Fixing Education in Ohio -- Is it Possible?

During Voices & Choices, residents of Northeast Ohio made it clear they wanted a high quality education system that prepared our residents for the jobs of the 21st Century. Developing such a system has remained elusive. Earlier this week, leaders from Ashtabula, Mahoning, Columbiana and Mahoning counties gathered to review the issue with representatives of the Ohio Grantmakers Forum, a statewide group representing philanthropy that is leading an effort to push for changes in education in the state.

Jennifer Kovacs of the Warren Tribune Chronicle described the meeting this way in this story:

Area education, business and community leaders came together Monday morning to discuss how the educational system in Ohio can be restructured to better prepare students to compete in a global economy.

But by the end of the discussions, many were calling for completely ‘‘blowing up’’ that system rather than just tweaking it a bit.

‘‘It’s not simple. But it’s something we cannot walk away from,’’ George Espy, president of the Ohio Grantmakers Forum, said.

The group held the regional education initiative conversation with officials from Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula and Columbiana counties over a light breakfast at the Avalon Inn Resort and Conference Center. OGF has held similar conferences around the state to gain insight from those who have concerns about the future of education and aims to share the information gained with the office of Gov. Ted Strickland.

Are you ready to blow up the state's education system?