[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6478448,"mediaKeyId","5708949-1dc883bc392b57668e8810dc35729c1d","parentId",5708949,"title","Cleveland City Schools reports stable overall enrollment, smaller kindergarten cohort and transition to new state data system","audioSeconds",232,"startMs",3345335,"endMs",3578060,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708949-1dc883bc392b57668e8810dc35729c1d&start=3345&end=3578","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708949-1dc883bc392b57668e8810dc35729c1d/thumbnail_3345335.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6478448/Cleveland/School-Districts/Tennessee/Cleveland-City-Schools-reports-stable-overall-enrollment-smaller-kindergarten-cohort-and-transition-to-new-state-data-system","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478448-b15a1d2a3e7a99bbff6231b7285dd431/orig.mp4?Expires=1775725976&Signature=a2pDHu8Qg5V5gKfLXrHLJbcSv657MFbw4uFC5jbMUD2pZSd-RPp-RVrK81MODLF2xsggachzL6lq55r4CEfvX9ulEFUfTjmGGvtHxsvQzq194O8Sxw74Q8drot59ubsAey7FKhgckLS0856UlJwW27kmKSKoHwLXCJQkpNbxGJHNcHEqzmOHVPb2Lpg0a-LUf0ZpfUt2OsXAQrENMk1QVA~H9ybEVZ9gon99It0YvuWXJrS9-u908gTLQMUuAucNdna0N0ATfbNI5JfSDn4shGx8oQDjtJKd7iNG7~7gdvaoxempiELujGQcByfLc3WCDBuo3eLZ11Xyzr7s2OR8jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cleveland Schools","date","2025-09-03T10:43:33Z","article","District data staff told the Cleveland City Schools Board on Sept. 8 that overall enrollment levels are largely stable but that the district is seeing a noticeably smaller kindergarten cohort this year. Michael Carson, who presented the fall enrollment update, said the smaller kindergarten group fits a broader, nationwide birth-rate trend and that some parents may be “redshirting” kindergarten entry for children born during the COVID years.

Carson reported roughly 650 new enrollments since summer and approximately 570 student withdrawals or transfers out — numbers he called “typical” for the start of a school year. He also said about 155 students transferred between elementary schools within the district.

The district implemented PowerSchool’s online forms product for returning students this year; Carson described the rollout as successful. He said the forms product produced about 1,300 more completed forms in the first 13 days of availability than the prior system and that roughly 97% of required forms were completed before school started. Carson credited mobile-app ease, split forms per department and bilingual support staff for the high completion rate.

Carson warned that the Tennessee Department of Education’s shift to a new state reporting system (referred to at the meeting as TEDs) has created reporting challenges and asked the board for patience while the district adapts. He used an analogy to explain the disruption: the state’s change requires districts to identify and redirect many data connections to a new system.

Board members asked whether the district can track enrollment changes tied to private-school voucher use; Carson said the district currently has limited visibility because private schools and families do not report voucher usage into district or state public data. He said staff will try to produce the best available metrics during the year.

Board members asked for more detailed growth and cohort reports as the year progresses; Carson said staff will follow up with additional breakdowns and trend data.

Key numbers reported at the meeting (as presented by district staff):
- New enrollments since summer: ~650
- Withdrawals/transfers out since summer: ~570
- Students transferred between district elementary schools: ~155
- Early kindergarten cohort: noticeably smaller than prior years (district to monitor)
- PowerSchool forms completion: roughly 97% of returning-student forms completed before school began

Carson asked the board for patience as the district transitions state reporting to the TEDs system and said staff will continue to report enrollment trends and funding impacts to the board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CCS Board Meeting - Tuesday, September 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","District data staff said early enrollments are broadly stable, with a noticeably smaller kindergarten cohort and about 650 new enrollments this year; the district also reported a switch to the state’s new TEDs reporting system and a successful rollout of PowerSchool forms for returning students.","taxTitle","Cleveland, School Districts, Tennessee","taxId",38598,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6478453,"District reports early improvement after cell-phone ban; superintendent says about 4% of students had phones confiscated in first month",1252,1513550,2766000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708949-1dc883bc392b57668e8810dc35729c1d&start=1513&end=2766","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708949-1dc883bc392b57668e8810dc35729c1d/thumbnail_1513550.jpg","/articles/6478453/Cleveland/School-Districts/Tennessee/District-reports-early-improvement-after-cell-phone-ban-superintendent-says-about-4-of-students-had-phones-confiscated-in-first-month","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478453-b9cf743921733c5350b743041179e945/orig.mp4?Expires=1775725976&Signature=YxWdD0xneuVEUjUDImRur6ApTV0txHjS8EogE1cA7dj9FSKkxjLl7AdVLDTdKDm4eqsQyfh28TasS4it1ZKMk1Yv~UGaW2agzjv0GabpVHUaWSvysUBLvG~g6JvUDbR8kg0Nu1H85gEZyoqTL5agwqzdYKfcY4om~qsJgrHjpf9b9ePbhPanoDrMAoE1axkMjLQHe3qB11Ue-mKrKvX0yE0642qTKJo3bQmw8YGMWkH--p79jo4Pvxhdl-mHUs1l93Q431tsvZp0L~JjCDpgXYCnM9IVWZcwRKS71nmb8Y2DIu4Y~EGGXpyzz2mqgNHvBWK9-Mo5o6SjyjG6MRWjqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Dr. Elliott told the Cleveland City Schools Board of Education on Sept. 8 that the district’s newly implemented wireless-device policy — a campuswide phone ban at Cleveland High School and consistent enforcement across schools — has produced early positive results, including what he described as improved engagement and “a more positive atmosphere.”

