February 11, 2025 Regular Meeting Summary

The Shaker Heights Board of Education held its regular meeting on February 11, 2025. Highlights from the meeting include:

Student Welcome:

• Three Mercer Elementary School siblings—Michael, Elizabeth, and Catherine Carfagna—opened the meeting with remarks about their school experiences. Mercer’s substitute principal, Carmen Chung, shared updates on academic achievements and student support initiatives, including tutoring programs, PBIS awards and enrichment activities like yoga and leadership programs.

Public Comment:

• No public comments were submitted.

Recognition & School Updates:

• Sixth graders visited the Djapo Cultural Arts Institute to learn about West African culture.
• Shaker Heights students earned 20 awards in the regional Scholastic Art Exhibition.
• Various elementary school programs and community service activities were highlighted.

Facilities Updates:

• The District has partnered with Emerald Built Environments to conduct a Districtwide energy analysis and sustainability assessment. The initiative aims to align sustainability goals across school renovations and operations.
• Updates were provided on the Ludlow Early Learning Center renovation, highlighting recent photos showcasing construction progress now available on the Ludlow renovation webpage on shaker.org.

Personnel & Contracts:

• The Board approved standard personnel items, including retirements and resignations.
• The contract for interim assistant treasurer Gus Stager was extended through June 30.
• The Board ratified the new SHTA collective bargaining agreement, which includes salary increases, extended planning time for elementary teachers, and a retirement notification incentive.

Financial Report:

• The District’s financial outlook remains stable, with an estimated year-end cash balance of $55 million, though pending expenses for infrastructure projects (roof repairs, HVAC, Chromebooks, and track/turf replacement) will impact final figures.

Other Updates:

• A Night for the Red & White is scheduled for March 8 at The Agora Theater & Ballroom.
• The Board is monitoring legislative developments at the state and federal levels, particularly related to school funding and diversity initiatives.
• A community letter summarizing the district’s five-year financial forecast will be sent soon.

The meeting concluded with an executive session. The next work session will be held on February 25, and the next regular meeting is scheduled for March 4.

Disclaimer: This summary was generated using AI based on the available meeting transcript. While efforts were made to ensure accuracy, it may contain errors or omissions. For official records and full context, please refer to the official meeting minutes or video recording provided on shaker.org.