16 Cleveland schools close their doors today

From The Cleveland Plain Dealer: Sixteen public school buildings in Cleveland are closing today. The district has placed 13 of the buildings on a demolition list but says it will entertain credible offers from potential buyers. Seven buildings are protected by city landmark designations or have applications that are pending.

MARCH 2010...from The Cleveland Plain Dealer: The Cleveland school board has approved a so-called transformation plan that calls for closing or moving 16 schools. Officials now have to identify new schools for more than 5,000 children and determine whether they qualify for bus service. The district also has to arrange transfers for 400 to 500 teachers from closed schools. FEBRUARY 2010...from The Cleveland Plain Dealer: If and when the furor in Cleveland over the closing of 13 schools and the moving of five others fades, school district chief Eugene Sanders and his aides say the education reform plan they have developed would be a "transformation" that they call one of the most aggressive in the nation. EARLIER...from The Cleveland Plain Dealer: The Cleveland City Council is opposing the proposed move of Ginn Academy to Glenville High School. The council is calling for the the all-boys high school to remain at the former Margaret Spellacy Junior High in the Collinwood neighborhood. The proposed move is part of a district "transformation plan" that the school board will consider later this month. Ginn Academy was launched three years ago to serve boys at risk of failure. Students have asked to stay put, but district Chief Executive Officer Eugene Sanders says he hopes the presence of Ginn will strengthen academics at Glenville. He has proposed creating a new girls academy to share the building. JANUARY 2010...from The Cleveland Plain Dealer: Several neighborhoods in Cleveland, where officials have recommended shutting down 18 school campuses, fear that they will lose anchors t\of the their communities if the board approves the closings. Earlier...from The Cleveland Plain Dealer: Eighteen schools in the Cleveland district would close under an education reform plan announced by Chief Executive Officer Eugene Sanders. The proposal could lead to teacher layoffs, principal reassignments and the wholesale replacement of staffs at some schools. The goal of the effort is to better prepare students for college and careers, offer families more choices and demand accountability at all levels.