October 15, 1997

At the October 14, 1997, meeting of the Shaker Heights Board of Education, the Superintendent reported the following:

• For the fourth consecutive year, Shaker Heights High School has more National Merit Semifinalists than any other public high school in Ohio, and ranks second among all Ohio schools, public and private. In all, 49 Shaker students have earned honors in the National Merit and National Achievement scholarship programs: 22 National Merit Semifinalists, 22 National Merit Commended Students, 1 National Achievement Semifinalist, and 5 National Achievement Commended Students. These outstanding scholars will be recognized at a future Board of Education meeting.

• The Shaker Heights approach to teaching reading was the subject of a feature article in the October 1997 issue of Parents magazine. Written by Shaker language arts resource teacher RegieRoutman, the article and accompanying photographs focused on the first-grade classroom of HallieButze Stewart (SHHS Class of ’89) at Mercer Elementary School. The magazine detailed the use of several techniques, including phonics, guided reading, and journal writing, to help children become capable and enthusiastic readers and writers.

• School District Treasurer Daniel L. Wilson received the top award from the Ohio Government Finance Officers Association for his leadership in the creation of a money-saving prescription drug plan for employees. Initially established by the school districts of Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights-University Heights, and Euclid, the Employee Benefits Cooperative now provides prescription benefits to more than 16,000 employees in 71 school districts, municipalities, and other public and nonprofit organizations in the United States. Annual savings are estimated at $1.4 million, including $52,000 in Shaker Heights alone.

• Bright red banners hang throughout the city to announce Tour Your Schools Day. On Thursday, October 23, the eight Shaker schools will welcome community members and prospective residents to see the exciting daily activities which take place in Shaker Heights classrooms. Invitations have been mailed to all households in the school district. This year, the district is hosting a special event for Realtors and relocation specialists to provide them with current information about the schools. Opening with a breakfast prepared by students in Foods classes at the Middle School, the Realtor outreach program is a joint effort of the school district, the Shaker Heights Center for Housing and Community Life and the Shaker Heights PTO.

• Ten distinguished graduates of Shaker Heights High School were inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame on October 12. The new inductees are: Robert Chamberlin, M.D., M.P.H. (’47), pediatrician and educator; Morton Glickman, M.D. (’55), radiologist, clinical scientist and associate dean at the Yale University School of Medicine; Eric Johnson (’72), co-founder of GERIC, a home health care agency recognized for its commitment to social responsibility; Robert Post, M.D. (’41), pioneer in kidney dialysis and organ transplants; Joseph W. Rock, Ph.D. (’70), clinical psychologist and former director of the Shaker Heights Youth Center; Michael Scharf, J.D. (’81), expert in international and human rights law, now a faculty member at the New England College of Law; John P. Sedlak(’43), legendary Cleveland entrepreneur and philanthropist; Charles Smith (’38), engineer, labor relations authority, and Chairman of the Board of SIFCO Industries; Bennett Tramer(’65), award-winning comedy writer and co-executive producer of the television comedy series “Saved by the Bell,” inspired in part by his student days at Shaker; and Ann Womer Benjamin, J.D. (’71), Cleveland attorney and member of the Ohio House of Representatives for the 75th District in Portage County.

• Twenty-two students and two teachers from Goslar, Germany, arrived on October 6 for a three-week visit. On the German students’ busy schedule are trips to Washington, D.C., and New York City, as well as local excursions to The Cleveland Orchestra, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and St. Augustine’s soup kitchen. On Saturday, October 18, fifteen students and a teacher from Shaker’s sister school in Pskov, Russia, will arrive for a fall exchange program. Like the German students, the Russian visitors will stay with Shaker families. The two international delegations will tour Cleveland’s ethnic neighborhoods together and will hold an evening of socializing and sports before the Goslarians’ departure on October 29. The Russians will remain until November 4.

• On Professional Day, Friday, October 10, approximately 130 Shaker teachers and community members gathered to hear the observations of Professor Asa Hilliard of Georgia State University, a nationally known authority on academic achievement among minority children. As a follow-up to Dr. Hilliard’s visit, members of the districtwide Achievement Committee will work with colleagues in their respective schools, using a series of videotapes entitled “Every Child Can Learn.” Another highlight of Professional Day was a health fair where staff members could obtain such preventive services as blood pressure screening and flu shots. Earlier in the week, Middle School faculty members met with Elliot Merenbloom, a nationally recognized expert on interdisciplinary and team teaching in the middle school setting, to discuss the application of these techniques.

The Board took the following actions:

• Approved a driver education agreement for the 1997-98 school year with Heights Driving School.

• Approved personnel items for both certified and classified personnel, including appointments, tutors, substitutes, supplemental contracts, special assignments, and changes in classification.

• Approved severe behavior handicap and special education program placements, tuition and excess costs for the 1997-98 school year.

• Accepted a bid from Honeywell, Inc., to replace the alarm systems at Mercer and Woodbury schools and rejected all bids to replace the alarm system at Shaker Middle School.

• Adopted revised Board Policy DLBA (Salary Deductions/Tax Sheltered Annuities).

• Accepted financial statements for September 1997, interim investments, and appropriation modifications.

• Approved supplemental appropriations for the following purposes: Vocational Education Reimbursement; Special Rotary Funds; Education Management Information Systems grant; and Local Professional Development Block Grant.

• Approved Student Activity Purpose, Goals and Budget for the Outdoor Environmental Club, It’s Your Move, and Women’s Crew Club, all at Shaker Heights High School.