Board reviews 60 resolutions for March 18 vote, including state‑mandated release‑time policy, property‑valuation complaints and tax exemption request

The Cleveland Board of Education reviewed 60 resolutions at its work session; the items were presented for discussion only and the board will consider adoption at its March 18 business meeting.

Release time for religious instruction

One item reviewed was Resolution 6.01, a district policy adopting release time for religious instruction. Staff told the board that Ohio House Bill 8, passed by the Ohio Legislature and signed by the governor in January, makes it mandatory for boards to adopt a policy authorizing students to be excused from school to attend religious instruction beginning April 9, 2025. The presentation said the policy requires 24‑hour advanced written consent from a parent or guardian, that the sponsoring entity maintain attendance records and provide transportation and liability coverage, that students may not be excused from core curriculum subjects and must make up missed work, that no district funds or staff time will be used for the religious instruction and that criminal background checks will be required for instructors and volunteers.

Property valuation complaints (Am. Sub. HB 126)

Resolutions 6.02 through 6.53 were described as authorizations to file complaints challenging county valuations of commercial real property. Staff explained that amended substitute House Bill 126 (2022) changed the process so boards must adopt a separate resolution for each parcel the district wishes to challenge and must provide seven calendar days' written notice to the property owner before adopting the resolution. The packet for this meeting included 52 such resolutions for 2025; staff said the required notices have already been provided to owners named in the resolutions.

Finance and tax exemption matters

Finance Resolution 7.01 would accept gifts and grants and authorize the CEO to spend them according to each grant’s terms. The resolution lists: $8,518.56 from the Cleveland Foundation for Ginn Academy general support; $200,000 from Cleveland Guardians Charities to support the district’s Senate Athletic League baseball and softball programs for the 2025 season; $250,000 from the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio for integrated health programming; $8,460.25 from Sisters of Charity Health Systems for student incentives at Marion‑Sterling School; and $950,000 from the City of Cleveland to support recreational, cultural and extracurricular programs for city school children.

Resolution 7.02 would approve a real‑property tax exemption under Ohio Revised Code section 5709.62 for development at 10500 Cedar Avenue. Staff said the city is seeking to reinstate and amend an earlier enterprise zone agreement so that Canon Healthcare USA Inc. (or a designee) can relocate its corporate headquarters to Cleveland; staff said the project would create 50 jobs with an estimated payroll of $7.5 million. The requested change would extend a previously authorized 60 percent exemption from 10 years to up to 15 years, with nine years remaining; staff noted that when payroll exceeds $1 million municipalities must share certain proceeds with the local school district. The board was advised that discussion of some confidential economic development information is permissible in executive session.

IT/E‑rate

IT Resolution 8.01 would authorize CEO or designee to enter new and renewal service contracts for E‑rate eligible services for fiscal year 2025‑26 in an amount not to exceed $4,000,000. Staff explained E‑rate discounts historically reduce the district’s share (CMSD generally receives 85–90 percent discounts), and that the October 2023 FCC declaratory ruling made school‑bus Wi‑Fi eligible for E‑rate funding; appendix A attached to the resolution lists the district’s FY24‑25 E‑rate eligible services and identifies a new bus Wi‑Fi expansion and a transition to a hotspot lending program.

Personnel and routine business

The meeting packet also included routine monthly personnel resolutions authorizing new hires (29), reclassifications (6), separations (37) and limited contracts/additional compensation (17); the board will consider those at its March 18 business meeting.

No resolutions were adopted at the work session; the items were presented for discussion and slated for formal consideration at the March 18 board business meeting.