Dr. Elliott said administrators and teachers reported that students were “more engaged and respectful” after consistent enforcement, and that many parents have supported the district’s approach. He added that some parents preferred staff retain confiscated phones for a period rather than immediately returning them. “Consistency is so important,” Elliott said.

Elliott provided initial confiscation counts by grade for the policy’s first four weeks and characterized the totals as about 4% of the student body. The board heard the superintendent say those counts included the high school grades with higher counts in upper grades; Elliott described the shift as part of students “getting used to this” and credited staff for consistent enforcement.

Student representative Lily Hakes, reporting from Cleveland High School, also told the board the change is becoming routine for many students. “People have gotten used to it,” Hakes said. “It’s created a lot of deeper connections with people… not having my phone in class helps me… to focus better in class.” Hakes said classmates reported increased social interaction and improved attention during instructional time.

Board members asked for ongoing updates. Elliott said administration will continue monitoring confiscation numbers, instructional impacts and parent feedback and will share periodic reports throughout the year. No formal policy change was proposed at the meeting; the board discussed implementation feedback and data from the opening weeks of the school year.

The board did not vote on the phone policy during the meeting; members asked staff to continue reporting to the board.

Quotes
“Consistency is so important… administrators reported that that cell phone ban has transformed the school climate, for the positive atmosphere. The students are more engaged and respectful in that regard,” — Dr. Elliott, director of schools.

“People have gotten used to it… It’s created a lot of deeper connection with people… not having my phone in class… helps me to focus better in class,” — Lily Hakes, student representative, Cleveland High School.

The district will continue to report on enforcement data and instructional outcomes as the school year continues.","Superintendent Dr. Elliott told the Cleveland City Schools Board that the district’s new wireless-device policy at Cleveland High School has “transformed the school climate,” and that initial confiscation numbers represented roughly 4% of the student body during the first month.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6478458,"Cleveland City Schools board approves consent agenda, two policies, one special-education position and press-box painting",2297,1119965,3416965,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708949-1dc883bc392b57668e8810dc35729c1d&start=1119&end=3416","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708949-1dc883bc392b57668e8810dc35729c1d/thumbnail_1119965.jpg","/articles/6478458/Cleveland/School-Districts/Tennessee/Cleveland-City-Schools-board-approves-consent-agenda-two-policies-one-special-education-position-and-press-box-painting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478458-cfcde8adea42dc9636bb30d87ce1497a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775725976&Signature=gPV4ZfRmQg1QRLM2gQ6CC7d-SU77UsJFeZQvgQ3KSkOGsmE5WuL4Ycjqfz1cfhr~VqjQGLHdQYmlK-5bJAnS76g8Q-hYuF~ZLvul0-CvAXf6CroHR-aoz-gTWuj5xUPxvv3NOFzphFMr6PNuCB7QvMM78QtayXHEgf2nN7TdSOBMyZY-fKoLBKFmQNCeDvre24RLzaIaugJoFmTQygvnBD5Mdj6J30x6VoG76GeFnj5zIINyN0QXjdDQArJzgcSJ5JTPqvuR3st4~37-qWLvz6wB~1lgm8Kfzsq-IaXNTlcLlWpUBBWIHd7PL7GwLwojzvjhG~jT-evX-GbizHFODw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cleveland City Schools Board of Education on Sept. 8 unanimously approved a series of routine and budget-related items, including the consent agenda, two policy revisions, an additional special-education position moved from an IDEA (federal) budget into the district general budget, and a request by the high school booster club to paint sections of the baseball press box Raider blue.

Board Chair Nate Tucker opened the meeting and called for a vote on the consent agenda. The motion to accept the consent agenda “as presented” passed with all members voting yes. The board then considered two policy changes and voted to approve them after a first-reading discussion. The board motion passed unanimously.

The board also approved a request from Superintendent Dr. Elliott to add one full-time special-education teacher position into the district general budget for the 2025–26 school year. Elliott told the board the move was driven by a tightening of federal IDEA dollars and local growth in students with higher service needs. “There was a reduction in that budget amount,” Elliott said, describing the action as necessary to avoid gaps in required services. Board members asked whether the district expected the change to be budget-neutral; Elliott said the district would analyze year-end reports and, if needed, return with a budget amendment.

The facilities committee brought a motion allowing the Cleveland High School booster club to paint designated parts of the baseball press box Raider blue; that motion passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance:
- Consent agenda — Motion to accept consent agenda as presented; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Policy revisions — Motion to approve policy changes (first reading items discussed at the meeting); outcome: approved unanimously. (Policy numbers discussed during the meeting included Policy 1.7 and a policy amended to include a state-required definition of antisemitism.)
- Special-education position — Motion to add one full-time special-education teacher into the general fund for 2025–26 (position and benefits moved from IDEA budget); outcome: approved unanimously. Elliott described a reduction in IDEA funding and rising needs for older students as the rationale.
- Baseball press box painting — Motion (recommended by facilities committee) to allow booster club painting of the press box/back wall; outcome: approved unanimously.

Several board members asked staff to continue monitoring federal grant allocations and to return with any necessary amendments to keep the district budget balanced. Elliott said the district would provide additional budget analysis in the spring budget-preparation cycle and would bring amendments if they become necessary.

The board adjourned at 6:35 p.m.","At its Sept. 8 meeting the Cleveland City Schools Board of Education approved the consent agenda, adopted two district policies, authorized adding a special-education teacher to the general budget and allowed the high school booster club to paint parts of the baseball press box Raider blue.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cleveland City Schools reports stable overall enrollment, smaller kindergarten cohort and transition to new state data system

District reports early improvement after cell-phone ban; superintendent says about 4% of students had phones confiscated in first month

Cleveland City Schools board approves consent agenda, two policies, one special-education position and press-box painting