Board Business Meeting

Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Education

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024
6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. EST

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11901 Durant Ave. Cleveland, OH 44108 (Directions)

Stephanie Tubbs Jones School, or watch on YouTube

Remote Event Link

The Board of Education functions as the governing body of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Board responsibilities include: hiring the school district chief executive officer (with the mayor’s agreement); setting school district policy; approving the school district budget; establishing goals and accountability standards; and promoting parent, family, and community involvement in the schools.

The board has two types of meetings: a work session and a business meeting. Work sessions focus on information gathering and debate on issues and proposed resolutions. Business meetings focus on holding official votes on resolutions. Sometimes the board does vote on resolutions in the work sessions.

The board often enters executive session. It is a part of the meeting, though there is nothing for you to document other than noting when they enter and exit it. The board typically returns to public session, handles a small bit of business, then officially adjourns. Executive sessions can leave you waiting around for a bit, but it does count as part of the meeting time covered.

The board can have up to nine voting members, all of whom are appointed by the mayor.

Current board members:

Sara Elaqad, chair
Robert Briggs
Midori Lebrón
Diana Welch Howell
Nigamanth Sridhar
Charlene Jones

The CEO of the school district is Warren Morgan II.

Agenda: When available, you can find the agenda here.

Watching remotely?

Find the meeting live stream here: https://www.youtube.com/@CLEMetroSchools/streams

As a second option, you may also find the live stream on the school district’s homepage during the meeting time: www.clevelandmetroschools.org.

Attending in person?

We add two hours of pay ($36) to the assignment.

Find past Documenters coverage of this meeting here: https://cleveland.documenters.org/reporting/?agency=241

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Cleveland - OH Documenters Team

Note-taking by Marvetta Rutherford

CEO describes long-term planning for the district; 3 new board members attend meeting

View notes

Live reporting by Christina Easter

Three new members join the Board of Education

Coffee @CoffeeDocuments

Good evening Cleveland and beyond! I will be live reporting the Cleveland Metropolitan School District Board Business Meeting starting at 6:30. #CLEDocumenters @signalcleveland @cledocumenters Watch now or later here youtube.com/@CLEMetroSchoo…

youtube.com/@CLEMetroSchoo…

05:32 PM Dec 10, 2024 CST

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Obtain and review the agenda here Eight members are present, so here we go. go.boarddocs.com/oh/cmsd/Board.…

go.boarddocs.com/oh/cmsd/Board.…

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Three new board members are introduced Jerry Billups, Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Coordinator at Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court, Ivory Jones III civic leader focused on social change and education and Caroline Peak recent retiree public service manager at CPL.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Mayor Bibb appointed the three new members on Dec 3, 2024. clevelandohio.gov/news/mayor-bib…

clevelandohio.gov/news/mayor-bib…

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters The three new members share a few words.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Dr. Warren Morgan shares a few words before introducing the CEO report.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Cleveland Metropolitan School District Holiday events.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters CMSD Inclement Weather FAQs talks about the protocol.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Next, Long Term Planning involves increasing the student experience while also putting CMSD on a path to financial sustainability.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters The student experience.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Student experience looks at a 13 year range from Pre-K until graduation.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Morgan continues with the second leg of long-term planning, funding. The Board will have to vote on the funding.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters The 5-Year Forecast includes the levy that passed - Issue 49.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Issue 49 will generate $52 million annually to support local schools and prevent cuts to school staff and student programs. Read more about Issue 49 here - signalcleveland.org/issue-49-cleve…

signalcleveland.org/issue-49-cleve…

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Morgan states more work can be done like advocating for state funding but the Board will be focused on improving the student experience and working on long-term funding.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Morgan states work will be done to close the gap - between the blue line and gray line

