Ardelia for Shaker
My Vision for Shaker Heights School District
We don’t pursue equity because it’s popular.
We pursue it because it’s necessary.
When districts ignore racial gaps in literacy, behavior, and student safety, they do more than fail kids, they fracture communities. They erode public trust, depress property values, and gamble with our shared future.
But the reverse is also true.
When we invest in every child, especially those most underserved, and at risk, we build a district that performs better, feels safer, and costs less to fix later.
Equity is not a buzzword. It’s a return on investment.
It raises academic outcomes. It protects property value. It attracts families who want to stay.
But equity alone isn’t enough.
We need real accountability for how tax dollars are spent.
We need transparency the public can trust.
We need leadership that sees this district not just as a system, but as a responsibility.
My vision is simple:
A district where outcomes, not optics, drive decisions.
Where families feel heard, not ignored.
And where Shaker’s promise becomes real for every single member of our community.
Accountability and proactive leadership
The district is on track to face financial insolvency in just four years despite having some of the highest property taxes in the state and bringing more than $100M in revenue annually.
$98M is going to personnel representing almost 80% of the total budget, while student outcomes are stagnating or declining.
Shaker Heights property values, once a point of pride in Shaker Heights are stalling and beginning to decline.
This is not just a financial crisis; it is a failure of planning, oversight, and accountability. The district has been reactive instead proactive waiting for problems to explode instead of preventing them.
I support:
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A private third-party audit of district spending over the past few years to identify waste, bloat, and opportunities for reallocation to classrooms.
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A public KPI dashboard so residents can track academic performance, spending, and key metrics that impact property values in real time.
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New early warning systems to detect and plan for fiscal, academic and safety risks.
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A moratorium on admin bonuses and increases until we can tie compensation to student outcomes.
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Reallocation of administrative overhead, streamlining non-essential administrative roles and redirect those dollars directly into classrooms, where they have the greatest impact on student learning.
Student outcomes over optics
Shaker Heights is one of the highest taxed districts in the state and once our schools ranked as such. Today, we barely make the Top 100.
District wide black students are 30% or more behind all other students in proficiency, who are scoring at 90% and above in key subjects.
In 2020, the district implemented detracking in grades 5-9, aiming to create equity by putting all students on the same academic path. Equity doesn't come from just changing seats, but by transforming what happens in the classrooms.
Detracking must come with intensive literacy support, tutoring, cultural competence training, and accountability. Otherwise, we remove the barrier but leave students unprepared for the new path.
I support:
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Conducting a full audit of the districts detracking and implementation policies, including AP/IB access and classroom groupings, instructional practices, and support systems.
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Redirecting funding from redundant administrative roles to direct classroom supports and build data driven literacy and math intervention pathways beginning in 1st grade.
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Establishing a Student Outcomes Oversight committee monitor racial achievement gaps, ensure early intervention and recommend quarterly course corrections.
Real reform is real representation
Despite a diverse student body, the voices of Black families, low-income households, and students with disabilities, including those with IEPs and 504 plans, have been consistently overlooked in decision-making.
This lack of representation has led to policies and practices that fail to reflect the needs of our most vulnerable students.
Student supports, disciplinary actions, and opportunity gaps persist, even after DEI programs were launched. Families often feel shut out, misinformed, or unsupported, especially when navigating complex systems like special education.
I support:
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Creating a standing Family Council that includes representatives from Black families, special education advocates, and multilingual households to review major decisions before implementation.
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Conducting a full equity policy review to eliminate disparities in services and outcomes, alongside measuring progress transparently.
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Establishing tighter oversight for how IEP's and 504 plans are written, translated, and carried out, with transparency on accommodations and student growth.
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Launching a formal audit of the DEI Office's impact, tying DEI spending to concrete outcomes for marginalized students and students with IEPs.
One Shaker. United.
The vision of a unified, integrated Shaker Heights is beautiful, but it is not what many families are living. The same neighborhoods where students are most underserved academically are also the ones facing the greatest safety risks, highest housing instability, and fewest community resources. Meanwhile, our public narrative still centers on "excellence" while failing to address these inequities head on.
The school district is not only an academic system, it is the anchor of our community.
It is the districts responsibility- not just the parents, or the police, to work hand in hand with our community to create safe, thriving pathways for every child.
I support:
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The creation of a real "One Shaker" Equity and Safety Plan that ties district support to neighborhood level needs and outcomes.
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Formal partnerships with city council, law enforcement, faith leaders, business owners, and mental health providers to build wrap around community safety strategies.
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Investing in up to date trauma informed training district wide.
