I don't doubt that Shaker Schools are as good as you say they are, but so are nearby districts with lower tax rates and yes, they have diversity there too. My concern is that Shaker has lost its competitive edge by pushing out fiscal conservatives. This has not proven to be a sound strategy by city leaders and generous voters, given the decades of Shaker population decline and 8 years of property value decline.
I've lived here for 19 years and know what a very special place Shaker Heights is and want to reverse these miserable trends. I post here at Patch frequently to lift heads out of the sand and turn away eager patrons at the kool-aid stand. All is not well in Shaker Heights, and the first step to correct our problems is to admit that they exist. We could have more cost-effective public services and a more vibrant private sector if only our elected officials – or their replacements – work smarter to live within the means of the community. You can learn more about what the Shaker Heights Taxpayers Union is doing to make this happen at www.shaker-taxpayers.org.

Mark, Beachwood spends roughly the same per student as Shaker does. Yet Beachwood has lower property taxes. How is this possible? What can Shaker do to maintain a school district that offers educational options that are competitive with neighboring districts, yet lower taxes?

Some have argued that Shaker's test scores are being propped up by an elite, but small group of students from upper-middle class and wealthy families. Regardless of whether or not that is true, it should be noted that one of the main reasons these families continue to live in Shaker and continue to opt for public education, is precisely because of all of the options that the schools offer. If you cut back on those options, the families that can will start looking elsewhere.

UH Resident, I'm not suggesting that Shaker schools cut back on educational options, or that the City cut back on essential public services. Our taxing authorities here need to cut costs, not services. They need to put children and parents first in education and citizens first in city services, before the needs or demands of public employees. Our public servants have been entrusted with monopoly power over our money and property to do just that. But when public servants are compensated at pay and benefit scales far beyond their private sector counterparts, and tax rates are raised so high to pay for these costs that residents are pushed out and the city's population declines for decades, the public trust has been violated. Taxing authorities need to rightsize their institutions to live within the means of the community, and that means providing better services at lower costs. If they can't do this then they need to offer taxpayers private options on a level playing field, through school choice and privatized city services.

I don't totally disagree with either of you. Shaker is awesome, and I love living here. I love the education that my children are receiving as well. I do however think that Shaker can better utilize it's resources, our taxes are astronomical. I have to tighten my belt Shaker will have to do the same. The Environmental services should be a start. And something should be free around here. Like one class at the Rec or something. There should be some tangible gain for all of the money we spend in our community.

Beachwood has a vibrant commercial tax base rooted in keeping rates low and regulations to a minimum.
Shaker is the complete opposite.
The contrast between 2 different ideologies is apparent and can be seen by simply driving the 2 miles from Chagrin/Lee to Chagrin/Richmond.
Beachwood residents benefit in having property taxes that are significantly less.