Lakewood, Ohio June 16, 2014 The Board of Education of the City School District of the City of Lakewood, County of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, met in regular session in the Curriculum Conference Room at the Lakewood Board of Education Building, 1470 Warren Road, Lakewood, Ohio at 5:30 p.m. TREASURER PRO TEMPORE Ms. Petrie Barcelona moved and Mrs. Shaughnessy seconded the motion to appoint Mr. Einhouse as Treasurer Pro Tempore. Upon roll call on the motion the vote was as follows: Ms. Beebe Yea Ms. Petrie Barcelona Yea Mr. Einhouse Yea Mrs. Shaughnessy Yea Mr. Favre Yea ROLL CALL Members Present: Members Absent: Ms. Beebe Ms. Petrie Barcelona Mr. Einhouse Mrs. Shaughnessy Mr. Favre None Board President Beebe called for a motion to recess to Executive Session. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mr. Favre moved and Mr. Einhouse seconded the motion to move to Executive Session for the consideration of the employment of public employees. Yeas: Ms. Beebe, Ms. Petrie Barcelona, Mr. Einhouse, Mrs. Shaughnessy, Mr. Favre Nays: None
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 5:31 p.m. The Executive Session ended at 6:50 p.m. No action was taken. The Board returned to public session at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Auditorium. #112/14 ADOPTION OF AGENDA Mr. Einhouse moved and Mr. Favre seconded the motion that the Agenda for the Regular Board of Education Meeting held on June 16, 2014, be adopted. Upon roll call on the motion, the vote was as follows: Ms. Beebe Yea Ms. Petrie Barcelona Yea Mr. Einhouse Yea Mrs. Shaughnessy Yea Mr. Favre Yea The Executive Session ended at DISPOSITION OF MINUTES Board President Beebe called for a motion to approve the minutes of the Special Board of Education Meeting held on May 19, 2014, and the Regular Board of Education Meetings held on May 19, 2014 and June 2, 2014. Mrs. Shaughnessy moved and Ms. Petrie Barcelona seconded the motion to approve the minutes as published. Yeas: Nays: Ms. Beebe, Ms. Petrie Barcelona, Mr. Einhouse, Mrs. Shaughnessy, Mr. Favre None REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Superintendent Patterson introduced Mrs. Nancy Early, Nutrition Services Supervisor/dietician, who presented the annual Nutrition Services Department report to the Board. In June, 2013 the U.S. Department of Agriculture released the Interim Final Rule Smart Snacks in Schools, which is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. This rule affects over 100,000 schools that participate in the free and reduced program. All schools must comply with this regulation by July 1, 2014. She reviewed the various components that will affect competitive food and beverage items in lunch rooms, bookstores and vending machines. Mrs. Early said this will present many challenges for
the Nutrition Services program, and our snack menus will be very limited. Students are allowed to bring in food items that don t qualify even if we are not allowed to serve such items. Board President Beebe complimented Mrs. Early on the leadership she has provided in this area over the years. The Superintendent reported that Mrs. Early serves on several committees throughout Cuyahoga County. One of these committees is the Food Committee for the Ohio Schools Council (OSC). The OSC expressed their appreciation to the Board of Education for allowing Mrs. Early the time to participate on the committee. The Superintendent presented Mrs. Early with a Certificate of Appreciation from the OSC in recognition of her contribution. Superintendent Patterson introduced Mr. William DiMascio from Lakewood High School to report on the status of Project More. Mrs. Sandy Kozelka (Lincoln), Ms. Rachel Alaimo (Grant), and Ms. Patricia Birch (Hayes) were also in attendance to assist in the presentation. Project More (Mentoring in Ohio for Reading Excellence) is a program which provides one-on-one mentoring delivered in 30- minute sessions four times per week. It is designed for students with disabilities or for those students identified as not being on track. Project More started in 1999 and currently serves 4,000 students in the State of Ohio. We were able to implement Project More for students in grades 1-5 in all seven elementary schools. The presenters provided DIBELS scores and other data as evidence of the positive impact the program was having on our students. They also reviewed the parameters used in determining which students to invite to participate in the program as well as the pros and cons of offering the program in the District. There was discussion about the future of Project More in Lakewood City Schools. Project More has become a part of the Summer Reading Camp offered at Grant to help foster efficient and effective reading. Board members expressed their appreciation for the update of this important program. This ended the Superintendent s Report. COMMUNICATIONS Board President Beebe asked if there were any communications received by the Treasurer, the Superintendent or members of the Board. Mr. Favre reported on the recent Lakewood Planning Commission Meeting on June 5, 2014, where there was discussion about opening the proposed Birdtown Brewery adjacent to Harrison Elementary School. He stated that he was incorrectly identified in a Sun Newspaper article and that he attended and spoke at the meeting as a resident of Lakewood and not as a Board of Education member. He provided fellow Board members with a copy of his June 5, 2014 letter to the Planning Commission as follows: Good Evening: I wish to speak concerning the proposed Birdtown Brewery, 2035 Quail Street, at the closed St. Gregory s Church at the corner of Thrush Street.
