Principles or principals?

Having read the article...Some of the gain sounds like it comes from principles convincing parents to keep their children in local schools..... Definitely interesting

 

Especially since for a long and critical period in Cleveland's history the concept of "neighborhood school" was nonexistent.

Charter school in the I Can network becomes first in city to unionize

By Patrick O'Donnell, The Plain Dealer

on March 16, 2016 at 4:53 PM, updated March 16, 2016 at 6:24 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Teachers and staff at an I Can charter school voted today to join the Ohio Federation of Teachers, making it the first charter school in Cleveland to be unionized, and one of the first in the state.

 

With an 18 to 4 vote, the 29 teachers and staff will now be represented by a local unit called the Cleveland Alliance of Charter School Teachers and Staff (Cleveland ACTS) and will start pursuing a contract with the network.

 

The University of Cleveland Preparatory School at E. 40th Street and Chester Avenue is one of two schools in the I Can charter network whose employees have pursued unionization over the last few years.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/03/charter_school_in_the_i_can_network_becomes_first_in_city_to_unionize.html#incart_sms

 

New dean of CSU's College of Urban Affairs, coming to CLE from Rutgers-Newark.

 

"Roland Anglin has been named dean of Cleveland State University's Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs.

 

Anglin is senior advisor to the chancellor and director of the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies at Rutgers University-Newark...."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/03/roland_anglin_named_dean_of_cl.html

We are reminded at City Council that CMSD students had highest rate of suicidality (thoughts of suicide) in *country* in 2015.

CMSD is closing Whitney Young, a high-performing magnet school, and forcing all its gifted students into JFK high.  Many of these students will be in physical danger at JFK.  Whitney Young was the only thing that made CMSD workable for those kids, and they have made their school one of the district's few bright spots.  But that's over.  Many are scrambling to get into private schools now.

UPDATE:  Whitney Young has been saved, at least for now, after its students went to meetings and campaigned for it to stay open.

Still not good enough, but it is encouraging to see signs of progress. 

 

Cleveland schools break out of test score stall. Can they catch Columbus?

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Earlier this year, it looked like Cleveland's much-publicized Cleveland Plan for Transforming Schools had stalled.

 

State test scores had stayed basically flat three years in a row. And district scores on a key national test also showed no real gains, just a district stuck in a narrow score range for a decade.

 

This year's state report card broke that pattern. Cleveland students improved their test scores and narrowed the gap between them and the state average. Cleveland scores are also close to overtaking Columbus, the state's largest district.

 

 

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/09/cleveland_schools_break_out_of.html#incart_river_index

Let's suppose Cleveland increased both its median average income and decrease it's poverty rate by about 40%, and the schools barely budged in performance, what would that say?

 

I was surprised to see Columbus schools ranked so badly. The narrative is that poverty-ridden Cleveland is behind the 8-ball when it comes to the schools and that it is hard to get families to move to Cleveland given the state of the school system.  Columbus' median household income is $49k and a poverty rate of 21%. Cleveland's median income is $27k and has a poverty rate of 35%.  Yet both school systems perform almost equally poorly?

 

 

 

 

Serious question:   are there still residual effects of "desegregation" on CMSD student assignments, or have they more or less returned to a neighborhood school model?

Edited February 9, 20196 yr by E Rocc

I'm pretty sure you can go to any Cleveland school you want to, as long as there isn't a waiting list and the school matches the grade for your child.

2 hours ago, KJP said:

I'm pretty sure you can go to any Cleveland school you want to, as long as there isn't a waiting list and the school matches the grade for your child.

 

You are correct KJP. Cleveland is “open enrollment.” A third of my daughter’s classmates don’t even live in the city.

