Go Public!

2009 Cleveland Heights High School graduates Kim Wilkins and Tammy Tran produced this video, “Where’s Education?” as an entry in C-SPAN’s 2009 StudentCam video competition. Students were asked to create a 5-8 minute video documentary exploring an issue of national significance that they believe is in need of urgent attention from the new president of the United States. The other 74 videos honored (including one by Heights High 2009 graduate Luke Gould, the only other Ohio student recognized) can be viewed here. Nearly 1,000 videos from across the country were submitted.
“Where’s Education?” showcases the talent of two Heights High students and raises questions about the importance of public education.

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Go Public! Great Schools are Everybody’s Business

March 18, 2011

After planning, strategizing, talking and listening to school leaders, parents and concerned community members, a new group founded in Cleveland Heights is ready to act.  Newly named, “Go Public! Great Schools are Everybody’s Business,” will hit the ground running this month with a book and magazine drive for grades K-5 held from April 15 – May 15 throughout the community. “We thought a book and magazine drive would be a perfect vehicle to involve the community in helping our schools,” said Joan Spoerl, who has brought many people together with the idea of more community involvement in our public schools.

For the past several months Spoerl has gained support and momentum from the community using the book that inspired her, How to Walk to School: Blueprint for a Neighborhood School Renaissance, by Jacqueline Edelberg and Susan Kurland. “This model extends an outline for thinking big and doing better, for more effectively mobilizing and organizing our community to support our schools and the students who attend them,” said Spoerl.

Go Public! will work with teachers, reading specialists, PTA and families at every elementary school to collect and distribute books and magazines to students who will benefit most. Just in time for spring cleaning, gently used books and magazines will be collected in marked boxes placed in CH-UH schools, local coffee houses, grocery stores, and the Cleveland Heights Library on Lee Road. If your business, church or temple would like to host a collection bin, contact the number below.

If you don’t have gently used books to donate but would still like to participate, you can donate books through an Usborne Books & More online book fair at www.ubah.com/BF45673. All proceeds will go to the school district to promote summer reading. Whether buying books for yourself, as gifts, or for the district, all purchases will contribute towards additional free books for the district.

For book fair donations to be sent directly to the district, use the following mailing address when ordering: CH-UH City School District, Attn: Kelly Stukus, 2155 Miramar Boulevard, University Heights, OH 44118-3397.