First I would like to note that Quail Street is a mere 26+ feet wide, Thrush Street is 24 feet wide. Both are narrow streets, which creates difficultly for traffic, let alone delivery trucks. Although the intent may be to have deliveries made off street, human nature is to do what is most expeditious or easier. Pulling into or out of, or backing into or out of the parking lot will be cumbersome for drivers. Backing over the sidewalk is inherently dangerous. South of Thrush, Quail Street is also one way northbound 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., which means delivery trucks, depending on size, will need to make a tight turn on or off Thrush, circle through other parts of Birdtown, or do a backing move on Quail. The proposed bar is approx. 64 feet NE from Harrison Elementary School, on the opposite corner of Quail & Thrush Streets, nearest the kindergarten rooms. The corner of Quail & Thrush is a student route to a crossing guard and traffic light at Madison Avenue. As you know, Harrison Elementary is a K-5 school, with children starting at age 5. There is also a pre-k program with 4 year olds. Recall that when the new Harrison was rebuilt, it was done with community use in mind. It currently hosts day care all year around, 2 special needs camps in the summer, youth basketball, student Family Nights, and Lakewood Early Childhood PTA. This was a huge taxpayer investment in this neighborhood. Those of you who have been here for a while will recall the discussion to closed Harrison some 30 years ago. The community rallied to save it and use it for the same reason.the neighborhood In addition to Harrison Elementary School, the bar would be even closer, only 40 feet, from Northcoast Baptist Church at 2051 Quail Street. Comparison has been made to other bars in Cleveland. One is the Treehouse Pub, 820 College Ave. If you go there at about 6:00 p.m., as I did last Saturday, you ll find a lively commercial neighborhood. There is outside seating and the sound of conversation, laughing, etc., could be heard some distance. The people were not being obnoxious, it was just the sound of a large crowd. Adjoining areas already have shops and other bars. This is not a quiet residential, church, and school area. Across the street I observed St. John Cantius Church and the Northeast Ohio College Preparatory High School. The church and school are farther away than Harrison ES is to the proposed bar sight and, most significantly, the school is a high school, not a K-5 Elementary School with pre-k, before and after school programs. So the there is little similarity in the setting. Another bar for comparison is Bario, 806 Literary Avenue, Cleveland. That bar s adjacent area already has shops and bars. Again, it is not a residential area with just churches and a school as is the case in the Birdtown site. I would suggest going to the area of these bars some evening. Pace off 60 feet and stop, look, and listen. Then ask yourself if you would want that setting that close to your front yard, or your small children, or grandchildren, or their school, or your church. The same
discussion could apply if a bar were proposed by Lincoln, Grant, or next to any of our other neighborhood elementary schools Please understand, this is not criticism of people attempting to try a business venture and not meant to offend. At another location, it may be a wonderful idea, unfortunately, at the corner of Quail and Thrush Streets, it s a bad idea. Sincerely, Edward Favre (Exhibit Attached Below) As you know, I attended the Lakewood Planning Commission meeting on June 5. You have been provided the comments that I attempted to make and did provide the Commission. Contrary to the impression you may have drawn from the Sun Newspapers article, I did not go as, or identify myself as, a Board Member. I went as, and identified myself only, as a Lakewood resident. I did learn a valuable lesson being on the other side of public comment at a public meeting. The 3 minute rule at Planning Commission does not allow for genuine conversation or comment. In fact, it is shortened because the time it takes the citizen to print and sign in on the oath sheet is deducted from his or her speaking time. I realize that we have, at times, had folks who want to argue, challenge or ever