Edited February 9, 20196 yr by stpats44113

Collinwood High would merge into Glenville; 10 other Cleveland schools could close in district downsizing

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/10/collinwood-high-would-merge-into-glenville-10-other-cleveland-schools-could-close-in-district-downsizing.html

1 hour ago, KJP said:

Collinwood High would merge into Glenville; 10 other Cleveland schools could close in district downsizing

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/10/collinwood-high-would-merge-into-glenville-10-other-cleveland-schools-could-close-in-district-downsizing.html

And yet they built that new high school on Detroit

3 hours ago, bumsquare said:

And yet they built that new high school on Detroit

and your point?  What are the demographics and future projections for that school zone?

4 hours ago, KJP said:

Collinwood High would merge into Glenville; 10 other Cleveland schools could close in district downsizing

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/10/collinwood-high-would-merge-into-glenville-10-other-cleveland-schools-could-close-in-district-downsizing.html

 

Most of my fathers family went to Glenville.  Merging with Collinwood would be catastrophic.  I have heard that Collinwood is shrinking faster than other high school.  There female population has really shrunk.

6 hours ago, MyTwoSense said:

and your point?  What are the demographics and future projections for that school zone?

My point is that we’ve had long discussions on this forum about the wisdom of placing an enormous institutional use on a highly valuable and developable stretch of a main west side artery. I suggest reading some of the Detroit Shoreway development thread if you’d like a better understanding. 

6 hours ago, MyTwoSense said:

 

Most of my fathers family went to Glenville.  Merging with Collinwood would be catastrophic.  I have heard that Collinwood is shrinking faster than other high school.  There female population has really shrunk.

 

Couldn't agree more.  Just merging the schools themselves could help push even more families out of both neighborhoods.  I can't see anyone who would willingly choose to have their child go to a school merged between kids from both Glenville and Collinwood.  There would be fights everyday with kids claiming their street is the hardest in the city.  "Oh, you're from E. 145th?  Well, I'm from E. 117th- your block ain't s!$%".  Everyday.  

2 hours ago, bumsquare said:

My point is that we’ve had long discussions on this forum about the wisdom of placing an enormous institutional use on a highly valuable and developable stretch of a main west side artery. I suggest reading some of the Detroit Shoreway development thread if you’d like a better understanding. 

I have read it but i notice you didn't answer my questions.  that are has seen resurgence, they needed a new high school.  Not all of those children will fit into LW nor should they all go there.

2 hours ago, Oldmanladyluck said:

 

Couldn't agree more.  Just merging the schools themselves could help push even more families out of both neighborhoods.  I can't see anyone who would willingly choose to have their child go to a school merged between kids from both Glenville and Collinwood.  There would be fights everyday with kids claiming their street is the hardest in the city.  "Oh, you're from E. 145th?  Well, I'm from E. 117th- your block ain't s!$%".  Everyday.  

 

This isn't what I meant, but that would happen.  The issue I see is less services for children and less programs.  East High has closed, now if Collinwood closes, cramming students into that one building causes and issue with travel and safety.  Children who live further away, will be less likely to attend classes and their parents less likely to attend events. and that is the very tip of the iceberg.  Teachers and administrators along with school programs are different discussions.

14 hours ago, KJP said:

Collinwood High would merge into Glenville; 10 other Cleveland schools could close in district downsizing

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/10/collinwood-high-would-merge-into-glenville-10-other-cleveland-schools-could-close-in-district-downsizing.html

 

I'm confused by the low enrollment numbers given.  The OHSAA shows both Glenville and Collinwood each having almost 500 students in grades 9-11 alone, meaning for 9-12 they'd each have around 650 students.

1 hour ago, MyTwoSense said:

 

This isn't what I meant, but that would happen.  The issue I see is less services for children and less programs.  East High has closed, now if Collinwood closes, cramming students into that one building causes and issue with travel and safety.  Children who live further away, will be less likely to attend classes and their parents less likely to attend events. and that is the very tip of the iceberg.  Teachers and administrators along with school programs are different discussions.

I do agree with the travel issue, especially becuase so many students walk or take RTA to class. But below is what the district said about enrollment sizes and services investment. I can see where it would be a drain to have to maintain these massive buildings, and instead focus more money to existing programs.

