CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Metropolitan School Board of Education voted Tuesday night and unanimously approved the large-scale plan that will restructure the school system for the next academic year. The plan is called "Building Brighter Futures."
"This is a plan that’s first about what students can have. It’s putting students first," said Dr. Warren Morgan, CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, at a news conference held Wednesday morning.
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Morgan and Board of Education Chair Sara Elaqad said they’re ready to take action and start implementing the plan.
It includes closing 18 buildings and five leased spaces. That takes the total number of schools from 88 to 59 by way of merging 13 high schools and 16 elementary schools into different school buildings.
Budget concerns
The district is facing a $150 million deficit and potential state oversight if not corrected.
Consolidating is expected to save $30 million a year through operating and personnel savings, in addition to other significant savings the district has already achieved.
Morgan didn't specify how many displacements or layoffs are expected but principals have already been notified about who will head the newly configures schools.
"Assistant principals, deans and campus coordinators are things we expect to be able to announce on the other side of the break," Morgan said.
He said that where enrollment lands will determine everything else.
Enhanced educational programming promised
Leaders said Building Brighter Futures will make better use of resources, promising that all high schools will offer college and career pathways, while all elementary schools will provide enrichment courses like Algebra 1, foreign languages and band.
Some community members are concerned
Eise Bey owns Renaissance Barber Shop, which is across the street from Collinwood High School, which will merge into Glenville High School.
"I watched a lot of these kids grow up in this community," Bey said. "A lot of them still come in here, and I can tell you they not pleased with the merger."
He said Collinwood is a source of neighborhood pride and losing it feels like punishment.
"It's one situation where it just trickle down and everybody gonna have to feel the effects of it and they going to have to make necessary adjustments," Bey said.
Cleveland native William Buckway wished students had a bigger stake in the decision making.
"Get the kids to vote," Buckway said. "How do the kids feel? Is anyone asking how the kids feel?"
He said concerns about violence and gangs were one of the reasons his son chose to attend a charter school.
"He wanted to have a clear mind when he go to school... he could think. He could learn," Buckway said.
Buckway thinks the district should have taken a more tailored approach.
"Don't shut all the schools down. You're making it harder on these kids," Buckway said.
The district did host numerous community listening sessions. I asked Morgan and Elaqad about that.
"At the end of the day, yes, we heard additional input and we pivoted in many ways," Elaqad said. "The strategy is built on years of input. What we need to deliver for our students that, frankly, we have not -- and we will."
President of Cleveland Teachers Union weighs-in
"This absolutely cannot be a rubber-stamp moment. Your red pen needs to be a red Sharpie. It is your responsibility to take all that you’ve heard and do what’s right for our kids, our schools, our community," Cleveland Teachers Union President Shari Obrenski said the night of the board vote.
RELATED: Cleveland Metropolitan School District's CEO proposes sweeping restructuring plan
Also at that meeting, Morgan, speaking of the district's future said, "This is a moment that demands action. Us doing nothing does not change our financials."
One parent told the board, "Our children’s future depends on more than efficiency. They depend on equity, dignity and your unwavering commitment to meet their needs, not your metrics. It is clear that CMSD is being run like a business."
Some revisions to the plan made
At Tuesday's board meeting, Morgan presented a revised proposal, stating that 98% of the district's elementary schools will have Pre-K.
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Whitney Young Elementary School will now offer Pre-K, and Campus International will be the only elementary school without one.
Additionally, Morgan proposed changing one of the mergers. Dike School of the Arts will merge with the Mound building and be named Mound School of the Arts.
Morgan's original recommendation was to move Dike School of the Arts to the Mound building and be named Dike School of the Arts, while the Mound building was to move to Albert Bushnell Hart.
Other changes to his proposal included pushing back start dates for both staff and students. While staff started their year on Aug. 12 this year, their start date will be pushed to Aug. 17 for the 2026-2027 school year. Students started on Aug. 18 this year and will begin on Aug. 24 next school year.
These calendar changes prompt other dates to be pushed back for the next school year as well, including semester-end dates, spring break, and parent-teacher conferences.
Some name changes came about on Tuesday as well.
The district is going to rename Warner Girls' Leadership Academy as Mary B. Martin and change the name of the Douglas MacArthur Girls' Leadership Academy to Mary McLeod Bethune to preserve two school names that are historically significant. The current Mary B. Martin building is closing, and the current Mary McLeod Bethune building is going to become the new home of the Kenneth W. Clement Boys' Leadership Academy.
Next up
The district said over the next several months it will be hosting meetings and providing communication to families about next school year including busing which will be provided to students impacted by Building Brighter Futures.
"We will work hard to make sure that this works for our community and kids," Morgan said. "Because like I also said— I do this work for kids like me. So, this is really personal," Morgan said.
