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Reform History :: 1994
1994
January
Twelve-year school board member Stanley E. Tolliver loses re-election. The new "unified" board targets parental involvement.

To boost parental involvement, the district converts elementaries that are not magnets into "community model schools," requiring parents to select a school.

February
The three parties in the desegregation case—the district, state and NAACP—agree to ask Judge Battisti to end federal oversight of schools on July 1, 1997.

The board puts a 12.9-mill operating levy on the May ballot because the proposed deseg settlement requires passage of an operating levy. The board also schedules a capital improvement levy to fund repairs of deteriorated buildings.

March
Based on reforms outlined in Vision 21, Judge Battisti gives preliminary approval to ending federal court supervision; passage of the levy will be critical.

A student is fatally shot outside Charles A. Mooney Middle School. Supt Parrish promises a crackdown on violence.

May
The levy fails. Supt. Parrish proposes budget cuts, including 300 teachers, teacher’s aides, security guards and psychologists. Up to $31 million may be borrowed from the state.

Judge Battisti agrees to free Cleveland schools from court supervision effective July 1, 1997, based on acceptance of the Vision 21 reform plan. The plan begins to unravel in the coming months when levies fail, and parties in the deseg suit bicker for months over easing restrictions on racial guidelines at 20 schools.

July
Judge Battisti blocks school layoffs, stating that they would prevent the district from meeting the terms of the deseg settlement. Still, the board lays off 500 employees.

As part of the deseg settelment, the district opens a Community Relations Department and spends $300,000 to help parents choose schools.

September
As many as 2,000 students may face reassignments to other schools to achieve racial balance guidelines in 20 schools. Schools eventually fix imbalance with voluntary transfers.

Federal supervision requires a facilities use plan by next

February and a capital improvements levy on the ballot in 1995.

October
Concerns about violence in schools escalate. The board appoints a task force.

November
Senior Circuit Judge Robert B. Krupansky begins oversight of the desegregation case following the October death of Judge Battisti.

A levy is defeated for the second time this year, prompting $16 million more in budget cuts and delaying school reform programs.

 

Research: Barbara Good and staff

Sources: The Plain Dealer, proceedings of Cleveland School Board meetings, school district annual reports.

Photos: Cleveland Municipal School District, U.S. District Court, Cleveland City Council

CATALYST: For Cleveland Schools is an independent publication created to document, analyze and support improvement efforts in Cleveland's public schools.