September 7, 2006
September 7, 2006
To the Editor:
After nearly ten months of open public discussion and debate by this Board about Elementary Reorganization, including more than 15 public meetings and three public forums, we are shocked by your reversal in last week’s Sun Press editorial.
It was only a very short time ago that the Sun Press looked at our Elementary Reorganization process and pronounced its clear support. (Sun editorials: ‘Support the school board’ 6/8/06, ‘Kudos to the board’ 6/15/06, ‘Take a bow’ 6/29/06, ‘Looking ahead in Coventry’ 7/20/06). The rather abrupt turnaround from approval to last week’s editorial has left us mystified.
Sadly, you changed your editorial opinion without meeting with us to discuss the “information” – which we believe is incorrect – on which you “based” your turnabout. We have offered to meet with the Sun Press to discuss any concerns. Given that, this post-decision change in your opinion is of great concern to us. Potentially, it compounds the difficulty of a necessary, tough decision that has already been made in a legal, open process.
While we understand the disappointment among some Coventry residents, no compelling case has been made for the Board to reconsider its final decision. We have tried to be totally forthcoming, in an effort to help residents gain understanding of our decision. As to the call for a moratorium, which you supported in your latest editorial, we feel that to grant a moratorium would be imprudent and fiscally irresponsible. As you well know, we have continued to seek ways to tighten our fiscal belt. The school closing is just one of the ways we are doing this. By closing an elementary school, we will be able to operate more efficiently, saving more than $1 million each year in operational costs, and several million more in maintenance and capital improvement expenditures over the next few years, sums which we do not consider as ‘tiny’ as apparently the Sun Press does. One million dollars a year adds up to one mil of levy funding that voters will not have to provide. This is one of several cost-saving elements we have committed to, in addition to the $6 million in cuts we have already made in recent years, and the further $1 million the Board directed the administration to cut from this year’s budget.
Equally important, at least, Elementary Reorganization will help us to continue to operate effectively. The extremely difficult step that we have taken will allow this District to continue the steady and significant improvement we have seen in recent years. Our District has risen to an ‘Effective’ rating on the State report card and our excellent educators will strive for even higher standards. Savings, staff stabilization and equity of services amongst all of our elementary buildings as a result of the Reorganization will help us attain more success.
We understand that the decision to close an elementary school – any elementary school – is difficult and would be unpopular no matter which school was chosen. Therefore, counter to your claims, we gave the process a lengthy period of time, with numerous public meetings and opportunities for public input, to keep stakeholders as informed and involved as possible.
As you are aware we are responding to a comprehensive public records request and have assembled and forwarded thousands of requested documents. In addition, the Sun Press editorial asks several questions of us. We have answered each question, have been willing to respond to other requests, and will continue to make ourselves available to the public. Even after the vote to close Coventry Elementary, we continued to answer remaining questions. There may be no way to satisfy everyone, but we will continue to be as open as possible as we move forward.
Thank You,
Wendy Leatherberry
President
Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education
Ron Register
Vice President
Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education
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