interrogate, however the Board s flexibility and tolerance is preferable. A major neighborhood concern expressed and the Planning Commission was parking. The bar owners said they had been speaking with school officials about using Harrison lot. I knew of no such discussion, and Mrs. Beebe advised she had not. Harrison Elementary School s lot is the most visible, open parking near the proposed bar. We can expect it will be used by patrons and we will likely see all the related problems. The pastor of Transfiguration Parish, the former St. Cyril & Methodius, said that the Bishop has prohibited them from allowing a liquor establishment to use their parking lot. Comments were made that there had been other liquor establishments the neighborhood, which is true. Years ago, I recall one was a on the east side of Robin Street, just south of Thrush. It was small with perhaps a half dozen stools. Another was at the corner of Lark and Plover Streets. And another on the south side of Plover. These were small, neighborhood taverns from the days of Birdtown being a tight, ethnic, blue collar neighborhood. The type of place where the patrons stopped talking and looked when somebody they did not recognize came in the door. All are gone now. None had 150+ seating and the influx of traffic from outside the neighborhood an establishment of the proposed size and market will generated. None were adjacent to an elementary school. So to compare the former situation to this new model is not apples-to-apples. The new liquor permit may not just be for brewing beer. It may be a full liquor permit. Once the liquor license is issued, the format of the bar can change. This is a business. It will be market driven. If customer demand is for more than their brewed beer and the business has the ability to provide such, it would be very difficult to say no. In addition, we all know that businesses, particularly the bar and restaurant business change. We ve see this around town. What is to say that in a few years this could not become a sports bar?
This is a nice idea and it would be nice to refurbish a neglected building. I believe the developers are successful and well intentioned businessmen. This is an attractive proposal and I am not opposed to commercial development. However this business at this location is not a good fit. A social or neighborhood center, such as the Turkish American Society in the former Lutheran church at Clarence and Madison, or a museum, such as the Museum of Divine Statues in the former St. Hedwig s at Dowd and Madison, would be better fits for this location. Just as those locations might be better fits for a bar. It was only of late that we heard this proposal was for this church. Less than two weeks ago, the proposal was presented to Mr. Patterson and Mrs. Beebe. This is our first regular meeting since then. I recall discussion some time back of a development at St. Gregory s, and in speaking with Mr. Patterson, his recollection was the same as mine, that it was about St. Gregory Hall at Cohasset and Madison. Which would be a better suited commercial location for a liquor establishment. My opposition is not personal, and I do not mean any disrespect to all who propose this business venture. If we, as a Board, are passive on this issue, we set a precedence that we could expect to be used if there was a proposal to put a bar in St. Nicholas in the former church by Hayes Elementary School. Or if somebody wanted to reconfigure the neighborhood to put one adjacent to Lincoln, or Grant, or Roosevelt, or Emerson, or Horace Mann Elementary Schools. Bars and liquor establishments this close to schools with young children is just not a good idea and we need to make that statement. Mr. Favre stated that he had noticed that the traffic light at the intersection of Quail and Thrush is on flash. He suggested that we monitor the situation as that action may be a precursor to the light being removed. Board President Beebe asked if any members of the public would like to speak. Mr. Michael Drops, 2046 Marlowe Avenue. Mr. Drops shared comments about his volunteer experience through Project More. He suggested the Board look into expanding the program into the middle schools. The Board expressed their thanks to Mr. Drops for his many areas of involvement.
