As Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) grapples with shaping its future, Mayor Justin M. Bibb has ushered in fresh perspectives by appointing three new board members. The trio, chosen from 42 candidates, stepped into the roles following the resignations of former occupants Leah Hudnall, Robert Heard, and Denise Link earlier in the year. Their collective aim is to bolster the district's progression and enhance opportunities for its students. Caroline Peak will take Heard's place, Jerry Billups will step into Hudnall's shoes, and Pastor Ivory Jones will fill Link's vacated seat, per an announcement on the official City of Cleveland's website.
Selected for her extensive work within the community, Caroline J. Peak brings robust experience from her tenure as a public service manager at the Cleveland Public Library to her new role on the board; her term will conclude on June 30, 2025, and she plans to emphasize policies that enhance communication, promote equity and support the district's educators and students as reflected in her remarks on the same statement obtained by the City of Cleveland. Jerry Terrell Billups, not only an alumnus of John Marshall High School and a lifelong resident but also a father to three CMSD scholars and a graduate, contributes his experience as the juvenile detention alternative initiative coordinator at Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court to the board aiming to enrich connections and services for the youth of Cleveland. He’s set to serve until June 30, 2027.
Pastor Ivory Jones III, a figurehead in community leadership and advocacy who's dedicated more than three decades to pastoral service, is completing the appointments. With a focus on social change and education, Jones's pastoral work at the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood's Grace Missionary Baptist Church complements his hands-on experience. Having been a part of the Cleveland education landscape as a parent and a student himself, his term expires at the end of June 2027, as mentioned in the news release by the City of Cleveland.
The importance of these appointments is underlined by CMSD's recent achievements, including the passage of Issue 49, which is expected to generate approximately $49 million annually for the district, and the successful attainment of a three-star rating on the Ohio School Report Card. This trio of new board members will take their oath before the next Board of Education meeting slated for December 10. The CMSD Board, an eleven-member unit, counsels on policies, budgets, and goals and could potentially influence the vast landscape of public schooling in Cleveland, essentially the backbone of enhancing educational standards and parental partnership within the community.