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Morgan continues with the path forward which will be busy in 2025 and include community input, conversing with staff and students, sharing info via the website, and engaging the board.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters More information will come out in 2025 from Board meetings. Next, questions from the board - first up is Welch Howell (far right) who asks whether the team has a definition of what they're working backwards from with respect to financing and the 5-Year Forecast.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Howell clarifies whether the focus is on getting the red to black or on the 27/28-29 cash balance. Morgan responds they're looking at what's feasible because $96 million is a big number and a multi-faceted approach which includes looking at the student experience and finances.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Next question is from Peak who role will talking with the community help to improve or achieve the student experience. Morgan responds taking in input as good information was obtained from the community and it's good to take ideas to the community that are being worked on.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Morgan adds that during the listening tour a couple of years input was obtained from faith-based group, philanthropic groups and sports organizations.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Sara Elaqad, Board chair asks Morgan to speak to how funding impacts the ability to staff and offer different classes.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Morgan responds to Elqad states that enrollment of students who have been choosing CMSD has been consistent over the last five years and birth rates are down which will continue to hit CMSD - that dollars are based on how many students are in the building.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Next is public comment on agenda and non-agenda items. First up is Roberta Cathcart, a special para professional at Ed Joseph M Gallagher who states when teachers speak for students who can't speak for themself, teachers are told students are over-identified.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Cathcart describes a situation with a student in her class whose first response to any request is to scream no than either charge at the teacher or throw something then run around the classroom doing any and everything or throw something.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Cathcart continues that rather than actual teaching and learning, the behavior of one student is being managed; and four professionals are advocating for this one student.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Cathcart asks how can one administrator who hasn't seen or met the child trump the data of a team who has worked closely with the child. Carthcart states Morgan is invited to attend the "special education variety show."

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters That concludes the public comment period.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Next the Board will consider 11 resolutions. First, the Board will entertain a motion to adopt Resolution 6.01 to extend collectively bargained labor agreements between the CMSD and its labor unions for the period 7/1/2026 - 6/30/2027

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters There is no discussion from the Board; role is called and resolution is approved and adopted.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Next, a motion will be entertained for Resolutions 7.01, 7.02, and 7.03.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters There are no questions or further discussion from the Board - eight members vote yes and each of the Resolutions are adopted.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Next, the Board entertains a motion to adopt resolution 8.01. There are no questions or further discussion from the Board and the Resolution is adopted with an 8-0 yes vote of the Board.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Next, the Board entertains a motion to adopt Resolutions 9.01 and 9.02. There are no questions or further discussion from the Board and the Resolutions are approved and adopted with a 8-0 vote of the Board.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Next, the Board entertains a motion to adopt Resolutions 10.01, 10.02, 10.03, and 10.04.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters There is no further discussion or questions from the Board and the Resolutions are approved and adopted with an 8-0 vote.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Next on the agenda is Old Business - and there is none and New Business - and there is none. The next regular board meeting will be the 2025 Organization Meeting and Work Session on January 14 at 6:30 pm at Garrett Morgan High School.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Next, the Board enters Executive Session for the purpose of considering the appointment and employment of public officials preparing for negotiations with public officials regarding the terms and conditions of their employment and

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters cont'd: and conferring with attorneys concerning disputes that are the subject of pending or imminent court action.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters The Board returns to the public session from the executive session and entertains a motion to adopt a resolution authorizing a three-day suspension of a non-teaching employee. There is no discussion of the Board and the resolution is adopted with a 8-0 vote.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters The meeting is adjourned and this concludes the Cleveland Metropolitan School District Board Business Meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2025 at Garrett Morgan HS.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters Have questions? Think we got something wrong? Send any inquiries on the meeting or these notes to @cledocumenters or email us at cledocumenters@gmail.com.

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@signalcleveland @cledocumenters For more meeting coverage, check out . documenters.org

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Agency Information

Cleveland Metropolitan School District

www.clevelandmetroschools.org

(216) 838-0030

Karlea.Steele@ClevelandMetroSchools.org

See Documenters reporting

The Board of Education functions as the governing body of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Board responsibilities include: hiring the School District Chief Executive Officer (with the concurrence of the Mayor); setting School District policy; approving the School District budget; establishing goals and accountability standards; and promoting parent, family, and community involvement in the schools.

Cleveland’s current school governance structure was created by Ohio House Bill 269 in 1997, and took effect September 9, 1998. The Board of Education is made up of nine voting members appointed by the Mayor of Cleveland from a slate of nominees selected by a local nominating panel, established under State law. At least four of the nine members must have significant expertise in either education, finance, or business management. Board members must be residents of the School District, and at least one of the nine members must reside in that part of the School District that is outside the City of Cleveland (Bratenahl, Linndale, Newburgh Heights, and parts of Brook Park and Garfield Heights).

Find the meeting live stream here: https://www.youtube.com/@CMSDCommunications/streams