CPS Board, January 28, 2008, eBoard

A brief look at the Cincinnati Public Schools' Board of Education's meetings, compiled by the Public Affairs Department.

January 28, 2008

Board members present: President Eve Bolton, Vice President Chris Nelms, Melanie Bates, Susan Cranley, Michael Flannery, Catherine Ingram and Eileen Reed.
Superintendent Rosa Blackwell and Treasurer Jonathan Boyd attended.

The Board's meeting began at 7:10 p.m. in the Education Center, the district's headquarters in Corryville.

Students from Silverton Paideia Academy led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance, then recited their school's pledge. Tomasine Dendy is Silverton's principal.

Presentations

Sets of colorful note cards created by seventh-graders at Cheviot School were given to the Board of Education to thank Board members for their dedication to Cincinnati's children. The recognition was part of School Board Appreciation Month, sponsored by the Ohio School Boards Association. The note cards were created from a series of boldly colored, large action paintings under the guidance of art teacher Mary Anne Donovan, after studying the works of American artists such as Jackson Pollack. The painting were selected as finalists in a holiday-card competition sponsored by KnowledgeWorks Foundation.
Principal Tomasine Dendy of Silverton Paideia Academy led a presentation to the Board detailing the school's transformation into a museum school, using partnerships with the Cincinnati Art Museum and other area museums to coordinate object-based learning based on the museums' collections. Silverton has been piloting the museum-school concept this school year with its sixth-graders.
The Board viewed a tape of the January 14, 2008, broadcast on CNN of the Lou Dobbs show, which focused on CPS' restructured high schools and a districtwide graduation rate that has increased 29 percentage points since 2000. Withrow University High School was featured.

Board Action

APPROVED a resolution authorizing the start of bidding for the demolition of Chase School in Northside. A new school will be built on the site.

APPROVED a resolution authorizing the start of bidding for environmental remediation and abatement at Dater Montessori School, which is being renovated.

ACCEPTED the report of the Board's Finance Committee meeting on Friday, January 19, 2008, which included updates on the Financial Advisory Team, student-based budgeting and the five-year forecast.

ACCEPTED the report of the Board's Committee of the Whole meeting on Wednesday, January 24, 2008, which focused on the transition plan for upcoming school closings and consolidations and a report on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) grant.

APPROVED the superintendent's recommendations.

APPROVED the treasurer's report.

The meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m.

The Board's next regular meeting will be 7 p.m. Monday, February 11, 2008, at district headquarters, 2651 Burnet Avenue, in Corryville.