 

There are just 305 students in Collinwood High School, a building with capacity for 1,625 students, the district says. Glenville has 384 students in an 1,800-student building.

 

2 hours ago, MyTwoSense said:

I have read it but i notice you didn't answer my questions.  that are has seen resurgence, they needed a new high school.  Not all of those children will fit into LW nor should they all go there.

Yes I did. I said a school shouldn’t be built on a prime stretch of developable land. Oh well. I’m sure you have some numbers to back up an increase of high school age students in the area that would necessitate a new high school. Especially when a new high school was just built 2 miles away. 

1 hour ago, Enginerd said:

I do agree with the travel issue, especially becuase so many students walk or take RTA to class. But below is what the district said about enrollment sizes and services investment. I can see where it would be a drain to have to maintain these massive buildings, and instead focus more money to existing programs.

 

There are just 305 students in Collinwood High School, a building with capacity for 1,625 students, the district says. Glenville has 384 students in an 1,800-student building.

 

 

Again, why is the district saying enrollment is below 400 for these buildings when the OHSAA says there's many more students than that?

 

I feel like CMSD is trying to "get creative" with numbers here to justify not having to pay to maintain a big old building.

10 minutes ago, jam40jeff said:

 

Again, why is the district saying enrollment is below 400 for these buildings when the OHSAA says there's many more students than that?

 

I feel like CMSD is trying to "get creative" with numbers here to justify not having to pay to maintain a big old building.

Cleveland has a significantly large transient student population. 400 is probably a correct number for students that attend a full year at this schools. 

11 minutes ago, KFM44107 said:

Cleveland has a significantly large transient student population. 400 is probably a correct number for students that attend a full year at this schools. 

 

That may be so, but transient students still take up space.  If 400 students attend a full year, but at any given time there are many more transient students moving in and out, you need space for more than 400.  The OHSAA takes a snapshot enrollment figure at the end of October.  October 31, 2018 put both Glenville and Collinwood at nearly double what CMSD has them at.  There has to be something else going on.

1 hour ago, jam40jeff said:

 

That may be so, but transient students still take up space.  If 400 students attend a full year, but at any given time there are many more transient students moving in and out, you need space for more than 400.  The OHSAA takes a snapshot enrollment figure at the end of October.  October 31, 2018 put both Glenville and Collinwood at nearly double what CMSD has them at.  There has to be something else going on.

 

Seniors aren't generally counted in stats for the following year, so it's a estimate, that is why they look at 9-11.  I think it's funny math at the state level on how the student body is calculated.

21 hours ago, MyTwoSense said:

 

Seniors aren't generally counted in stats for the following year, so it's a estimate, that is why they look at 9-11.  I think it's funny math at the state level on how the student body is calculated.

 

I know that, but my point is that the numbers for 9-11 for each school are significantly higher than the numbers CMSD gives for 9-12.

There are a lot of specialized HIgh Schools in CMSD now. Is it possible that the schools without teams are lumped into the schools with teams?

 

I assume the kids would be able to choose to be on one of the teams that exist? Just a guess. 

11 hours ago, jam40jeff said:

 

I know that, but my point is that the numbers for 9-11 for each school are significantly higher than the numbers CMSD gives for 9-12.

I keep looking at this and the only thing I can come up with is CMSD is only reporting one sex, not both sexes.  This is a mystery.

Collinwood, Glenville residents plead with Cleveland school district to save Collinwood High

Updated Oct 29, 2019; Posted Oct 28, 2019

By Patrick O'Donnell, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Collinwood and Glenville residents pleaded with the Cleveland school district Monday night to halt plans to close Collinwood High School and merge it into neighboring Glenville High School.

 

Residents complained that shutting Collinwood and putting a fence around it would be a huge eyesore for the neighborhood.

