CMSD presents "Building Brighter Futures" plan to consolidate schools, expand programs and save $30 million a year

CLEVELAND — Dr. Morgan, chief executive officer of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, presented the district's "Building Brighter Futures" facilities recommendation during a Nov. 5 board work session, proposing a systemwide reconfiguration of schools through mergers intended to expand academic and extracurricular offerings while improving the district's financial outlook.

The plan, developed after spring, summer and fall rounds of community engagement, would reduce the number of operating schools next year by 29 and leave 18 buildings unoccupied; Dr. Morgan said the district would need to determine reuses for those buildings. He said the proposal is structured entirely around mergers rather than closures, and that it would save at least $30 million per year while expanding access to college credit, career pathways and extracurricular opportunities for impacted students.

"One hundred percent of the students [impacted by this plan] will have equal or greater academic, extracurricular, or student support and sports opportunities," Dr. Morgan said. He also said the district estimates that 96 percent of impacted students who accept a reserved seat at a welcoming school would attend a school with an equal or higher star rating and that 95 percent would attend a school in equal or better building condition.

Why the district is proposing change

Dr. Morgan framed the plan as a response to long‑term enrollment decline and rising costs. He said the district's enrollment has dropped by more than half over 20 years (from about 70,000 to the tens of thousands now in the system) while the number of school buildings has remained similar, producing underenrolled schools that limit program offerings and increase per‑student costs. He said the district previously cut nearly $200 million from its budget, exited fiscal precaution, and won a combined bond and operating levy, but still faces projected savings needs "in the ballpark" of $150 million over the next several years.

"Sitting and doing nothing will not change the reality for our scholars," Dr. Morgan said, urging the board to consider a December vote after additional public engagement.

What the plan would change

Dr. Morgan described three interlocking objectives: improve student experience and academic opportunity, right‑size the school footprint, and put the district on a more sustainable financial path. Highlights he presented include:

- System totals and impacts: The recommendation would leave 18 vacant buildings next year, produce 29 fewer operating schools, and involve 39 school actions (mergers and moves). Dr. Morgan said about 5,000 students would be directly impacted by a recommended move or merger next year, of which roughly 800 are high‑school‑level students.

- High schools: The district would consolidate multiple co‑located campus high schools into single high schools (example: the John Hay campus would become John Hay High School). Dr. Morgan said the plan reduces district high schools from the current count (presentation cited ~27) to 14 distinct high school entities, while preserving or expanding career pathways, AP/IB/dual‑enrollment opportunities, and athletics at those campuses.

- K–8 and elementary recommendations: The proposal lists 16 elementary/K–8 schools that would end instruction at the current site and merge into welcoming schools, and four specialty K–8 moves to different buildings (for example, Stonebrook White Montessori into the Stephanie Tubbs Jones building, to be renamed Michael R. White Montessori, per the presentation).

- Nontraditional and specialty programs: Dr. Morgan stated that nontraditional options such as Newcomers Academy, the virtual academy, High‑Tech High, School of One, and the district's downtown education center will remain in operation next year. He said specialty models (Montessori, single‑gender, IB, etc.) are preserved in the recommendation but acknowledged continued monitoring if enrollment or academic performance does not sustain those models.

- Program access: The plan aims for 100 percent of high schools to offer college credit and career pathways next year and for 100 percent of elementary/K–8s to offer at least one enrichment course beyond art, music and PE. Dr. Morgan said median enrollments would rise under the configuration and cited an estimated median high‑school enrollment of 572 if families choose reserved seats.

Financial context and state risk

Dr. Morgan and district staff tied the facilities recommendation to the district's financial stability. He said the configuration would save at least $30 million annually and estimated that amount contributes meaningfully toward a larger savings goal ("in the ballpark" of $150 million) the district needs to avoid fiscal precaution under state review. District staff said they would provide a more detailed forecast showing the plan's impact on multi‑year projections.

Board process, engagement and next steps

Chair Ellicott said the board will hold additional public comment opportunities and scheduled community meetings at impacted schools. Dr. Morgan said staff will begin engagement immediately with staff meetings, family meetings and transition teams at impacted schools, and that staff would post detailed, school‑level information on the Building Brighter Futures website. He requested the board vote on the recommendation at the Dec. 9 board business meeting at Max S. Hayes High School.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve work session consent agenda (minutes of 10/28/2025 and three legal resolutions, identified on the agenda as items 3.02–4.03): motion approved by roll call, 9–0 (vote called by Mr. Stockdale).

- Motion to enter executive session for personnel, negotiations, legal advice and security discussions: motion approved by roll call, 9–0.

Questions and concerns raised by board members

Board members asked about: the plan's effect on the five‑year forecast and fiscal precaution risk; how the district will provide safe, reliable transportation and safe passage for students who travel farther; staffing and class size implications; professional development and credentialing to support expanded CTE and college credit programs; how the district will preserve school culture and traditions during mergers; and how single‑gender and specialty offerings would be preserved or relocated. Dr. Morgan and staff answered at a high level and committed to provide additional details on staffing, transportation, building reuse and forecast modeling at upcoming meetings.

What was not decided

The board did not vote on the Building Brighter Futures recommendation at the Nov. 5 work session. Dr. Morgan asked the board to review the recommendation and receive additional community input before a Dec. 9 vote; the board set public meetings and increased public comment slots for upcoming business meetings to accommodate more input.

Who spoke (selected)

Speakers identified in the transcript include Chair Miss Ellicott (Board of Education, Cleveland Municipal School District), Dr. Morgan (CEO, Cleveland Metropolitan School District), Mr. Stockdale (board staff; called the roll), and board members who asked questions including Doctor Sridhar, Mr. Billups, Miss Welch (Welschow), Miss Lebron, Miss Peek, and Miss Jones. Several district staff (finance and operations leads) were referenced during the Q&A and provided technical responses.

Why it matters

The recommendation would reshape where students attend school across Cleveland, with the district arguing the consolidation will expand program access (career pathways, college credit, electives, athletics), improve building conditions over time, and materially reduce operating costs. The board and community will have additional engagement and a Dec. 9 vote will determine whether the plan moves forward.