ReportWire

Tag: cleveland metropolitan school district

  • CMSD’s Plan Could Leave Cleveland With 29 Fewer Schools

    [ad_1]

    Source: Sarah Sloboda / Getty

    The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) is weighing a sweeping proposal that could close or merge up to 29 schools. District leaders say the move is a response to declining enrollment, aging buildings, and the need to reallocate funding more effectively.

    Mayor Justin Bibb expressed concern about the potential impact on students and neighborhoods. He urged district leaders to focus on equity and transparency throughout the process. Bibb said the city must protect Cleveland’s most vulnerable families from further disruption.

    Community leaders share those concerns. They worry about the possible loss of neighborhood schools, especially on the city’s east side. Many fear closures could push families toward charter and private options, further draining CMSD resources.

    Parents and educators are calling for deeper engagement before decisions are made. They want public meetings, data transparency, and a clear plan for how affected students will transition. “We want to be part of the solution,” one community member said.

    CMSD officials maintain the plan is still in development. They promise to gather input from families, staff, and city leaders before submitting recommendations to the school board. The district says the goal is to strengthen academic opportunities and improve access to modern facilities, not to simply downsize.

    As discussions continue, Cleveland residents are watching closely. The fate of 29 schools could shape the city’s educational landscape for decades to come.

    The Most Dangerous Areas In and Around Cleveland Right Now

    20 Foods Perfected by Cleveland That Locals Swear By

    Is The National Guard Coming To Cleveland? Ohio Rep Has Requested It

    [ad_2]

    Matty Willz

    Source link

  • CMSD halts controversial plans to rebuild elementary school

    CMSD halts controversial plans to rebuild elementary school

    [ad_1]

    CLEVELAND (WJW) – The Cleveland Metropolitan School District decided to halt controversial plans to rebuild one of the district’s elementary schools.

    The proposal to rebuild Marion C. Elementary School was met last year with pushback and protests because the construction would mean demolishing roughly 40 trees on the north side of Cudell Commons Park.

    CMSD CEO Dr. Warren Morgan released the following statement on the decision:

    “After several months of engagement and conversations with various stakeholders regarding the proposed plan to rebuild Marion C. Seltzer Elementary School, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) has made the decision to pause the current rebuild plans.

    “While this decision did not come easily, we understand the importance of intentionally planning a rebuild that benefits all members of the community. With that in mind, we will continue to honor Tamir Rice’s legacy and memory, and ensure our scholars have 21st-century learning spaces while evaluating the impact on green spaces and the environment.

    “We will continue to engage with our families, educators, community members, and other stakeholders to thoughtfully consider our next steps. Our goal remains the same, to provide our scholars with the learning environment they deserve.” 

    Mayor Justin Bibb also released a statement, saying he supports the decision to put plans on hold.

    [ad_2]

    Jordan Unger

    Source link

  • Gun pulled at Cleveland elementary school

    Gun pulled at Cleveland elementary school

    [ad_1]

    CLEVELAND (WJW) — A man who allegedly pulled a gun at the Marion-Sterling elementary school along Central Avenue on Thursday morning has been arrested and charged.

    Students and school workers were not harmed.

    The incident stemmed from a verbal dispute between two temporary vendors over a debt, according to a statement from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

    One of the vendors pulled a gun on the other. The district notified Cleveland police and the man was arrested. He’s now facing charges of aggravated menacing and possession of a deadly weapon in a school safety zone, according to the district.

    FOX 8 News has reached out to Cleveland police for more information.

    [ad_2] Justin Dennis
    Source link

  • Students, staff evacuated after bomb threat in Cleveland

    Students, staff evacuated after bomb threat in Cleveland

    [ad_1]

    CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) — Students and staff of a school in Cleveland have safely returned to their classrooms after a Monday morning bomb threat.

    According to a spokesperson with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, as of 9 a.m. on Monday, all Campus International students, faculty, and staff had been evacuated from the high school and were at a safe location while officials searched the building.

    About an hour later, the spokesperson updated FOX 8 and said the building had been cleared and students had returned to the building safely.

    Campus International High School is located on Chester Avenue.

    Campus International is a collaboration between the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Cleveland State University.

    The Cleveland State University Police Department is handling the investigation. 

    [ad_2]

    Danielle Langenfeld

    Source link

  • Parents, teachers speak out about cuts in proposed CMSD budget plan

    Parents, teachers speak out about cuts in proposed CMSD budget plan

    [ad_1]

    CLEVELAND (WJW) – Emotions ran high at times during a Cleveland Metropolitan School District board meeting Tuesday night.

