CHUH Committee Makes Final Building Configuration Recommendation to Board

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools Lay Facilities Committee made their final recommendation for reconfiguring the district's schools.

The committee, created by the CH-UH School Board at the recommendation of FutureHeights and Reaching Heights, is tasked with examining the facilities master plan and determining what aspects of the plan the community would support.

At the Board of Education's May 7 meeting, the committee presented a plan to close Noble and Fairfax elementary schools and Wiley Middle School; rebuild Boulevard Elementary; and renovate the remaining four elementaries, Monticello and Roxboro middle schools and the high school.

Click here to see the committee's presentation.

The $234.4 million project would take place in two phases: Phase 1 would include the high school and middle school renovations, and Phase 2 — beginning seven or more years down the road — would include the elementary school renovations.

The board is seeking public input on the plan prior to its May 21 meeting, when members will discuss it. The committee has recommended that the Board ask for a $137.5 million capital improvement tax levy at the November 2013 election and seek about $18 million in private donations and a loan for the first phase of the project.

The tax levy would be for about 6.46 mills, or about $198 annually for the owner of a $100,000 home.

The committee wrote that the eight-school configuration would balance the needs of the community for walkable schools for kids with the cost for the taxpayer, and allow for arts, sports and extracurriculars.

What do you think of the recommendation? Tell us in the comments!