• Three Luis Muñoz Marin students win NBA Math Hoops State Championship

    (Plain Press, May 2014)In early April, three seventh-grade students from Luis Muñoz Marin School won the first National Basketball Association (NBA) Math Hoops State Championship in the grades 6-8 bracket. Students Antonella Vera, Hector Castro, and DaShaun Brooks were honored at halftime of the Cleveland Cavaliers game on Saturday, April 5th after winning the competition…


  • Clevelanders asked to take a stand against child abuse

    To the editor: As of the writing of this letter, the heating situation at Lincoln West is still not resolved. The district claims it is waiting for parts. It has been one month since the board approved the funds to make the repairs. Because of this children are still being subjected to temperatures from 50…


  • Investment school meeting offers a look at progress made and obstacles faced at Lincoln West High School

    by Chuck Hoven (Plain Press, March 2014) About sixty people gathered at a February 13th evening meeting at Lincoln West High School to receive a report on the status of the school in its second quarter as an Investment School. The crowd –of school staff, students, parents and community members– received a variety of statistical…


  • Mayor balanced budget with money promised to Cleveland school children WITH CURRENT SURPLUS MONEY SHOULD BE RETURNED

    To the editor: One of the incentives used to pass the 1995 parking tax was that the Cleveland schools would receive $2 million for extracurricular activities for the children for as long as the parking tax was in effect. Sometime around 2009, Mayor Frank Jackson decided to divert $1 million of the children’s money to…


  • Corrections to the February issue

    Max Hayes opening date (Plain Press, March 2014) In the February issue of the Plain Press, an article incorrectly stated that Max Hayes construction would be complete in time for the 2014-15 school year. It should have said the building is scheduled to be ready for the 2015-16 school year. CTO Executive Director (Plain Press,…


  • Teachers unions urged to present an alternative vision for educational reform

    by Chuck Hoven (Plain Press, February 2014) Sociologist, author and public education advocate Pedro Noguera spoke to a group of community activists and educators at Cleveland State University on January 23rd calling for teachers unions to step up and articulate a vision for educational reform. Noguera says he has been troubled over the past few…


  • CMSD agreement for construction of Max S. Hayes High School could be example for country

    (Plain Press, February 2014) The Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s (CMSD’s) efforts to make sure recent graduates, Cleveland residents and minority and female workers help build the new Max S. Hayes High School will be featured in a video at a national labor conference in March. The District and the construction manager, Higley Bowen Construction Partners,…


  • Riverside Children’s Chorus

    PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Wednesday, January 22, 2014, West Park Youth Activities Fair, Artemus Ward School, 4315 W. 140th Street: Children from the Riverside Children’s Chorus, let by Pat Harris of the Rainey Institute, showcase their talent at the Youth Activities Fair. Harris has worked with students at Riverside School for the past four years,…


  • Near West Side Community Council members step up to the plate to get involved with investment schools

    by Chuck Hoven (Plain Press, January 2014) Members of the Near West Side Community Council (NWSCC) have stepped up to the plate to get involved in working to assure that the effort to improve the academic performance of students in Near West Side investment schools proves to be a success. NWSCC member Esperanza, led by…


  • Property tax exempt hospitals urged to “chip in” to support Cleveland Schools

    by Chuck Hoven (Plain Press, January 2014) As part of a National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education, the Cleveland Teachers Union joined with Common Good Ohio to host a meeting on December 9th in downtown Cleveland to call for the creation of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program…