Workforce Education Training & Youth Development Committee Hearing: Building Bright Futures (Feb 3, 2026)

On February 3, 2026, the newly convened Workforce Education Training and Youth Development Committee held its first hearing of the year to examine the Cleveland Metropolitan School District's (CMSD) "Building Bright Futures" plan. Dr. Warren Morgan, CEO of CMSD, and Matthew Moss, Senior Strategist for the Mayor's Office, presented the district's strategy for addressing chronic under-enrollment, deteriorating infrastructure, and a 36% rate of students proficient in college, career, workforce, and military readiness. The hearing focused on the proposed closure of 29 schools to consolidate into 45 K-8 and 14 high schools, the financial necessity of the plan, and the reutilization of closed properties.

Consent Calendar

• The meeting proceedings for the first hearing of the committee were initiated and the presentation schedule was set.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Timothy Roberts (Former CMSD employee): Expressed concern regarding the district's ability to compete for new educators, specifically asking about recruitment pipelines for young talent and the impact of retirements on safety and security roles. He urged the district to hold charter schools accountable. He recommended leveraging HBCUs to recruit educators to return to Cleveland.

Discussion Items

• Dr. Warren Morgan (CMSD CEO): Stated that the current reality leaves 64% of students unprepared for post-secondary success, with only 36% proficient in college/career readiness metrics. He argued that "status quo is not an option" and that without consolidating from 61 elementary and 27 high schools to a smaller, more efficient system, the district cannot offer 100% of high schools with college/career pathways or 100% of elementary schools with enrichment courses beyond art and PE. He noted that enrollment has dropped 50% over 20 years due to birth rate declines, not just charter/parochial migration.
• Councilman Michael Polentick (Ward 10): Expressed strong opposition to the plan. He characterized the closures in his ward (including Hannah Gibbons and Euclid Park) as "disenfranchising voters" and creating a "cold day in hell" before the historic Collinwood High School name would be removed. He argued that the plan benefits suburbs and charters while disinvesting in the East Side, stating he sees "no game plan" for the East Side other than loss of schools.
• Councilman Chris Harsh (Ward 1): Expressed frustration with the system's ability to retain students, citing that many parents leave CMSD due to concerns over academic rigor and safety. He raised concerns about the third-grade reading guarantee, noting that only ~33% of third-graders were proficient. He argued that promoting students who cannot read ("holding back the tide of low expectations") fails to prepare them for the future, suggesting a "Grade 3.5" concept might be necessary.
• Councilwoman Stephanie House Jones (Ward 8): Stressed the need for community-led planning rather than waiting for district directives. She highlighted chronic absenteeism (647 students in her ward missing 18+ days) as a critical issue that requires neighborhood action. She urged communities to develop their own engagement plans.
• Councilwoman Deborah Gray (Ward 3): Expressed that while the decision is difficult, the financial reality of maintaining empty buildings forces consolidation. She shared her personal experience working with parents (e.g., providing laundry machines at Charles Dickens) and emphasized that the district cannot operate effectively without enough students to staff programs.
• Councilwoman Nikki Hudson (Ward 11): Inquired about the impact of closures on students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and English Language Learners (ELL). She requested clarification on how the district will support students with specific physical or learning disabilities during the transition to "welcoming schools."
• Councilman Chris Conwell (Ward 5): Voiced concern regarding blight, specifically citing the Harry E. Davis building and the lack of trash removal around closed schools. He emphasized that safe routes to school are compromised by vacant, unsafe properties and called for a coalition of safety and quality-of-life enforcement.
• Matthew Moss (Mayor's Office Strategist): Outlined the City's plan to host listening sessions in February/March to gather community feedback on reusing the 18 closed building sites. He clarified that while there are state laws restricting demolition and prioritizing charter school access, the City and District aim to explore administrative and public service uses (e.g., safety centers) alongside community-driven proposals.
• Councilman Kyle Shaw (Ward 12): Expressed concern about the transparency of the reuse process and the confusion caused by a pamphlet referring to "New Tech West" as "Brooklawn." He requested data on commute times for students using public transit and the specific percentages of funds by source (Federal, State, Local) to educate the public on the fiscal shift away from state funding.
• Dr. Morgan Response: Reaffirmed that all schools must accommodate IEP and ELL students by law, though specific building specifications vary. He clarified that the district's 33% third-grade proficiency is being tracked via a new rigorous ELA curriculum and that "holding back" is not the primary strategy; rather, the focus is on academic rigor and attendance. He noted that applications to CMSD are up and that the district will work with the State and City to address state funding formula inequities.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda Approval: The committee proceeded with the presentation and discussion; no formal vote was taken to close the hearing or approve specific closures during this session.
• Data Requests: The Committee requested the following data be provided by CMSD staff:
  • Historical breakdown of funding sources (Federal, State, Local) over the last 10 years.
  • Total number of students held back/repeated a grade in the previous year.
  • Percentage of third-grade reading proficiency data.
  • Average commute times for students using public transit.
  • Number of administrative staff (principals, APs, deans) displaced by the plan.
  • Data on the number of charter school students in Cleveland and the percentage of CMSD students living in the East Side vs. West Side.
• Action Items: The Mayor's Office to host community listening sessions regarding building reuse in February/March and share feedback data with Council. Dr. Morgan to commit to quarterly updates to the Committee regarding building status, attendance, and meeting flyers.
• Transportation: CMSD confirmed that students in impacted schools will receive transportation for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years even if they live more than 3 miles from their new school.
• Future Planning: The board has approved the "Building Bright Futures" plan (29 fewer schools), with implementation planning to begin in the current phase. The district aims to save $30 million annually starting in Fiscal Year 2027 to address the deficit, though a small deficit is projected to persist through 2029 without further state or federal intervention.