Politics & Government

CHUH Levy Campaign Committee Kicks Into High Gear

Citizens for Heights Schools working to encourage Cleveland Heights and University Heights residents to pass the 6.9-mill levy in November

A few things have changed since a team of parents led a successful levy campaign for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District in 2007.

The economy was stronger then. Parents didn’t rely on social media and other electronic sources of communication as much as they do now. And it was easier to predict how much money the state would give to districts. 

Dallas Schubert, one of four co-chairs on this year’s levy committee, said she and fellow co-chairs Jim Posch, Dave Tabor and Reggie Evans have tried to adjust to these differences.

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“There are some sort of tactical things we will do differently because the world has changed a lot since 2007, even how much people use email,” said Schubert, whose three children attend schools in the district. “We will be doing more to reach out to people in terms of electronic media. We also know that because of the financial situation — that is obviously our biggest hurdle — people are justifiably concerned about where their dollars are going.

“They need to be careful about how they spend their money, so I think the message we need to get out to people is that this is really a place you need to spend your money … Protecting their schools protects the community they live in."

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Schubert said the group, Citizens for Heights Schools, started preparing for the levy campaign in the spring, organizing groups of volunteers and more recently contacting people who have supported the schools in the past. And the committee has updated its website, www.CHUHYES.com. Residents can request a yard sign, donate or sign up to volunteer online.

The at its August meeting, and residents will whether to pass Issue 6. The levy will in property valuation each year. If the levy doesn’t pass, the district from the budget, said Scott Gainer, chief financial officer for the district, at a meeting in May.

Voters passed a 7.2-mill levy in 2007, and it was only supposed to last three years. District officials said they were able to stretch the money to four years.

Schubert said the levy committee has raised about a third of its campaign goal of $70,000. The committee and a core group of about 30 volunteers have sent out about 6,000 mailings, and 300 people have signed up to help out with phone banks, hand out literature door-to-door and other campaign tasks.

“We feel like we need to make multiple contacts with every voter in order to secure their vote — face-to-face, mailed piece of literature that’s dropped at the door — but each one of those points of contact costs money,” Schubert said.

Now that school has started, the group will also talk to parents at PTA meetings, and other social gatherings, she said.

“From a parent perspective, I’m getting a great value out of the schools,” she said. “My kids are getting a fantastic education, so I think from the perspective of most parents, we think we’re getting a good value.

“At this point, I’m so comfortable and have so much confidence in the schools. I am a graduate of the district myself, so I’ve been around for a while.”

Schubert said that the committee is planning a fundraising event for October, and volunteers will place signs in yards as soon as possible.


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