Shaker Heights High School?s Advanced Placement test results were outstanding this year. In May, 323 Shaker sophomores, juniors and seniors took a total of 721 national college-level AP tests, with 89% earning a score of 3, 4, or 5 on a 5- point scale. Shaker last year offered 27 AP courses in 18 subject areas. AP Biology is being added as a sophomore elective beginning in 2006-07.

The Shaker schools have been awarded two-year grants of $242,000 from The Cleveland Foundation and $80,000 from The George Gund Foundation to support minority achievement efforts. This is the third time the two foundations have made grants to the District for this work. The grants will support a range of activities, including professional development, Scholars programs for students in grades 5-12, the establishment of study circles to support students in AP and Honors classes, and dissemination of best practices. The Foundations' support has enabled the Shaker schools to conduct program development, research, and collaboration with other school districts to identify promising approaches to closing the achievement gap.

The District has made budget reductions totaling $4.5 million for the 2006-07 school year, meeting financial targets established last winter. These reductions were anticipated and are the result of the state funding situation. Careful planning over an eight-month period has made it possible to achieve these reductions with minimal impact on classroom instruction. The District will have about 62 fewer employees in the coming year (out of more than 800). About half of the staff reductions have been made through attrition, but some layoffs have been necessary, primarily in the custodial and maintenance areas. As many of the laid-off employees as possible are being recalled as vacancies occur. Every effort is being made to protect the quality of programs and instruction. The Shaker schools are joining with other school districts and education groups around the state to press for school funding reform in Columbus.

Personnel changes: Lisa Howell, formerly Assistant Principal at the High School, is the new District Personnel Administrator. Jasmine Clark, a former social studies teacher, is replacing Ms. Howell as Assistant Principal at the High School. Don Readance, women?s head basketball coach, has been named Athletic Director at the High School. The new acting Business Administrator is Robert Kreiner, who has been a superintendent in four Ohio school districts, executive director of the Greater Cleveland School Superintendents' Association and assistant director of the Ohio Schools Council.

Repairs and preventive maintenance efforts have continued throughout the District during the summer. Windows have been replaced at Fernway, Lomond, and Onaway schools. The new windows were designed to be compatible with the architecture of the buildings. Similar windows installed at Woodbury five years ago have resulted in decreased energy consumption and lower maintenance costs. Other summer projects include roof repairs, the expansion of classroom space for special needs and art classes; the creation of an additional science lab at the High School; electrical upgrades; and improvement of accessibility at several buildings for people with disabilities. Major capital projects are funded from proceeds of the 2004 bond issue.

In addition, the District's bus fleet achieved a 100 percent pass rate on state inspections for the fourteenth year in a row. This is quite an accomplishment, given the fact that 31 percent of our buses are 15 years old or older.

REGISTER NOW! Avoid long lines, delayed class and bus assignments, and first-day jitters by starting the registration process now. For your convenience, the Registration Office is offering extended hours on the following dates:

• Wednesday, August 23, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Thursday, August 24, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
  For info, contact Glenda Moss, Registrar, by e- mail or by phone at 295-4321.

Get a head start on the new school year. Visit www.shaker.org for supply lists and online calendars. The PTO Calendar is being mailed to all families with children in the Shaker schools. Additional copies will be available for sale at schools, the Administration Building, and the Shaker Heights Public Library.

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