah. >> So maybe we can see if it was like a timing or to try to figure out the best >> date and time. >> Yeah, good idea. >> Great. Is there any new business? >> Let me add one more committee report, which is um >> kind of committee report. The boosters held their winter um athlete recognition awards ceremony a couple weeks ago and uh Joe Damato and Chrissy Gallagher uh mcded it and it was an incredibly good event. Um it was an event that I wish when I was at Heights we
100had um events like they are supporting our athletes in a way that they have not been supported um I mean ever as far as I know but probably back a little further they were the heights booster is only a couple of years old and they've already been transformational uh for our athletics so I wanted to shout them out for that >> they're great >> any unfinished business do have one correspondence and announcement. >> Yeah. Connected to athletics, I wanted to share um a positive report on um our um staff and their work with a weather issue. So, um this came from uh someone from the state who was in attendance. Last night's game was interrupted by severe weather. There was a tornado warning issued as umpires were putting the game into delay due to lightning
101scene. The school athletic staff came out and evacuated both teams, officials and coaches to the school basement until the warning was lifted. Great job and very appreciative of the proactive work by the school and athletic department. Both baseball teams are safe as well as numerous other athletes practicing were also safe. So >> I was at that game and that's absolutely true. They were fantastic. This was the tornado warning. Uh >> yeah, that one >> evening, right? >> Yeah. >> Wish it was. >> Yeah. Well put. >> I was in a car at that time. It was a little scary. I agree. >> All right. Well, if nothing further, may I have a motion to adjourn? >> I will motion that we adjourn. >> Yeah, I'll second the motion. Miss Leam, will you please call the
102role? >> Mr. Heights? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Howard Primes? >> Yes. >> Mr. Trimble? >> Yes. >> Mr. Hashis Lily? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Krenshaw? >> Yes. Meeting adjourned. Have a good evening everyone.