18 Schools To Close in the City of Cleveland

Dr. Eugene Sanders, the CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District announced in the USTREAM video above the plan for reform, transformation and grouping of Cleveland schools into four groups; growth, refocus, repurpose and close. Dr. Sanders went on to announce that 18 schools are on the list to be closed including the closing of East High School and South High School. The majority of the schools recommended for close are on Cleveland's East Side.

This raises concerns and questions for the many faculty, administrative staff and households that have children attending these schools not to mention the Cleveland neighborhoods themselves losing a local education presence.

Will these students be transferred to the nearest, local school? How will the other schools house and handle all the students? What will be the teacher/student ratio? Will the west side of Cleveland ultimately be flooded with new enrollments?

If you're a parent or concerned resident, what are your thoughts about the plan to close your neighborhood school? Will you be moving? How will this impact your household and child's daily routine? With the recent RTA discussions regarding cuts, is this a solution to help the RTA? Will many of these children be taking the bus to other schools either on the east side or west side of Cleveland? Many of the local councilmen are rather upset with the news and some are hearing about it for the first time as we all are.

I'm curious how many will be laid off and am always sad to hear about teacher or education staff of any kind being laid off. It's one of the most important roles in our city and society. How will this impact the East Side's already troubled real estate market? We'll be adding more boards to not just homes but empty school buildings? There are certainly a lot of unanswered questions and issues yet to be resolved.

Dr. Sanders and Mayor Jackson discuss the "Whatever it takes" plan with the hopes of bringing the graduation rate to 90 percent as opposed to the current 54 percent. They're also banking on netting $30 million from Race to the Top, President Obama's education-reform package; $30 million from area foundations and the corporate community; and $10 million from "within" not to mention a future proposal for increased property taxes for Cleveland residents to cover the estimated $70 million it will take to execute this reform.


Where is it going if 18 schools are to be closed and layoffs are inevitable? How will putting more students into already crammed classrooms assist with building a stronger educational position for Cleveland not to mention having them travel even further away from their local neighborhoods? I've yet to hear the teacher's union chime in and give their thoughts. I'm sure it will end up in a heated debate. I'm all for change and believe we need it. Cleveland, Ohio is long overdue for a complete clean up of the school system. I'm wondering how this will impact the residents, teachers and ultimately the schools that will remain open...

Cleveland schools expected to close: (There may be up to 20)

• Albert B Hart
  
• Audubon
• Brooklawn
• Charles Lake4
• Empire Computech
• Forest Hill
• Parkway
• Henry Longfellow
  
• John D Rockefeller
  
• John W Raper
• Joseph F Landis
  
• Robert Fulton
• East High School
• South High School
• Alexander Graham Bell
  
• Gracemount
  
• Kenneth Clement
• Tremont

Relocate or replace

• Alexander Graham Bell’s Deaf Education Program (to Willson)1
• Gracemount gifted program (to Whitney Young grade 2-12 gifted)1
• Kenneth Clement (to new Euclid Park)2
  
• Thomas Jefferson -- opens new with newcomers' program and Montessori program (relocated from Tremont2)
• Willson opens new3

What are your thoughts and ideas?

Cecilia Sherrard
Cleveland Realtor