Making Arts Education a Cleveland School Board Priority

I received a very thoughtful message today from the consultant working on the Arts Education Strategic Plan for the Cleveland Municipal School District, Dawn Ellis, suggesting that now when the mayor is in the process of appointing new school board members is the time to make sure all candidates are concerned about arts education, or find candidates who are. Of the School Board members I know, I'm sure they are very concerned about arts education, but Dawn raises an example where a community - Miami - stepped up to focus additional school board attention on arts education and it paid off... so let's take this as good advice. Know anyone who would be a good candidate? Here's the advice from Dawn on this:

t just came to my attention that the Cleveland school board is going through a major shift and has to fill a number of seats by mayoral appointment.  This is a tremendous opportunity for arts education advocates and people who value young people.  Take a lesson from Miami, Florida, where arts education advocates cultivated a board member to run who was a fervent arts education supporter.  Make sure the mayor’s office has names and interest in serving from some people familiar with the power of arts education in young peoples lives; they had a slim pool to pull upon at last report.

Cultural community representatives, former arts educators, and business representatives:

Please put the word out through your networks to identify the Cleveland residents among the people involved in arts education, arts in education, arts in higher education, arts in business who fit the bill, and might be willing to be considered to serve.  Perhaps one of you might be willing to serve?  It is the policymaking board that will make the difference.

You are needed, and soon.  Contact the mayor’s office for more information on how to put your name into consideration.