CH-UH Board Expected to Introduce Lay Facilities Committee at Meeting Tuesday
The committee will then meet Oct. 3 to select a chairperson and establish the mission of the group.
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The Cleveland Heights-University Heights School Board will have its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2 in the Board of Education Building.
The board is expected to introduce members of the newly formed lay facilities committee during the first portion of the meeting, according to one of the members of the committee.
The school board agreed to form a citizens facilities committee at its meeting Aug. 20. Reaching Heights and FutureHeights suggested it form this committee to help make recommendations and suggestions as they continue to work on and possibly modify the facilities master plan, or Plan C.
Plan C was approved by a narrow vote of 3-2 at the July 3 Board of Education Meeting, as was a resolution to put a $130.6 million bond issue on the November 2012 ballot that would have paid for a portion of the projected $206.2 million plan.
But the concern from residents prompted three board members to change their vote the next time around, so that instead of approving the bond issue on second reading 3-2, the board unanimously rejected it.
Click here for more background on the CH-UH Facilities Master Plan.
The lay facilities committee will host its first meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3 in Cleveland Heights High School’s Legacy New Tech small school. The space was renovated over the summer and is serving as one of the learning community pilots, a preview of the facilities master plan.
The committee is expected to select a chairperson and establish the mission of the group, according to a notice about the event.
The Heights Observer published the full list of committee members Sept. 29.
Board members said city officials, community leaders, alumni, PTA representatives, parents, teachers, voters without children in the district, union members, a private school representative, members of past facilities committees, board members, the administration and more should be on the 15- to 25-person committee. The committee should be tasked with creating alternate plans, engaging the community and coming up with marketing strategies, among other tasks, they suggested.
The full Oct. 2 agenda has been included with this article.
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Cleveland Heights - University Heights Board of Education
2155 Miramar Blvd, University Heights, OH -
Cleveland Heights High School
13263 Cedar Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH -
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Garry Kanter
8:32 am on Monday, October 1, 2012
I was expecting they would build a dynamic project team of CH & UH volunteer citizens. The citizens would have the varied skill sets and enthusiasm to look at each building, the students' and the district's needs, and devise sustainable, cost effective solutions.
'Cause those folks are out there. They have great experience and skills, and they want to participate. I applied for the committee. To no avail.
Instead, they selected the same old figure heads and pseudo civic leaders to sit around in meetings and appease people. Tell, me, who on that list is going to roll up there sleeves, do some dirty work, and come up with something innovative and wonderful? I don't see it.
I consider this a lost opportunity of a great magnitude that will fail to deliver our communities smartly into the future.
John Hubbard
12:21 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Garry -- I heard a somewhat similar comment over the weekend. What do you think the committee as it stands can do to engage people in the work that needs to be done?
Garry Kanter
12:41 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I am unable to answer that question, John Hubbard.
I have no idea what "work that needs to be done" that committee will address.
I had hoped a project team would be work towards the answers to "How can we retain as much of the facilities that are already in place, and still create a great education environment for our students in the short and long term?"
Instead, I think they are embarking on a sales job.
Which is of no interest to me, other than as a taxpayer who will vote "Yes" or "No" on the levy question.
What are your thoughts?
Garry Kanter
7:59 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Mr. Hubbard, it was a pleasure meeting you at tonight's BOE meeting.
I have to be honest, I hadn't memorized the names of the 25 member Dream Team. Yet. So I was not aware of your involvement when I responded, above. I stand by my response, of course.
But if find an irony and certain surprise that you would ask me such a fundamental question as the one above.
And you *could* have identified yourself as either a committee member or a Reaching Heights board member in your post. Just sayin'.
Garry Kanter
8:01 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Say, maybe you could answer *my* question, above, about the goals of your committee.
Maybe you could summarize BOE Chair Karen Jones' expectations as she described them at tonight's meeting?
John Hubbard
11:03 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I think you did a decent job capturing the work to be done in your initial post. You said: "look at each building, the students' and the district's needs, and devise sustainable, cost effective solutions." I would only add getting as much community input as possible.
I'm wondering if you have helpful ideas on how the committee can work with community members who are not on the committee but who are interesting in working to improve our schools. I apologize for not identifying myself as a member of a specific group, but I did not ask the question on the behalf of any group. Would your answer be different if I had?.
I think Michelle Simakis did a good job of summarizing the board's expectations in her related article this morning. We had our initial meeting tonight and discussed their charge and how we can focus our time to deliver a recommendation as early as April. The next meeting is October 24th at 7 PM, though the location has not yet been determined. I hope you are able to attend.
I appreciate you introducing yourself at the board meeting last night, though I was a bit surprised as we've met before -- most recently I recall an interesting discussion at the Future Heights Neighborhood Leadership workshop.
Garry Kanter
11:27 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Thank you for your thoughtful response, John. I apologize for not remembering our previous meeting.
John, I did *everything* I could to become a member of the committee. In general, I'm willing to help anybody.
Here's an old saying: A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still.
It's pretty obvious that my approach to the project is very different than what has occurred. And that I'm not shy about pointing that out. When I'm assured that the LFC has an authentic interest in my input, you'll get the best I have to offer.
Garry Kanter
7:19 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
John, this little blip from the newer article demonstrates how I think differently:
"The 25-member committee (two members will rotate),..."
That tells me that at least two members think their primary responsibility to the project is to attend meetings. And that the leadership feels that way as well.
I have no interest in such groups.