#113/14 #122/14 CONSENT AGENDA Mrs. Shaughnessy moved and Ms. Petrie Barcelona seconded the motion that the Consent Agenda items be approved. Upon roll call on the motion, the vote was as follows: Ms. Beebe Yea Ms. Petrie Barcelona Yea Mr. Einhouse Yea Mrs. Shaughnessy Yea Mr. Favre Yea
#123/14 HUMAN RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY SERVICES REPORT A. Certified Mr. Favre moved and Mrs. Shaughnessy seconded the motion that the resolution be approved. Yeas: Nays: Ms. Beebe, Ms. Petrie Barcelona, Mr. Einhouse, Mrs. Shaughnessy, Mr. Favre None
#124/14 B. Classified Mr. Favre moved and Mrs. Shaughnessy seconded the motion that the resolution be approved. Yeas: Nays: Ms. Beebe, Ms. Petrie Barcelona, Mr. Einhouse, Mrs. Shaughnessy, Mr. Favre None
#125/14 C. Community Recreation and Education Mr. Favre moved and Mrs. Shaughnessy seconded the motion that the resolution be approved. Yeas: Nays: Ms. Beebe, Ms. Petrie Barcelona, Mr. Einhouse, Mrs. Shaughnessy, Mr. Favre None
OTHER BOARD BUSINESS #126/14 A. Community Recreation and Education - Resignations Mr. Favre moved and Mrs. Shaughnessy seconded the motion to waive the two reading requirement and approve the Community Recreation and Education resignations on one reading. Upon roll call on the motion, the vote was as follows: Ms. Beebe Yea Ms. Petrie Barcelona Yea Mr. Einhouse Yea Mrs. Shaughnessy Yea Mr. Favre Yea
#127/14 B. Resolution to Approve Out-of-State Field Trip Ms. Petrie Barcelona moved and Mrs. Shaughnessy seconded the motion to waive the two reading requirement and approve the out-of-state field trip on one reading. Upon roll call on the motion, the vote was as follows: Ms. Beebe Yea Ms. Petrie Barcelona Yea Mr. Einhouse Yea Mrs. Shaughnessy Yea Mr. Favre Yea
#128/14 C. Resolution to Approve the Schools of Ohio Risk Sharing Authority (SORSA) as the provider for Property, Fleet and Liability Insurance for FY 2015 Mrs. Shaughnessy moved and Ms. Petrie Barcelona seconded the motion to approve the resolution to approve the Schools of Ohio Risk Sharing Authority (SORSA) as the provider for property, fleet and liability insurance for FY 2015. Yeas: Ms. Beebe, Ms. Petrie Barcelona, Mr. Einhouse, Mrs. Shaughnessy, Mr. Favre Nays: None
Board President Beebe called for a motion to retire to two (2) Executive Sessions. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mrs. Shaughnessy moved and Mr. Einhouse seconded the motion to move to two Executive Sessions (1) for the consideration of the purchase of property or sale of property at competitive bidding, if premature disclosure or information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest and (2) for the consideration of the employment of a public employee. Upon roll call on the motion, the vote was as follows: Ms. Beebe Yea Ms. Petrie Barcelona Yea Mr. Einhouse Yea Mrs. Shaughnessy Yea Mr. Favre Yea The Board recessed to Executive Session at 7:51 p.m. The First Executive Session ended at 8:03 p.m. Mr. Einhouse left the meeting at 8:30 p.m. The Second Executive Session ended at 9:10 p.m. The Board returned to public session at 9:10 p.m. No action was taken. Board President Beebe called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
ADJOURNMENT Mrs. Shaughnessy moved and Ms. Petrie Barcelona seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. Yeas: Ms. Beebe, Ms. Petrie Barcelona, Mrs. Shaughnessy, Mr. Favre Nays: None The meeting was adjourned at 9:11 p.m. President Treasurer