COMMUNITY  FORUM

A.J. RICKOFF

MAY  29, 2008

Focused Discussion  Area

Responses/Comments

 

Annual Budget

 

 

Do you also show loss of funding from students that go to charter schools?

What was the amount of per pupil funding?

Do we find funds for school libraries in general fund?

Is it (of library), given to the schools as a separate amount/per pupil?

Is the school district responsible for determining how much $ for school libraries?
Is the State increase 3% just inflation?
Does every student get that same amount (per pupil) and the same % increase?
In the new proposed budget we don’t have that (%age) guarantee.
Do you know how many Medicaid eligible students in the district?
Does it cover their entire cost or do some costs come out of general fund?
Where are we with Federal dollars such as Title I?
Do you pay transportation for charter school students?
Do you do a break out of salary/benefits by teachers & administrators?
Is the 200 reduction in staff (retirement, etc.) a typical number?
Do you have a number of the support position vacancies and will there be funds to replace them
Are STEM staff funded through general funds or other funds?
Day cleaners were laid off before – is there $ in the budget to call day cleaners back?
Do you still receive capital dollars from state?
The system controls charters, so why is the district paying?
The charter school per pupil amount is still the same (as CMSD), isn’t it?
Do you deal w/ per pupil expenditures for the gender schools, Ginn, etc. or do you give them more and how is that factored in?
What is the reimbursement for “opt out” bus & does it apply to charters?
Can you prepare a budget by building?
Is student activity fund allocated for field trips – is there central field trip allocation?
Does it have to come back to the students? (Fund raising)

 

 

Facilities Master Plan

Be more specific on % costs of renovations
ex: high school ft. = state calculates total space needed.

Renovation vs. New
What about Ohio Lottery Funding? What is the impact on the District?
How is how Ohio funding works affect the CMSD? How does unconstitutional ruling affect us?
How do we prepare students in older buildings? Question is parents addressing the equity issue.
Why don’t we employ students – take advantage of new programs?
Students involved in post-secondary opportunities?
Segments – decision is not to renovate. How do you determine location & what happens to students during that process?
Renovations vs. new build? How is it decided?
Average acreage?
Traffic control, green space needs, play safety issues & barriers.
How many students are we losing?
What is Gov. Strickland’s position on charter schools?
What is happening and how many students do we expect to lose?
Programs to lure charter school students?

What are our recruitment & retention plans?

Can we increase the budget surplus?
Can we use eminent domain/foreclosed homes to the acquire land?
Reinstate trades/programs at schools?
Addressing school climate? (clean, bright people in buildings.)
Address needs of older schools? Computers, etc. How to give attention to schools in maintenance?
How do schools get AP classes? Gifted, enrichment? How can this happen in every school?
Girls treated less fairly than boys?
When will we know about Ginn?
Windows at Alexander Hamilton?
Mt. Pleasant School plans? Is Nathan Hale moving there?
Does strategic plan include Greater Cleveland Councils, entities? Partnerships CDCs
Concerned about wasted funds? Harvey Rice, Moses Cleaveland, windows.
What about Robert Fulton?
Miles Elem. → Asst. Principal?
Security guard numbers for K-8 schools.
How can teachers teach if they are afraid? It starts at home, a school house is a house too. Please drop into schools. Wants up front.
Pre-school child development PCD – phased out? What is replacing – county?
Nutrition concerns at schools. Sugary, etc.
Does deconstruction include re-usage of materials? What is re-used? Can students help? What’s the cost to do?
A. Hamilton vocational use?
More community forums & involvement. Wants Board to increase involvement.
Wants Board to be more responsive, challenging the community to step up too.

 

 

K-8/Middle School Structures

Teachers placed in grade levels they are not qualified to teach or comfortable in teaching.
Transition from 8-9th grade is not smooth. How do we or what can we do to make this transition a smooth one?
Adjustment in staffing in Oct. (numerous teachers students have in one year).
Busing concern – Why students can’t ride buses that passing in their neighborhood?

 

 

Safety and Security

Who took the nail?
What kind of consequences?
Do we have cameras outside?
Metal detectors in all buildings and someone to work them?
Bus stop safety?
Are schools able to get more cameras?
Who do we tell when we have concerns?
Visit Emile deSauze.
What type of support for suspected drug use?
Give presentations to students.
More parents involved.