 

They worried that forcing rival schools to become one will draw violence from students and from the different gangs in the neighborhoods. And they begged the district to not make students travel a few miles to school, instead of a few blocks now, on overcrowded buses or by walking on dangerous streets.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/10/collinwood-glenville-residents-plead-with-cleveland-school-district-to-save-collinwood-high.html

Cleveland Board of Education approves plan to consolidate schools, postpone Collinwood closure

https://fox8.com/2019/11/19/cleveland-board-of-education-approves-plan-to-consolidate-schools-postpone-collinwood-closure/

Way to go, CMSD...

 

 

Are you saying this is CMSD's fault?

Seems like a lot of fights occur in Cleveland schools. Lots of blame to go around...poorly run schools, absentee parents, bad socioeconomic conditions, nervous system-destroying lead paint, etc. etc.

^To the point @X was alluding to though, I don't believe the fights are the school district's fault. First, we've all been to high school and know that fights happen period. Maybe not huge brawls all the time, but some one on ones definitely. Second, CMSD is dealing with all those issues you mentioned @KJP on a mega scale and only how the schools are run can it control, which I argue is only a small part of it. You drop all those widespread issues on any school district and are almost guaranteed to watch it crumble. 

 

Until the socioeconomic issues within the city CMSD serves and the issue of absentee parenting is resolved, these issues will continue to plague the district.

What's the excuse for this behavior in our wealthier school districts? Kids are the same everywhere....

 

3News Investigates: Disturbing video shows Olmsted Falls student with special needs being bullied

 

https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/investigations/olmsted-township-video-bullying/95-e4cc843a-6e42-4aba-a69b-7b7c2235b865

48 minutes ago, Mov2Ohio said:

^To the point @X was alluding to though, I don't believe the fights are the school district's fault. First, we've all been to high school and know that fights happen period. Maybe not huge brawls all the time, but some one on ones definitely. Second, CMSD is dealing with all those issues you mentioned @KJP on a mega scale and only how the schools are run can it control, which I argue is only a small part of it. You drop all those widespread issues on any school district and are almost guaranteed to watch it crumble. 

 

Until the socioeconomic issues within the city CMSD serves and the issue of absentee parenting is resolved, these issues will continue to plague the district.

 

It's why that I can never move to the city of Cleveland as long as my son is of school age. And I can't afford the other schooling alternatives.

Now why do I think this nonsense doesn't happen in Asian or Western Europe? The race to the bottom continues, and we're all losing.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/02/ohio-graduates-wont-have-to-be-proficient-in-math-or-english-under-state-superintendents-plan.html

 

Ohio graduates won’t have to be “proficient” in math or English, under state superintendent’s plan

 

 

On 11/28/2019 at 10:54 AM, KJP said:

 

It's why that I can never move to the city of Cleveland as long as my son is of school age. And I can't afford the other schooling alternatives.

 

Reminder --

Quote

Unless Ohio’s legislators find a way this week to address the EdChoice voucher crisis, one has to assume that the pro-voucher ideologues in the Ohio Senate intend to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to allow—on April 1, 2020— the total number of Ohio’s EdChoice Designated public schools to grow to 1,200.

https://janresseger.wordpress.com/

 

 

We are actually considering a school in Cleveland for my son, if he can test in to it. Whenever that test will be......

On 2/23/2020 at 9:25 PM, TBideon said:

Now why do I think this nonsense doesn't happen in Asian or Western Europe? The race to the bottom continues, and we're all losing.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/02/ohio-graduates-wont-have-to-be-proficient-in-math-or-english-under-state-superintendents-plan.html

 

Ohio graduates won’t have to be “proficient” in math or English, under state superintendent’s plan

 

 

I can't help but think that if a high school student struggles with these most basic math concepts, shouldn't they be in some sort of vocational program that can give them skills to be employable in some fashion?  

Too bad Clevelanders never met a tax increase they didn't like.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/07/cleveland-schools-voters-could-see-tax-increase-on-november-ballot.html

 

Quote

Cleveland schools voters could see tax increase on November ballot

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland’s school board unanimously voted on Tuesday evening to begin the process of placing a tax increase on November’s ballot.

