Shaker Heights High Leaving Greater Cleveland Conference

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH — The Shaker Heights High Red Raiders will leave the Greater Cleveland Conference in 2020, the district announced. The high school's athletic teams will rejoin the Lake Erie League.

"Our student-athletes have had to deal with multiple instances where they have been the subject of racial slurs on the athletic playing fields," the district said in a statement. "While our student-athletes have dealt with each of these incidents in a remarkably poised way, it is something that must be given serious consideration when making a decision about conference affiliation. The lack of diversity and cultural sensitivity in some of the communities in the GCC is a real concern."

A Shaker Heights Schools official said most of the racial-bias incidents occurred outside of Cuyahoga County. "Our students and coaches handled it well, but we hate to put our kids in those situations if we can avoid it," the official added.

The Shaker Heights Board of Education unanimously approved the move back to the Lake Erie League, pending an impact review of how the conference change could impact school costs. The Board said it plans to speak with athletic teams to ensure they're comfortable with the new league.

Shaker Heights left the Lake Erie League (LEL) in 2012, saying it was unhealthy and lacked stability. That has changed, the district said. The Board said LEL is now a stronger and more cohesive conference and the possible additions of Shaker and Garfield Heights would add more depth to the competition.

The LEL currently consists of: Bedford Schools, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools, Lorain Schools, Lutheran East, Maple Heights Schools, Shaw Schools, Warrensville Heights Schools. Both Shaker and Garfield Heights are set to join the conference in 2020. Luteran East is set to leave the league.

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The Greater Cleveland Conference (GCC) currently includes Shaker and: Brunswick, Elyria, Euclid, Medina, Mentor, Solon and Strongsville. The lack of racial diversity in the GCC posed a real problem for Shaker, according to the district. So did the cost of traveling to the various schools in the conference, a problem that would be alleviated by rejoining LEL.

Only three sports would not be impacted by the change to LEL: ice hockey, field hockey, and club sports.

These sports would be impacted by the change:

• Baseball
• Basketball - Boys & Girls
• Cross Country - Boys & Girls
• Football
• Golf - Boys & Girls
• Lacrosse - Boys & Girls
• Soccer - Boys & Girls
• Softball
• Swimming - Boys & Girls
• Tennis - Boys & Girls
• Track - Boys & Girls
• Volleyball
• Wrestling

Photo from Google Earth