Governor stumps for education

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland toured the Diagnostic Hybrids facility in Athens on Friday, taking the opportunity to discuss his education reform plan included in the state budget and to talk about preparing students for jobs in the 21st century.

Strickland was joined by state Rep. Debbie Phillips, D-Athens, on a tour conducted by DHI President and CEO David Scholl. Introducing Strickland, Scholl praised the Ohio Department of Development for its role in helping DHI grow, and stressed the importance of business incubators to allow new companies to get on their feet in Ohio. Scholl praised the work of Ohio University in helping accomplish these goals.

"In order for us to stay competitive, you're absolutely correct, we need a talented workforce, certainly in the biosciences," Scholl told Strickland. "Your spearheading of education reform in general, and making sure biosciences is a key part of it, is highly appreciated by all of us."

Strickland praised the growth of Diagnostic Hybrids since his last visit, saying that he's glad such a facility exists in the heart of Appalachian Ohio. He went on to discuss his education plan, which was included in the state budget passed in July. This is the second time Strickland has come to Athens County to tout education reform.

"I believe that we must take seriously the need to have a system of education that is fluid, that is flexible, that is relevant, that is appropriate to the needs of individual students," Strickland said. "During this budget process, we worked to implement a new structure for funding and for the delivery of educational opportunities to our young people."

Strickland has been visiting companies throughout Ohio in every sector of the economy, he said, citing the need for the people of the state to get behind the efforts to successfully implement the education plan.

The plan that was put into place, Strickland said, changed Ohio's system of education to one that the Ohio Supreme Court declared unconstitutional four times to one that is constitutional.

"We think that we have come up with an approach that meets the common-sense test and will result in what the courts have said we must do," Strickland said. This includes eliminating an overreliance of property tax-based funding, he said.

Critics in the Republican Party and media, however, question how Ohio will pay for Strickland's plan in the future, especially considering how the just-passed budget relies on one-time federal money and highly questionable proceeds from slot machines at racktracks.

"We decided to approach education by utilizing an evidence-based model," Strickland said in Athens. "We've tried to consult the education research that is plentiful and identify from that research what are the essential components or elements to a quality education, and then to commit our state to providing the resources necessary to do that. We can't implement the evidence-based model all at once."

He said the first year of the new model is for planning, with no requirements being put on schools until the second year. One requirement that will be in place in the second year, Strickland said, is all-day kindergarten.

"And then there will be additional elements implemented over time as resources are available and implementation can be done," he said.

Another aspect of the plan Strickland touted was switching from requiring the Ohio Graduation Test to having all graduating students take the ACT. He said this would be cheaper than conducting the Ohio Graduation Tests and would help prepare students for higher education.

Teachers would be required to have a longer, four-year residency period, Strickland said, comparing this component of the plan to residencies required of doctors. This part of the plan would include levels of licensureid. The levels, he explained, would provide opportunities for growth within the teaching field as an option, as opposed to going into administration, which is the only option for growth now.

Other details of the plan that Strickland discussed were the requirement of a senior project for students, as well as extending the school year by 20 days.

"We ought to begin with what's best for students, and after that we can solve other problems," Strickland said. "If we don't put students' needs first, then I think we're not doing what we're out here to do."

It's a competitive world, Strickland said, noting that "no dummies" work at Diagnostic Hybrids.

"The people who work here are folks who have paid a price to learn a lot," he said. "The reason I'm here is because this is a great success story. It is a company that was created locally. It has grown. It is achieving national and even international recognition. It's existing in a very competitive environment. It is succeeding because of the leadership and the skill and the talent of those who work here. And that's an example of what we must do if we are going to have a successful future for our state and for the people who live in it."

Strickland cited an unbreakable connection between academic achievement and economic growth and prosperity.

"When the people of Ohio embrace that, and understand that, then there will be increasing support for what we're trying to do educationally and academically in our state," he said. "There will be increased support for education and our students and our schools."