 

A 15-mill tax is set to expire this year, which makes up about 12 percent of the district’s budget.

The measure would renew the tax and increase it by 5 mill, of which an additional half mill would be shared with partnering charter schools.

 

The increase would run from January 2021 through December 2030, asked as a single ballot question. This 10-year period extends the time between renewals; the tax previously was for a four-year period.

 

The vote was recommended by CEO Eric Gordon, after working with a committee of education, city and business leaders.

Gordon acknowledged that it is a difficult time to ask for an increase due to economic instability from the coronavirus pandemic. Without the renewal, though, the district would need to make significant cuts to balance its budget.

 

Uh huh, a 10 year tax increase to offset coronavirus issues.

17 hours ago, Mendo said:

Too bad Clevelanders never met a tax increase they didn't like.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/07/cleveland-schools-voters-could-see-tax-increase-on-november-ballot.html

 

 

Uh huh, a 10 year tax increase to offset coronavirus issues.

It's saying that financial burdens from covid make it a bad time to ask for an increase, not that the increase is because of covid.

1 hour ago, dastler said:

It's saying that financial burdens from covid make it a bad time to ask for an increase, not that the increase is because of covid.

 

Sorry I can't quote the whole article. Later in the article there is a comment from Gordon saying the increase is to offset financial challenges from COVID-19.

A common trope on the Cleveland subreddit is that the Cleveland school district sucks, and that the only options are to send the kids to private school or to move to the burbs. Looking at Ohio's report card here: https://www.cleveland.com/news/g66l-2019/09/999687f12c8117/ohio-school-districts-ranked-1-to-608-by-report-cards-performance-index.html CMSD ranks out at one of the worst in the state.

 

My question is, what can be done to improve the school district? Are there any studies on suggestions for what can be done? Trying to find some more objective numbers, using this source: https://www.niche.com/k12/d/cleveland-municipal-school-district-oh/ it looks our teacher to student ratio is lower and the expenses per student are higher than the national average. Is throwing more money at the problem a solution? Paying teachers more to attract better teachers? What about funding for extra-curriculars?

 

I'm curious what others here think the solution might be, ideally with studies or reports to back up their claims.

5 hours ago, dastler said:

A common trope on the Cleveland subreddit is that the Cleveland school district sucks, and that the only options are to send the kids to private school or to move to the burbs. Looking at Ohio's report card here: https://www.cleveland.com/news/g66l-2019/09/999687f12c8117/ohio-school-districts-ranked-1-to-608-by-report-cards-performance-index.html CMSD ranks out at one of the worst in the state.

 

My question is, what can be done to improve the school district? Are there any studies on suggestions for what can be done? Trying to find some more objective numbers, using this source: https://www.niche.com/k12/d/cleveland-municipal-school-district-oh/ it looks our teacher to student ratio is lower and the expenses per student are higher than the national average. Is throwing more money at the problem a solution? Paying teachers more to attract better teachers? What about funding for extra-curriculars?

 

I'm curious what others here think the solution might be, ideally with studies or reports to back up their claims.

 

I have no studies or reports but my wife was a teacher in Cleveland for years. Children from a destructive or unsupportive home environment are nearly impossible to properly educate. Sadly such a large number of students fit that description in the city that it creates a disruptive atmosphere where ensuring good conduct requires an inordinate amount of time and energy. It is heartbreaking to witness so many kids who have no real shot at a normal life. 

 

The only solution I can think of is to provide boarding schools where the student environment is safe and conducive to learning. I'm not sure how that could even be done without a controversial and massive change in the district, not to mention the cost considerations. 

Ive often contemplated the benefits of having a m-f boarding school environment for the inner city youth to combat the same issues you speak of and i have witnessed. Unfortunately politically I think it has a snowballs chance in hell of coming to fruition, but I agree it is truly the next step in instituting constructive change.