Latest news with #ClevelandMetropolitanSchoolDistrict
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cleveland drivers could face $250 fine for passing school buses illegally
CLEVELAND (WJW) — To say Cleveland City Councilman Kevin Conwell is passionate about students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District would be an understatement. In office since 2001, the Ward 9 councilman is now making bus safety one of his top priorities, after witnessing countless drivers ignore the flashing red stop signs when picking up and dripping off students. Browns say city 'misguiding' Clevelanders on stadium: Court 'Very, very frustrating to me as a father, as a grandfather,' he said. 'It's our job to protect children. When you see that as a legislator, my job is to write policy for people who work, live and travel through the city of Cleveland.' His newly-drafted legislation would call for cameras to be installed on the stop signs that extend from the buses to catch violators in the act. 'I got tired of seeing when I'm driving in the neighborhood, people going around the buses when the stopped arms is extended outwards, they're going around. And guess what, you're putting our children at risk,' he said. With support needed from the district, Conwell says many school board members are on board. He said once the council votes that will hopefully encourage the district to install the cameras, paid for, he said, by a fund, created by those who break the law. Cleveland schools spent nearly $1M on travel before tax hike: I-Team 'We'll fine them to the tune of $250 and we'll send it to their houses and when they're fined, it will help to change their behavior,' he said. 'Also the fines will set up a fund to pay for the cameras.' CMSD provides bussing for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade who live one mile away or further from school, roughly 15,000. The councilman is hoping to have the cameras installed in time for the 2025-2026 school year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cleveland Metropolitan Schools considering major changes to academic calendar
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Cleveland Metropolitan School District students and parents could see a significant shift in the school calendar next year. The district is considering major changes that could streamline schedules and lead to substantial cost savings. CMSD is currently evaluating two potential plans. One option would place nearly all schools on a traditional academic calendar, featuring a long summer break and standard school hours. Browns say city 'misguiding' Clevelanders on stadium: Court The other option would keep some schools on an extended year schedule, incorporating additional learning time. According to CMSD CEO Dr. Warren Morgan, the majority of schools already follow a traditional schedule. 'Right now, 71 of our schools are on the traditional calendar,' he said. 'We have 21 schools that would transition from one of the five other calendars to the traditional one.' While the proposed changes impact classroom schedules, financial concerns are a major factor in CMSD's decision-making process. The district currently spends approximately $4.5 million annually to maintain extended school times—an investment that, according to Morgan, has not significantly improved student test scores. 'It costs us around $4.5 million to run these extra times, and it's only about 30 extra minutes,' he said. Fight over DEI in schools rages at Ohio Statehouse The cost savings from these calendar adjustments would be redirected toward CMSD's 'Building Brighter Futures' plan, an initiative aimed at saving approximately $150 million over the next three years. The district's goal is to improve financial stability and make strategic investments in long-term educational success. While district leaders see this as a necessary step, not everyone is on board. 'Most of our stakeholders want to stay where we are. I know we will continue to hear that,' Morgan said. CMSD is actively gathering input from parents, teachers and students before making a final decision. The district will present a formal recommendation to the board of education on Tuesday, with a final vote expected by the end of April. If approved, any changes would take effect at the start of the next school year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Cleveland school bus hit by vehicle Monday afternoon
CLEVELAND (WJW) — A Cleveland school bus with students on board was involved in a crash Monday afternoon. Perry Village takes measures to curb e-bikes According to a spokesperson for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, a vehicle hit the bus in the area of MLK Jr. Blvd. and Hamlen Avenue. Nobody was hurt. It's not clear how many students were on the bus at the time. Several parents headed to the scene to pick up their children, the spokesperson said. Video from a Fox 8 photographer showed significant damage to the side of a black SUV and yellow caution tape wrapped around it. Damage to the bus appeared to be minor. St. Patrick's Day Parade draws thousands to downtown Cleveland According to the spokesperson, the bus driver remained at the scene as police wrote their report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
I-Team: Cleveland schools CEO dodges questions on travel costs
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team caught up with the head of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, trying to get him to explain how your tax dollars are being spent on school employees traveling around the country. But district CEO Warren Morgan dodged most of our questions. School taxes in Cleveland just went up. Voters approved a levy in November. But according to public records obtained by the I-Team, the district spent nearly a $1 million on travel in just one year. Student loan borrowers could see 'massive' payment spikes The I-Team has tried for months to talk to Morgan. We've tried arranging something through district spokespersons, yet the CEO has never sat down with us. In fact, last year, we had an interview arranged and at the last minute, the district canceled. So we went to a school board meeting Tuesday and we tried to speak to the CEO before the meeting started. 'We'd like to get a word with you. We've been trying for months,' I-Team Reporter Ed Gallek said. Morgan did not stop and talk to us. Instead, he opened a door and walked into a room where all school board members were gathered prior to the start of the meeting. One woman yelled and said we were interrupting a meeting. When the I-Team asked why board members were meeting in private without calling an executive session, the school board attorney said the members were eating prior to the meeting and not discussing official business. We recently showed you that in one year Cleveland schools spent more than $855,000 sending employees on trips out of state. The district sent well over 100 people to one conference. Even secretaries have gone on trips. We asked the CEO why he keeps avoiding us. But he said, 'We're not avoiding.' The records also show the CEO took nine trips, even as the district put out a desperate call for more tax money. During our encounter, Morgan said, 'Right now, we're about to start our Board meeting. I'll talk to you later.' We responded with, 'What's later? Because you've never done it.' We turned to Polly Karr, a mother and school district watchdog. 'I'd like them to stop traveling,' she said. She wants smarter spending now, with higher taxes. 'I wouldn't mind paying it if it was going to the students, to the classroom,' Karr added. 'Cleveland students need more. I want to see the kids get stuff instead of the administrators.' The I-Team also has been trying to ask about district travel going forward. Cleveland schools sent 118 people last year to the Model Schools Conference. So, what about this year? We asked the CEO, 'For the Model Conference, are you changing anything this year for the Model Conference?' Morgan responded with, 'We can talk later. We have a board meeting.' 'Dried blood, dirty pawprints:' Local vet arrested, 110 animals seized Weeks ago, a district official promised tighter controls over travel. On Tuesday, Morgan referred to that but did not offer any specifics. 'Since we've put in our travel restrictions, all of our costs have actually decreased. But we're about to start a meeting,' he said. Weeks ago, Lisa Farmer Cole, chief external affairs officer, answered questions about more than 100 people from Cleveland schools going to one conference. She said, 'So I think of that 118, about 16 were principals and assistant principals. And, about 100 teachers went. So, that is a conference that is chock-full of best practices. School districts from all over the country go to the Model Schools Conference because this is about model schools.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Schools closing, delayed across NE Ohio due to frigid temperatures
AKRON, Ohio (WJW) — Many school districts announced how they would handle forecasted frigid temperatures coming for Northeast Ohio this week following a dumping of snow over the weekend. Warming centers open across NE Ohio as bitter cold temps settle in Dozens of schools announced either closures or delays Tuesday including: Avon Lake City Schools, Canton City Schools, Elyria City Schools, Lakewood City Schools, Lorain City Schools, Massillon City Schools and North Ridgeville Schools. Akron Public Schools and Cleveland Metropolitan School District have yet to make announcements. Most districts were closed Monday in observance of Presidents Day. School closings and delays list Look for school districts may follow suit, as wind chills look to dip below zero degrees. FOX 8 News will continue to keep you updates as school closings are announced. See an up-to-date school closings list right here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
