FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Statement from Warrensville Heights City School District Regarding Ohio Supreme Court Ruling

(Warrensville Heights, Oh.) Today the Ohio Supreme Court, in a split decision, ruled that a Settlement Agreement entered into in 1997 between the Warrensville Heights City Schools and the Beachwood City Schools to share educational services and programs and to share tax dollars stemming from the eventual development of the then vacant Chagrin-Highlands territory is enforceable.

Warrensville City Schools had argued, among other things, that to send tax dollars away from one school district to another school district, approval by the Ohio State Board of Education was required but never occurred.

The litigation now returns to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings.  According to Superintendent Donald Jolly, “The Common Pleas Court must now determine remaining legal issues including the amount of Chagrin-Highland tax proceeds that must be diverted from the Warrensville Heights City Schools to the Beachwood City Schools and how the two school districts will begin sharing educational programs.”  The Warrensville Heights Board of Education will be meeting in the near future to discuss the Supreme Court’s decision and related litigation issues.

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Greetings -

The first day of school is this Wednesday, and we look forward to seeing our scholars back in classrooms. To ensure that our scholars, staff and community remains safe, we have revisited our Covid-19 guidelines in accordance with information from the Centers for Disease Control, the Ohio Department of Health, and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health shared in August. 

As of August 15, 2022, in accordance with the latest guidance from the CDC, Warrensville Heights City School District will strongly recommend face masks for staff, students, and building visitors. We believe that face masks are a key component to protecting an individual’s health, and encourage all staff, students and visitors to wear a face covering at all times. 

We will maintain the following procedures pertaining to Covid-19, per the guidance of local, state, and federal health agencies: 

• Social distance as spaces allow

• Temperature checks at all building entrances 

• Frequent hand washing and sanitizing procedures for all common areas

• When there are 3 or more cases within a 14 day period in a specific school setting (e.g. classroom, sport team, club, lunchroom, school sponsored event), a cluster investigation will be initiated and if necessary, further action will be taken by the school district. (Cuyahoga County Board of Health)  

• Individuals who have had confirmed contact with a Covid-19 positive individual do not need to quarantine unless they have symptoms or test positive. We ask that any individual who has had confirmed contact, but no symptoms, takes a Covid-19 test and wears a face mask for 10 days. (Ohio Department of Health) 

• If you have symptoms of illness, please remain at home to protect the health of others. (CDC, Ohio Department of Health, Cuyahoga County Board of Health) 

• If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days from the start of your symptoms (CDC, Ohio Department of Health, Cuyahoga County Board of Health)

For any questions or concerns related to Covid-19 safety at WHCSD, please contact Mr. Donshon Wilson, Director of Wellness, Innovation & Corporate Partnerships  at [email protected] I look forward to seeing everyone for a safe and successful school year. 

In Service, 

Donald J. Jolly, II

Superintendent