While there is not a school levy on the ballot this election day, several students in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District plan on using their day off of school to promote civic-mindedness and clear up some misperceptions about Heights High.
A CHHS Student Union has formed to help give students a voice and to advocate for student concerns. Their current focus is addressing concerns within the University Heights planning commission regarding the movement of Heights students to the Wiley Campus in August 2015 while the high school is under construction for two years.
“We students recognize that our move to Wiley has brought up some concerns within the University Heights community and government. We want to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves to the community, shake hands, and answer any questions or concerns that they might have,” said Emma Schubert, an 11th grader at Renaissance School.
The District has been seeking approval from the University Heights Planning Commission to move forward with the plan since February 2014. “The UH Planning Commission and Department Leaders have asked great questions and helped us make several improvements to the plan for the temporary high school along the way,” stated Superintendent Dr. Talisa L. Dixon. “Our focus now is on collaborating with our law enforcement partners to implement a solid safety and security plan that will maintain the safety of our students, staff and communities.”
Some students spoke at the October 14 University Heights Planning Commission Meeting at John Carroll University.
The District has requested another meeting with the UH Planning Commission. Mayor Infeld said the commission will grant another meeting sometime before Thanksgiving. There is a real sense of urgency for the approval of the project. Delaying the decision and preventing the temporary high school from going on the Wiley Campus by a year would cost the District more than $8 million.
Members of the High School Student Union have been following the conversations about the plans for the temporary high school between District officials and UH City Leaders and feel there is an inaccurate perception of Heights students. “We are students who go to school everyday to learn, make life long relationships, take advantage of all opportunities given to us, and prepare for our futures. We are athletes, musicians, writers and future scientists,” Schubert stated. This group of students wants all University Heights residents to understand and accept them as members of our greater CH-UH community. “This is our home.”
For this reason, the students are taking action and working out all of the logistics on their own. On Election Day the students plan on greeting University Heights voters with a handshake and free hot chocolate as they go to vote. And if voters are interested in learning more about the Heights High experience, these students are eager to share their success stories. Their goal is to put a human face on the CHHS student and ask residents to reach out to their mayor and council people to help encourage them to welcome CHHS to Wiley.