Planning to close 18 schools is bound to make some unhappy and about half of City Council made its displeasure known on the sidewalk outside the Board of Education. At a noontime news conference, Ward 7 councilman TJ Dow said he wants more information about the plan and the thinking behind it.
DOW: I’m not saying that our school system doesn’t need some type of reforms, but the fact of the matter is: who says this plan is the right reform?
Cleveland City Council members are in an awkward position. They have no power over the school board and district. But Councilman Jeff Johnson, who’s losing three K-8 schools under the plan, says it’s still important that council be heard.
JOHNSON: We’re the ones who have to deal with the parents and help them to be involved with the schools. And when they’re not involved, they come to us. We’ve been sitting on the sideline and operating under the protocol that the mayor runs the schools. But, everyday, we are responsible for our schools as well, so we have to be at the table.
There are also concerns that there will be fewer schools at the same time there are now fewer bus lines.
Schools CEO Sanders has accepted an offer to meet with council Tuesday afternoon.