March 11, 2025 Work Session Summary

The Shaker Heights Board of Education held a Work Session on March 12, 2025. Highlights from the meeting include:

Woodbury Project

• The Board approved a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) amendment for asbestos abatement and demolition at the Woodbury school building.
• The total cost for this phase will not exceed $2.5 million.
• Additional GMPs will follow for subsequent phases of the project.

School Bus Purchasing

• The Board approved participation in the Ohio School Council’s bus purchasing consortium.
• This does not commit the district to purchasing buses but allows access to pricing on gas, diesel, and electric models.
• Discussion included the potential for grant funding for electric buses.

Positive School Culture Updates

The Board received an update on Key Performance Indicator (KPI) 3: Positive School Culture, which focuses on increasing students’ sense of belonging. The district is using Panorama survey data to measure progress, with a goal of improving students' responses in the "Sense of Belonging" category.

Elementary School Initiatives (Onaway Elementary Highlighted)

• Recess Clubs Initiative:
  • Recognizing disparities in students' sense of belonging, Onaway Elementary created structured recess clubs to provide students with informal, interest-based opportunities to connect.
  • Clubs include Kindness Club, Art Club, Garden Club, PE Club, and Drum Circle.
  • These clubs are held during recess, allowing students to participate without competing with after-school activities like tutoring.
• Improving Student Connection:
  • Students rotate every six weeks through different clubs, allowing them to meet peers outside of their classrooms and develop new interests.
  • Teachers report that clubs have helped new and transitioning students integrate more smoothly into the school community.
  • Kindness Club has launched a "Kindness Chain" campaign, where students write positive messages to create a paper chain displayed in the school.
• Survey Results & Progress:
  • Data showed that Black students reported significantly lower levels of belonging compared to their White peers.
  • After implementing clubs and fostering more integrated peer interactions, positive responses increased across all racial groups.

Shaker Heights Middle School Initiatives

• Addressing the Middle School Transition:
  • Middle school presents a challenging social transition, and the Panorama survey indicates that sense of belonging declines in grades 6-8.
  • The school is working to combat this through student support systems, clubs, and structured relationship-building activities.
• Counseling & Student Support:
  • Minute Meetings: Every student has a brief one-on-one check-in with a counselor to assess academic and social-emotional needs.
  • Weekly Check-Ins: Students can request meetings with counselors through a simple survey form.
  • Restorative Circles: Used to repair harm, strengthen relationships, and create a more inclusive school climate.
• Expanding Extracurricular Opportunities:
  • More than 30+ clubs are available, including Dungeons & Dragons, Student Council Ambassadors, Lego Club, and Spanish Culture Club.
  • Video Announcements Project: Showcases clubs on morning announcements to encourage student participation.
  • Athletics and clubs provide critical opportunities for students to build relationships outside the classroom.
• Student Feedback & Future Improvements:
  • Students suggested that more structured social interactions (e.g., mixing different groups in seating arrangements) could help students feel less isolated.
  • Some students requested the ability to choose their Raider Time groups to improve peer connections.

Shaker Heights High School Initiatives

• Chronic Absenteeism as a Measure of School Connection:
  • Attendance data is being closely monitored as a key indicator of student engagement.
  • Chronic absenteeism (students missing 10% or more of school days) is a major focus, with a goal of decreasing these numbers year-over-year.
• Survey Data & Student Engagement:
  • While some progress has been made in students feeling connected, the Panorama survey suggests room for improvement.
  • Staff are looking at ways to align extracurricular activities with student interests to improve engagement.
• Teacher & Staff Well-Being:
  • Board members raised concerns about teacher and staff sense of belonging, recognizing that adult morale impacts student experience.
  • There are ongoing efforts to provide staff appreciation events, PBIS incentives, and a more structured support system for faculty.

Key Takeaways

• Elementary school clubs are helping integrate students and improve a sense of belonging, particularly for historically underserved groups.
• Middle School support systems like counseling check-ins, restorative circles, and diverse club offerings are key to bridging the social transition challenges of grades 6-8.
• High School efforts are focused on attendance and engagement, with discussions on staff well-being and school-wide culture.

 

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.