CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A meeting of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District School Board was held on Wednesday night as teachers and parents listened to a major consolidation plan for the district.
CMSD CEO Dr. Warren Morgan told 19 News rather than closings he has recommended school mergers for the district.
He says if approved by the school board on Dec. 9, the plan could save the schools $30 million a year.
The recommendation includes the Cleveland Schools going from 61 Pre K-8 schools to 45, and from 27 high schools to 14.
That would mean 18 CMSD buildings would be closed, and five leased spaces would no longer be needed.
The total number of schools that would close is 29.
According to Dr. Morgan this is all part of the “Building Brighter Futures” initiative that is designed for long-term facilities planning and to cut costs.
CMSD is trying to avoid being put back in fiscal precaution by the state’s Department of Education.
Twenty years ago the Cleveland Schools had an 70,000 students, but enrollment has declined by 50% since 2004, to just about 34,000 students or scholars.
At one point you could hear the audience gathered at the Arnold Pinkney East Professional Center gasp when one of the recommendations included merging Collinwood with Glenville High School.
Dr. Morgan feels the benefits of the proposal impact the entire system..
“There are a couple things I want to tell those parents and students that are impacted by this plan or recommendation should the board vote on it. One is every student that is impacted by this plan, 100% of them will have an option to attend a school more or equal academic extra-curricular sports and student support opportunities. That’s something we can’t deliver on right now. 96% of them will attend and equal or greater star-rated school. So, they’re moving to a higher performing school. 95% of them will be attending a school that is equal or greater in building condition. That’s something we can’t deliver on today. This plan saves us at least 30-million dollars a year.”
The high schools will offer more career pathways, and college preparatory classes for students, while the middle school will offer sports and activities to some students who went to schools where the number of students was too low to offer extras like sports.
19 News also talked to the Cleveland Teacher’s Union President Shari Obrenski who says mergers are far more beneficial to their staff than closings because there are more course offerings in this case.
But some of the savings are expected to come from administrative salaries of principals and assistant principals if the schools consolidate.
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