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Redirecting school resource officer budgets into funding programs for vulnerable youth, including restorative justice, and safe space initiatives.
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Developing walkable, accessible and inclusive community programming after school and during the summer in marginalized neighborhoods.
Meet Ardelia Holmes
Economist. Entrepreneur. Strategist. Advocate for Real Change.
For 20 years, I’ve called Shaker Heights home. I’ve raised my children here, worked inside our schools, and experienced the system from every angle; as a parent, a community advocate, and a strategist who knows how to turn challenges into solutions.
With a Master’s in Business and Organizational Leadership, a background in economics, and a history of launching successful businesses, I bring a results-driven approach that is rooted in both professional expertise and personal experience. My work has been recognized by city and state leaders, and I’ve spent years building the tools and frameworks needed to solve problems at scale.
But even with this knowledge and experience, I’ve run head-first into the same barriers many Shaker families face, inequitable grading policies, financial mismanagement, and a district culture that reacts instead of plans. These struggles aren’t theory to me; they are why I’m here.
They’ve driven me to develop a clear, data-backed framework for reform, one that demands transparency, ties spending to outcomes, and places our students at the center of every decision. This isn’t politics for me. It’s personal.
I’m running for school board to ensure no family has to fight this system alone, and to deliver the accountability and results our community has been waiting for.
Data dashboard
Shaker Heights was once among Ohio's highest performing school districts, but today we rank far behind trusted neighbors like Solon and Beachwood; both academically and in home equity. While Solon and Beachwood are attracting families and property appreciation, Shaker property values remain flat.
The data is undeniable: when schools slip, real estate and community confidence does too.
Link to full Transparency Dashboard
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I need your support to make this campaigng a reality
This campaign isn't just about a school board seat, it's about demanding real change, real accountability, and real transparency from our school district.
Every dollar raised helps me:
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Lauch Community Forums
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Design and Distribute Education Materials
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Conduct Grassroots Outreach
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Equip my campaign with the tools to counter misinformation and keep voters informed
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Build a movement that proves equity is an investment, not an expense.
understanding the levy
What is a school levy?
A school levy is a local property tax used to fund school district operations. In Ohio, schools rely heavily on levies because state funding rarely meets district needs.
What’s on the ballot now?
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The upcoming levy is an operating levy, meant to fund day-to-day expenses like teacher salaries, support staff, transportation, and classroom materials.
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The last levy (2020) was a capital levy, used for building renovations, not classroom operations.
This Ohio law freezes the amount collected from voted levies, meaning districts do not benefit when property values rise. That’s why they return to voters every few years.
Learn more:
The Crisis
Shaker has warned that:
“Without two new levies, we’ll face insolvency within four years.”
how did we get here?
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Shaker has one of the highest effective property tax rates in Ohio
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Nearly 80% of the $123M budget, over $98M/year, goes to personnel
Sources:
Why This Matters
Better student outcomes = higher property values
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Property values in Shaker are directly tied to the reputation of our schools
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Strong academic results → higher district rankings → more demand → increased home values
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This means district revenue can rise without raising taxes, but only if outcomes improve
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Cutting administrative bloat creates flexibility
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Nearly $100M/year goes to personnel, but student performance is stagnant
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Redirecting just 5-10% toward classroom instruction, IEP support, and interventions could drive real ROI for students and homeowners
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Without changes, we risk a cycle of crisis levies every 3-4 years
What Ardelia Proposes
Ardelia is not opposing the levy but she is demanding truth and transparency first.
“Before we ask residents to pay more, we need to show them we’ve earned their trust.”
Her Plan:
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Commission a spending review or targeted audit before the November vote
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Freeze raises and bonuses until student outcomes improve
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Launch a public financial dashboard to grant full transparency to tax payers
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Tie future levies to measurable performance outcomes
get involved Join the Movement
This is more than a campaign, it's a community effort.
Here's how you can get involved:
1. Volunteer
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Door-to-Door Outreach: Talk with voters and share our vision for real reform.
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Phone/Text Banking: Help us connect directly with Shaker families.
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Research & Data Team: Assist with fact-checking, audits, and holding the district accountable.
2. Share the Movement
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Post campaign graphics, fact sheets, and updates on social media.
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Invite your neighbors to attend forums and community events.
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Write letters to local media about why accountability matters.
3. Partner With Us
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Business Owners: Support our campaign through sponsorship or event space.
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Community Leaders: Join our 4GEM partnerships to unite government, education, ministry, and business.
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Parents & Educators: Lend your voice and help us create actionable solutions.
Shaker doesn’t need another political campaign. It needs a movement, and it starts with you.