    More than 100 parents, teachers and staff members filled the gymnasium at Whitney M. Young School on Harvard Avenue in Cleveland to hear the board’s deficit reduction plan.

    CMSD CEO Dr. Warren Morgan says the district is facing a $168 million budget gap that must be closed.

    A proposed plan must be submitted to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce by Feb. 29 or potentially face being placed on some level of fiscal oversight status by the state.

    The proposed plan calls for cuts the following areas:

    1. Central office staffing, travel, conferences and staff food
    2. Summer learning but at a capacity level higher than in pre-pandemic years
    3. Out of school time provided by external partners, but not including district athletics or other extracurricular programs
    4. Aligning school calendars
    5. Student technology

    One mother addressing the board was extremely concerned about the impact of losing out of school programs and activities which she said have helped her children immensely.

    “If you take these kids away, what’s going to happen? An increase in socialization’s going to go down, an increase in self-confidence is going to go down, the increase in grades are going to go down and then what happens?” she said.

    “Ever since I first heard about this looming financial abyss, I’ve generated far more questions than answers,” said Shari Obrenski, president of the Cleveland Teachers Union.

    Another issue of concern has to do with the CMSD Get More Opportunities Fund and program which was founded with a $20 million donation from billionaire Mackenzie Scott.

    According to the district, the fund and program allowed more than 40 high school students to learn what it’s like to be a philanthropist and decide how the money should be used for things like college visits and arts programs.

    To “empower and transform individuals,” said former CEO Eric Gordon at the time.

    Now, that program and money is being shifted to help close the budget gap.

    Although the board and CEO said it is a temporary move and that the program would be reinstated in the future, many people at the meeting and multiple members of Cleveland City Council disagree with the decision.

    “Children want to know, are you going to fight for them? So when you take this money away from them, they turn around and say, ‘ain’t nothing true,’” said Councilman Kevin Conwell, Ward-9.

    Despite the objections, the proposed plan passed 7 -1 with one member voting no specifically because of the Mackenzie Scott funds.

    The CEO attempted to reassure the crowd and said the proposal was not an actual budget rather a plan for the state, and that he and the board would be carefully considering all of the points raised by parents and staff at the meeting.

    “This plan is our plan to show how we will be in the black the next couple of years but this is not our budget,” said Dr. Morgan. “These are proposals and strategies of how we will get there, but there is still more work we have to do as a district.”

    [ad_2]

    Suzanne Stratford

    Source link

  • I-Team: School safety employees allowed to work from home

    I-Team: School safety employees allowed to work from home

    [ad_1]

    CLEVELAND (WJW) — The Fox 8 I-Team has found that people paid to protect kids are allowed to work from home, at least some of the time. In fact, hundreds of employees in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District spend time working at home.

    The I-Team found that 237 employees in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District can work from home up to two days a week. That includes 4 four lieutenants in Safety and Security.

    This is even a school system where kids have been seen with guns. And, months ago, a mother was stopped with a gun while she was entering a Cleveland school.

    The I-Team requested job descriptions of the lieutenants who are allowed to spend time working at home.

    We saw job duties such as  “responding to major incidents”,  “coordinating investigations”,  and “ensuring peace and safety.”

    So, the I-Team went to district headquarters.

    The I-Team asked the talent and human resources officer, “How can anyone in safety and security be working at home at all?”

    Stephen Christian said, “There are limited positions in safety and security that have that flexibility. The work that they’re doing at home is writing reports, planning training, and developing protocols. things of that nature.”

    To be clear, most employees allowed to do some work at home are office workers, lawyers and other managers. The district insists that a few lieutenants at home won’t put kids in danger.

    Christian added, “There’s a plan in place. It doesn’t leave the District at risk of not being responsive in a crisis like that.’

    The I-Team’s findings surprised some parents, including Ken Trump. He heads National School Safety and Security Services, a school safety consulting firm based in Cleveland.

    He said, “Violent incidents can break out in seconds.” So, he has concerns about anyone who is working in safety, doing it at home.

    Trump added, “When it comes to a critical, life-safety function like school security, we need all hands on deck.”

    The district said the work-at-home program started three years ago. It appeared that would be the standard for the future.

    Now the district has decided for a number of reasons that this will be the last year for employees working at home.

    Christian added, “This is the final year. We will not carry this into next year.”

    [ad_2]

    Ed Gallek

    Source link