Thanks for link 8Shade..playing with it now.

 

My job will be in Westlake, Mentor, or the Orange area. Definitely east side if it's the latter 2.

 

Couple more tidbits from trip: The 2 natives who recently moved back to the Cleve area and we're considering Tremont, now are looking to move back out of state. The one misses the diversity of LA. (Her daughter is biracial and getting teased mercilessly at an all girls catholic school. The other one is a doctor currently living in the Bingham. He wants to move to Nashville.

 

Also met a couple who moved to Avon lake from Seattle. (The wife grew up in LA) They love Cleveland over Seattle mentioning that it is more kid friendly, tolerant of religious folk, friendlier people, and stronger sense of community. They considered the Cleve area a well kept secret.That was cool to hear.

The Chase bank ATM at 67th (approx) and Detroit is available 24 hrs.  Need a card to get into the vestibule.

That is a shame about your friends daughter.  Maybe a school in the heights would be more racially sensitive?

I think it's interesting the 2 different perspectives re: children.  I wonder where the first family with the bi-racial child is currently living?  And contrast that with the Avon peeps, who said it's more kid-friendly here. 

It's tough...the "new kid" is gonna get teased,  it will probably be about the easiest thing to make fun of.  Height, weight, what they eat for lunch, if they have an accent.

 

She is going to get teased the next place she goes to as well, even if everyone else is whatever bi-racial makeup she is...the kids will find something.  The new kid has no network, no niche, no clique...is fair game for everyone.

 

I moved from North Olmsted to Rocky River in the fifth grade and got it pretty bad, as did everyone who came in after me...didn't matter that everyone was different shades of lilly white.

 

 

I totally agree with Ksonic.  Its what makes kids stronger.  I wonder where this family lives and what school she attends.  Secondly as my mother told me, you cannot run away from personal issues like that.  The kids needs to tough it up a bit!

I think it's a little presumptuous for anyone here to question the dissatisfaction of these parents.  And I think it's BS to think this type of thing is inevitable no matter what school it is. 

 

That said, I personally wouldn't choose a west side all girls catholic school if looking for a tolerant atmosphere (not trying to be provocative here), so if that's the case, It's too bad that this experience might prompt a move out of the area- because I don't think it's wholly representative of the area.  But it's not for me to second guess.

^^+1

I think it's a little presumptuous for anyone here to question the dissatisfaction of these parents.  And I think it's BS to think this type of thing is inevitable no matter what school it is. 

 

That said, I personally wouldn't choose a west side all girls catholic school if looking for a tolerant atmosphere (not trying to be provocative here), so if that's the case, It's too bad that this experience might prompt a move out of the area- because I don't think it's wholly representative of the area.  But it's not for me to second guess.

 

I couldn't agree more!

They are unhappy their child is being teased.  Which is only natural, and it is good that they are involved enough to 1) notice 2) care to do anything about it.

 

The "new" kid invariably is teased.  1) this isn't  a "good" thing.  2) it IS going to happen.

 

It will happen if they send their Child to St. Christopher or OLA...Mags, St. Joe's, Lakewood, Mayfield Hts, Shaker, Solon or Rocky River.  It will happen if they move to Denver, Charlotte, or Houston.

 

What might, I stress might, be different is how the school administration reacts to/handles this information...but that wasn't presented here.

 

Where is the presumption of anything?

Back on topic, folks.

I think it's interesting the 2 different perspectives re: children.  I wonder where the first family with the bi-racial child is currently living?  And contrast that with the Avon peeps, who said it's more kid-friendly here. 

 

The friend with the biracial daughter is in Akron. Not sure the name of the school. She lived in Santa Monica and her daughter went to a melting pot of a school that focused on performing arts. Her daughter is a good singer apparently.

 

An all white catholic girls school would be an adjustment to say the least. Obviously, there are a lot more moving parts as to why my friend would want to leave Ohio -- but she did just get offered 2 different full time jobs in Cleveland so she will be staying for awhile. She's in Public Event Marketing. She's excited about that. I suggested she look into Urban Community School.

 

A comment on the school issue if I may...I have family friends who went to Mags and St. Ignatius (even though they grew up in Lorain County) and they are more socially savvy than your typical public HS kid from Lorain County. Now before I get flamed, I'm a product of Oberlin HS and have a multitude of friends from Public highschools that are very successful and live happy, successful lives...but, there is a different air and savvy that kids carry who go to larger private OR public schools closer to Cleveland. Just my .02 cents.

 

 

I certainly understand. And at the risk of getting flamed by someone in Akron, I'm not surprised that they found an intolerant setting in Akron. It isn't a very diverse area. When I lived in Kent in the 1980s, I often heard that Akron had more people born in West Virginia than in any city in West Virginia. Even the African-Americans in Akron listened to country music when I visited...

So, Chicagoist, when is the next fact finding mission?

So, Chicagoist, when is the next fact finding mission?

 

Well, Punch, sometime early this summer. Obviously, been doing a lot of research online,but there is no substitute walking a neighborhood. Professionally, I'm a few months away from signaling to my employer that I want to relocate (my GF has to finish school this summer). There could be a few more months before a spot opens up in the area.

 

The other big piece is convincing my GF that moving to Cleveland is in both of our best interests. She is more lukewarm to the idea than myself. Since she is more lukewarm and it would be moving closer to my family, she will have more input on where we live if that makes sense.

 

We'll travel back to Cleveland in JUne for a few days and really take the time to thoroughly scout out the places I mentioned in my original post and then target some suburbs like Lakewood, Cleveland Heights, Rocky River, Bay Village, Shaker Heights, etc..the usual suspects.

 

So, it's somewhat of holding pattern right now...going through Zillow Cleveland heights looked really good...there are just so many choices.

 

Despite what Jakim NOah said, I'm really starting to think downtown could be a major player.

Let us know if you need suggestions on the return trip.  Maybe we can arrange an in-person UO meeting so your GF can see we are a friendly lot?

Will you be looking for new jobs?  What industries? 

There is a career networking thread, and we would be happy to help you two out that way as well.

Will you be looking for new jobs? What industries?

There is a career networking thread, and we would be happy to help you two out that way as well.

 

Appreciate that...actually I'm in the bookstore industry. My company only has a few locations in the Cleveland area. Because I'm in management, my company is pretty good about accomodating relo requests. If, and it's a big if, nothing will open in the Cleve area within the next year, then I might look at other job options.