CLEVELAND — A day after the announcement that hundreds of Cleveland Metropolitan School District teachers and paraprofessionals would be laid off, its board held a meeting about what's next for its buildings.
The district announced its plan to restructure its school system last November, with 29 fewer schools operating during the 2026-2027 school year, resulting in 39 total mergers and moves, and 18 CMSD-owned buildings and five leased spaces will not operate as schools next academic year.
On Saturday, the board discussed its next steps for that plan based on community discussions and online surveys with Cleveland residents about how to reuse the buildings set to close.
Watch the full meeting:
What's next for the buildings
Through online surveys, residents emphasized that they did not want the buildings to sit empty and proposed converting the schools into housing developments, community facilities, specialized educational programming and neighborhood amenities such as grocery stores.
RELATED: With 18 school buildings set to close, Cleveland is asking neighbors what they want to see
One school in particular is the Tremont Montessori School, which, during community discussions, residents proposed the following in terms of reusing the site:
- Arts and dance studios and classes, along with a performance space.
- Mixed-income housing, affordable senior housing and mixed-use low-to-mid-rise intergenerational development.
- After-school programs, educational partnerships, daycare and family-oriented services.
Collinwood High, Hannah Gibbons and Euclid Park schools were also part of those discussions. Residents proposed the following on how to reuse those sites:
- Trades training, workforce development programming, adult education and career path programming, youth and after-school programming.
- Community center, social services hub, spaces for recreation/arts/culture and intergenerational activities.
- Intergenerational, senior and/or affordable housing, or mixed-use housing with supportive services.
- Small businesses or city services.
Some sites will be transferred to the city, such as the Valley View Boys' Leadership Academy and New Tech West, which could serve as new fire stations. Additionally, the city will acquire Miles School and is likely to convert it into a new safety facility.
The district will require the use of some buildings that will become available in June for district functions, such as temporary swing sites during construction projects. The board recommended that the Euclid Park, Mary B. Martin and the Health Careers buildings be used for this.
However, these sites could be evaluated for sale-leaseback opportunities.
Through land swaps with the city, the district will acquire spaces near existing schools and proposes converting them into green space, learning gardens, playing fields and additional parking.
Some properties are suited for sale-leaseback arrangements, but they must align with the needs expressed by the community during the discussions and surveys.
The buildings can be sold to any purchaser, but a portion of the building must be leased back to the district, and the purchaser is required to undertake public improvements to all or part of the leased space.
Some buildings that the district may decide are no longer needed for school use will be put up for auction. The board recommended that the Charles Mooney and Collinwood buildings be prepared for public offer.
Every transfer or sale of a building requires CMSD board approval.
As the district nears the end of the school year, building cleanouts and securing closed buildings are prioritized.
Construction progress
Over the past year, the district has made progress in its construction process as part of the restructuring plan.
As of Saturday, several remodeling, rebuilding and demolition projects have already been completed, such as at the Joseph Gallagher, Clark, Eastside High School and Marion Seltzer buildings.
While the Marion Seltzer building has already undergone demolition, rebuilding will begin this spring. Additionally, the district and the city will begin construction on the JFK Football Field this summer.
The district's progress also includes abating and demolishing eight properties.
Building Brighter Futures
This plan is part of the district's Building Brighter Futures initiative, which aims to save the district $30 million a year through downsizing.
If no changes are made, the district faces a budget deficit by 2028. It needs to save $150 million over the next several years.
Also part of this initiative were the layoffs of about 150 teachers and 120 paraprofessionals, including eight teachers from Hannah Gibbons and the entire teaching staff at that elementary school, the Cleveland Teachers Union said on Friday.
WATCH:
RELATED: Hundreds of Cleveland Metropolitan School District educators getting layoff notices
