I decided to take the title of the movie Pay It Forward as the title of this blog for reasons that will, I hope, become clear in future installments. My name is Sam Bell. I went to the Heights Schools in the 60’s, when they were ranked #2 in the country. (That’s country, not county.) I see no reason that we cannot reclaim that ranking in the future. My wife and I met as students at Roxboro Jr High nearly 50 years ago. We returned to make our home in Cleveland Heights when our older son was born, specifically so our kids could grow up in neighborhoods with trees and sidewalks, and with public schools.
Disclosure: I am not a candidate for any public office. I strongly criticized last years "Plan C" for our facilities on a number of grounds. see: http://theciviccommons.com/conversations/school-facilities-planning-true-sustainability-or-lip-service--2 I was challenged to assist on the Lay Facilities Committee, and convened and chaired its Sustainability Working Group. While I do not think our proposed plan is ideal, I do believe it is a well thought out basis for action.
If the bond issue [issue 81] passes, all citizens will once again be invited to participate in a series of design charettes and similar activities envisioned as a means of conveying our concerns, suggestions, likes, and dislikes to the architectural team the Board of Education selects. [These pre-design activities are often referred to as "programming exercises" within the architectural and construction industries.]
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If the bond issue fails, we will continue to operate inefficient and ever more costly buildings until we own up to the need, and the responsibility, to get it right.
Please, go to one of the public tours of the High School. See for yourself. Then, after you have the facts, decide. The next regularly scheduled tour is Wednesday, October 16th from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Please arrive at 6:30 p.m. for the tour. Ongoing high school tours are offered by appointment: Gather your group of friends, neighbors and family members to take a facilities tour of Heights High. Tours will be offered Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.; and Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays at 6 p.m. To request a tour, contact Joy Henderson at j_henderson@chuh.org or 216-320-3052. You can also request tours of our other schools.