GCC Supports Cleveland Schools Transformation Plan; Calls for Letter-Writing Campaign

Greater Cleveland Congregations supports the legislation agreed upon by Mayor Frank Jackson and the Cleveland Teachers Union to reform the Cleveland School District, and urges the Ohio General Assembly to pass it in its current form. Click here to read the entire op-ed from Friday’s Plain Dealer authored by GCC co-chairs: the Very Rev. Tracey Lind; Rabbi Joshua Caruso of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood; and Rev. Jawanza Colvin, pastor of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland.

Debate in Columbus on the legislation (House Bill 525) has begun and GCC encourages Trinity members to write letters to our state representatives and senators encouraging them to support this legislation without any additional changes. Click here for a pdf of GCC’s summary of the CMSD transformation plan. These letters should be sent out by Wednesday, May 9 at the latest in order to have maximum impact.

As this Plain Dealer article explains, there is currently an effort to weaken the legislation by undermining CMSD’s ability to block bad charter schools from opening and draining resources from CMSD. The Mayor’s office has asked that the GCC message to legislators specifically promotes the legislation without such changes.

This Sunday, May 6 from 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. stop by Trinity’s GCC education team’s table in the promenade to write a letter to your state representative and senator. If you would like to act sooner or encourage others to do so, GCC offers these sample letters for you to personalize:

Dear Representative X,
I am writing to urge your support of Mayor Jackson’s CMSD school reform legislation (HB 525) without additional changes. I am a member of Greater Cleveland Congregations, and collectively we have talked with hundreds of parents, students, teachers, administrators, social workers, and others connected to CMSD. We believe that this legislation will help ensure a better education for the children in our community. The success of our region depends on strong Cleveland schools.  Thank you for your support.

Dear Senator Y,
I am a (Parent/Student/Teacher/Administrator/) in Cleveland Schools. I am writing to urge your support of Mayor Jackson’s CMSD school reform legislation (HB 525) without additional changes. This legislation will give our district the tools it needs to improve education for every student. I am joining with thousands of others in my (church/synagogue/mosque) and Greater Cleveland Congregations to speak out for this urgently-needed reform. Thank you for your support.

You can identify your state representative and senator by plugging in your zip code at this website. Click through on the names of your rep/senator for their mailing addresses. For the most up-to-date information from GCC, visit the organization’s website and subscribe to its email newsletter.