Tuesday, July 24, 2007
OPTIONS, DRESS CODE PACE CLEVELAND’S NEW SCHOOL YEAR
CLEVELAND, OH – Driven by the theme “Opportunity Starts Now!,” the Cleveland schools will begin the 2007-08 school year with a fresh look beginning with a name change to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The extensive alterations in school configuration, option programs and the name change are outgrowths of CEO Dr. Eugene Sanders’ bold, new vision outlined in the Opportunity Schools of Choice model unveiled in February. During a news conference in the auditorium of the Cleveland school’s Administration Building, Dr. Sanders discussed the following directions that will make this school year significantly re-designed and innovative:
Single Gender Schools: The Cleveland Metropolitan School District is rolling out four new single gender schools known as the Cleveland Boys Leadership Academy and the Cleveland Girls Leadership Academy. On the East Side, Kenneth Clement School (14311 Woodworth Rd.) will open to boys. Valley View is the West Side school for boys. Warner School (8315 Jeffries Ave.) opens as the East Side Girls Leadership Academy and Douglas MacArthur School (4401 Valleyside Rd.) is the West Side girls academy. Research indicates that single gender schools help students build confidence, try new things and develop a sense of belonging. Academy students and parents sign school-family covenants affirming their commitment to achievement, honesty and their children’s overall success. The single gender academies will open as pre-kindergarten through Grade 2 schools. A full-fledged grass-roots campaign has been launched to distribute recruitment magnets, posters, flyers and other materials at community fairs and events. Ads will appear in the Call & Post, CityNews and the West Side Sun newspapers and single gender advertisements will air on area radio stations.
In addition, tomorrow, July 25, enrollment fairs will be held at each single gender academy from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided along with application information. There will also be an opportunity to meet the academy heads of school.
Ginn Academy: Inspired by famed Glenville High School football coach Ted Ginn, Sr., the Ginn Academy opens its temporary quarters on the second floor of the former Health Careers Center (1740 E. 32nd St.). The Academy, designed for at-risk young men, will emphasize Scholarship, Leadership and Service. Initially, the Ginn Academy will offer admission to 100 ninth grade students and 50 tenth grade students. Letters and applications have been mailed to the homes of ninth and tenth grade students. Applications are also available at the Board of Education (1380 E. 6th St.) in downtown Cleveland, or online at www.cmsdnet.net. Admission will be based on a completed application, submission of a report card and essay, a recommendation from a teacher counselor, coach or pastor, and an interview with the student and his parent or guardian.
Student Uniform/Dress Code Policy: A Districtwide student uniform and dress code policy will be in force. Students in k-8 schools will wear student uniforms and high schools students will conform to a dress code. This initiative will remove a significant barrier to student learning and, as a practical matter, can save substantial dollars for parents who might otherwise purchase costly ` designer garb. CEO Dr. Eugene Sanders has constantly discussed the student uniform and dress code policy in a series of interviews, Cleveland Magazine is pursing a uniform/dress code feature, a uniform/dress code video is available online at www.cmsdnet.net, electronic telephone messages have been sent to households, a ministers’ briefing was held at the Board of Education, and the District’s Parent Connection newsletter will reach parent homes with dress code and uniform information between the week of August 15-20. Within days, billboards will tout the new “dress for success” policy and prime time commercials will air locally on WKYC-TV during the week of August 13. With the support of $1.5 million from Cuyahoga County, a voucher program is in place for eligible parents and caregivers falling 200% below the federal poverty level guidelines.
Strategic Plan: The future direction of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and the vision of CEO Dr. Sanders is captured in the District’s recently completed five-year Strategic Plan. The corporate-looking publication grew out of Dr. Sanders’ participation on the Harvard Executive Educational Leadership (Excel) team. From this association, CEO Dr. Sanders created a core group of more than 50 advisors to craft the Strategic Plan that reflects community and internal input in pinpointing the strategic goals, strategies and initiatives for implementation over the next five years. The Strategic Plan details steps that will be taken to move the District toward becoming a premier school district in the United States of America. Among the major focus areas is an emphasis on providing a sound, comprehensive educational program that will prepare students to compete in a global society and to create high quality, 21st Century schools that prepare pre-k-12 students to meet the rigorous academic challenges of post-secondary education and productive careers.
Universal Meals: All District students are provided a healthy, nutritious breakfast and lunch at no cost through the federally funded Universal Meals Program. This year, to determine the new eligibility status of District students and to keep the no cost food programs in place, all families are to complete and return a meal application to the office of Food and Child Nutrition. Applications will be mailed to District households next month. Reminders will be made through electronic telephone messages, an item in the recent edition of the Parent Connection newsletter and other media announcements. The goal is to generate a 100% application return. It is estimated that the no charge meals program can result in an accumulative savings of more than $900 per student during the course of a school year.
Key Customer Service Numbers:
Single Gender Academies (216) 574-7157
Ginn Academy (216) 780-3044
Student Uniform/Dress Code (216) 574-2176.
Universal Meals 574-8308 ###
The primary goal of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District is to becomea premier school district in the United States of America.
To reach the District online go to cmsdnet.net. |
|||||||||