Cleveland mayor pitches school changes to leaders

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland’s mayor has appealed for support for a wide-ranging plan for improving public schools.

Mayor Frank Jackson said Thursday in his seventh state of the city address that his wish-list includes a plan partly dependent on a new property tax expected to be on the November ballot.

According to The Plain Dealer, the Collinwood High School senior class president in the audience complained about the attitude of staff and students at the school. The mayor says the 17-year-old’s comments illustrate the need to shake up the school culture.

The mayor controls schools through an appointed board. He wants to overhaul failing schools and work closer with high-performing charter schools.

The plan calls for reassigning teachers without regard to seniority, a concern for the teachers union.