THE DEEPER DIVE
As we wrap up the first half of our 2025-2026 school year at Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School, there is much to celebrate as presented in this issue of Avis Aqua. Our students remain engaged in all the aerospace and maritime programming available to them. The aqua immersion programming that started the school year saw 100% participation. After school clubs and programming have nearly 40% of Davis A&M students attending. While we celebrate our successes, we must prepare for a storm on the horizon.
On Tuesday, December 9th, 2025, the Cleveland School Board voted on significant district wide changes that will impact Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School. The Building Brighter Futures initiative has been developed by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District in response to forecasted financial shortfalls district wide.
The plan combines Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School and the High School for Digital Arts into a single rebranded school, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. High School. These changes will take effect for the 2026-2027 school year.
Once again, we find ourselves reminding our partners at the CMSD that Davis A&M programming and engagement are not defined by what resources are readily available. Our plans and strategies are developed by directly engaging students, families, staff, community partners and industry. We design solutions utilizing the collective knowledge and expertise of this Argonaut and Davis A&M network. We secure key resources from our community, state, federal and industry partners for the specific support and funding required for the defined success. We were not and still have yet to be engaged in any planning around the District’s current challenges or proposed solutions. Moreover, we are once again being asked to react to changes being imposed upon us by our partner
Argonaut was founded in 2010 (PHASTAR) to guarantee the long-term success of our Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School. This commitment requires that we fulfill our obligation to Davis A&M Students, Alumni, Families and Staff as lifelong partners, staunch allies and champions. We continue to assess the full impact of the Building Brighter Futures Plan developed by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and how it impacts our obligations.
In our ninth year of the Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School, we must acknowledge how far we have come. Our Principal, Tim Jones, has recruited and developed an incredible staff and has brought much of our vision to life. Our Argonaut and CMSD staff at Davis A&M work as one. Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School is successful because of strong leadership, committed and enthusiastic staff, and the power of Argonaut. We are in a very strong position as we consider the future. Furthermore, Davis A&M staff, Argonaut and our Board are working round the clock, exploring all options, thinking outside the box, and reaching out to all areas of expertise within our industries.
I will end this Deeper Dive as I have previously, reminding everyone that Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School WILL prevail. We will continue to be a tuition free, year-round, public high school providing support to our Cleveland students and families beyond the traditional school, beyond the school day, and beyond the four years of high school. Like the Tuskegee Airmen Legacy on which we are founded, we will continue to fight for change through action and perseverance in the face of adversity. We know our mission, and we will prevail. We are Davis A&M.
I welcome any questions, thoughts or concerns that you have. While no specific decisions or plans have been finalized by Argonaut, our commitment to Davis A&M is unwavering. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. We will keep in touch.
-Drew