WHEREAS, The Board of Education of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights is mandated by the electorate and the State of Ohio with the financial and educational oversight of the public schools in its jurisdiction; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Education takes its mandate seriously; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Education has conducted a series of public information sessions intended to inform the citizens about: the financial status of the schools, progress responding to the Performance Audit, status of budget cuts resulting from the November levy loss and proficiency progress and initiatives; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Education listened carefully to concerns expressed by citizens in those public information sessions and in other forums; and

WHEREAS, Citizens expressed a desire to hold down the cost of education while using tax dollars wisely to improve student performance (particularly on proficiency tests).

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education, in response to the aforementioned concerns of the citizens, commits itself to the following goals:
 

• Moving the district's State Report Card rating above "academic watch" by the end of the 2000-01 school year.
  
  
• Instituting economies and efficiencies intended to: 
  
  
• extend the life of the levy from the promised three to four years.
  
  
• maintain an average annual spending cap of 4 percent, for general fund expenditures, for the life of the levy.
  
  
• Reconstituting the Lay Finance Committee as a 21-member body with the goal of having a majority of the committee members holding positions requiring extensive financial expertise. Further, the Board will solicit both city councils and the general public for nominations of individuals to serve on the committee.
  
  
• Holding an annual public meeting where the District Treasurer will make a Report on the State of School Finances.
  
  
• Developing, with the assistance of a citizen steering committee, a 5-year strategic plan to guide the district's educational and financial initiatives.

AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education is committed to continuing the community dialogue it began in January. The Board of Education knows that the citizens of Cleveland Heights and University Heights recognize that providing our children a quality education is of the utmost importance. They also recognize that there are genuine concerns about the level of taxation in our communities. The Board of Education will continue to strive to be responsive to those concerns because we recognize that the future of our schools is integral to the future of our communities.