Schools

University Heights Calls Town Hall Meeting To Discuss Gearity

In all three CH-UH facilities master plan ideas, the only elementary school in University Heights, Gearity Elementary School, would close. Mayor Infeld is inviting residents to share their feedback.

University Heights Mayor Susan Infeld has called a town hall meeting to discuss the possibility that the only elementary school in the city would close.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 11 in University Heights City Hall.

Each of the facilities master plan design ideas proposed by architects working to renovate and rebuild schools in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District call for closing , which also houses a district preschool program.

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"The purpose of the meeting is to inform residents of the district’s facilities plan to close Gearity elementary school and to hear feedback from residents on this proposal," Infeld said.

Do you plan to go to the meeting? What would you like to know? Share your thoughts below.

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About 40 people hosted by the school’s PTA and architects meant to tell residents more about the , to show a pilot program for the new structure of classrooms and to hear feedback.

But residents made it clear they wanted to talk about the possibility their school would close. Infeld was there and told residents she was not happy with the plans.

“I’m disappointed because in the past few years, the parents of this school have worked so hard and they’ve been successful, Infeld said. “I think this (master plan) is too much too soon ... The information is coming out very quickly, possibly faster than people can absorb it."

She added that she's worried it will deter families from moving to the city if there is no neighborhood elementary school.

Superintendent Doug Heuer explained the district's reasons for potentially closing the school, and emphasized that the district is still seeking input from families and the facilities master plan is not finalized.

He said the number of students from University Heights who attend CH-UH Schools is low — out of the about 5,760 students in the district, 797 are from University Heights, 170 whom attend Gearity. Gearity's enrollment is about 320 students.

For more information about Gearity and where students would go if the school closed, click . For more information about the district's facilities master plan, click here and see the related articles below.

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