Greater Cleveland Partnership Seeks to Improve Operations at Cleveland Public Schools

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

CLEVELAND - The Greater Cleveland Partnership, at the request of Mayor Jane Campbell and Cleveland Municipal School District CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett, has established an Operations Improvement Task Force to help the CMSD examine and evaluate the efficiency of its  operations.

When the CEO announced on August 5, 2005 that she would not seek an extension on her contract, she said she would ask for an academic audit, financial audit, capital audit, and efficiencies operations audit. As a result, the GCP will establish a task force of approximately 30 business leaders who will analyze current school district operations and determine opportunities for improvement.  The Operations Improvement Task Force will focus on: human resources, food services and information technology.  The task force will compile recommendations by December 1 and will conclude its work by December 31.

“Our task force will seek ways to streamline the Cleveland Municipal School District in order that the organization uses its assets to the fullest,” said Chuck Ratner, chair of the task force.  “School funding is tight, and an operation as large as CMSD will certainly benefit from an objective audit.  The Cleveland business community wants to see our students thrive, our teachers have the resources they need and the administration function as efficiently as possible.”

GCP has employed the Pearce Group, Inc. to form teams of experts from the business community for each of the key functional areas, oversee the task force process, and provide a summary report of the conclusions, recommendations and implementation steps.

The Greater Cleveland Partnership, the primary voice for businesses in Greater Cleveland, seeks to create jobs and wealth, and improve the economic vitality of the region. Its priorities include technology, innovation and high-growth businesses; connected physical development; education and workforce development; and business attraction, retention and expansion. The GCP emphasizes service to its more than 16,400 members; advocacy on behalf of members and the region; diversity and inclusion; and internationalization of the region and its businesses. http://www.gcpartnership.com .

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