by Chuck Hoven

   (Plain Press, November 2023) Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) students that participate in the extracurricular Civics 2.0 program came out in force to testify at the September meeting of the Cleveland Municipal School District Board of Education. The students were advocating for restoration of funding for their extracurricular program. During the public comment period, the students and some staff members came up to the microphone in groups of five to seven with one spokesperson for each group.

NEWS ANALYSIS

   The students’ speeches to the Board of Education gave ample proof of the value of the Civics 2.0 program in giving students the confidence to speak in public, advocate for programs to improve their schools, and learning about how government works both locally and statewide. They explained how Civics 2.0 has helped them to learn how to advocate for both their school and for the surrounding community. They also noted the difference the $1,000 a year stipend they receive for participation in the program has made for them and their families.

   Students told how the money helped them to purchase the business attire so they could dress properly for interviews for internships. Several students noted their ability to help their family with needed expenses such as car repairs.

   Civics 2.0 students told the Board of Education and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Warren Morgan of the value of participating in the YMCA’s Youth in Government Conference held in Columbus, Ohio, each year. The students said the funding to participate in the conference was not in place for this year. Students, testifying about the value of Civics 2.0 and imploring the Board of Education to restore full funding for the program, came from a several schools including Ginn Academy, Collinwood High School, John F. Kennedy High School, and New Tech West.

   The Civics 2.0 students’ testimony occurred at the September 26^th meeting of the Cleveland Municipal School District Board of Education held at John Marshall High School.

   In his remarks to the Board of Education that evening, Cleveland Metropolitan School District Chief Executive Officer Dr. Warren Morgan spoke of his Listening Tour. The roughly thirty Civics 2.0 students brought their concerns directly to Dr. Morgan and the Board of Education to listen to. Some students also invited Dr. Morgan and Board members to come to their schools and talk to the students about the importance of the extracurricular program.

   Dr. Morgan told the Board of Education he has three questions that he is asking on his listening tour: 1) What is needed to improve the quality of education in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District for our students and families? 2) How can we partner to accomplish these goals? 3) If you were the CEO, what would be your first course of action?

   As the Civics 2.0 program students have demonstrated, and as Dr. Morgan will undoubtedly learn as he holds more listening sessions, there are many fine programs already in place in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. However, these programs are starved for funding.

   The City of Cleveland Administration and Cleveland City Council regularly give away funds that should be going to fund school programs. Whether it is taking money promised for Comprehensive Extracurricular Activities Plan afterschool programs and designating it for stadium repairs and amenities, or abating taxes for new developments, the City of Cleveland Administration and Cleveland City Council regularly disregard the needs of our children in their haste to meet the demands of developers and sports team owners.

   The question now for the Citizens of Cleveland is: Are we willing to partner with Cleveland students to confront the City of Cleveland and Cleveland City Council and demand they reimburse the Cleveland Metropolitan School District for the funds they have drained from the school system over the years? There is no excuse for a City of Cleveland, which has the highest child poverty rate in the nation, to be continually giving away dollars that should be going to its schools for the benefit of Cleveland’s children.