That’s why Frank Jackson and Eric Gordon have their work cut out for them.

It will take more than platitudes, catchy slogans and tugging on voter heartstrings for leaders of the Cleveland Municipal School District to pass a 15-mil levy this November.

All the money spent on consultants and advertising will be for naught unless Mayor Frank Jackson and CMSD CEO Eric Gordon outline exactly how this proposed infusion on money will actually turnaround a district that has lost its luster and the confidence of many residents.

While this newspaper supports the levy, the ultimate test will be for Jackson and Gordon to show voters that the schools transformation plan can work.

At stake is the future education of Cleveland students; many of whom seek to go on to college and become productive members of society.

But for the number of high achieving students in the district, sadly there are more who eschew the values of education. Worse yet, many of these student’s parents fail to see that education is the key to success. That’s why passing this levy is going to be such a tough nut to crack.

There are too many Cleveland homeowners who don’t have children in the school district and can’t see themselves forking over more money for a system they see in disrepair. Worse yet, they don’t see Cleveland students worth investing in.

They see this in the dismal graduation rate; especially among Black males.

They see all too many young Black females dropping out of school to have babies and never returning to finish their schooling.

They see outbreaks of fights in the schools and random violence outside the classrooms.

In short, all too many Cleveland voters believe they’ll just be throwing money at a problem instead of finding a solution.

That’s why Frank Jackson and Eric Gordon have their work cut out for them.

Too much is at stake for the CMSD.