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A Strong Educational Policy – What does this mean for you and our children?
by David Madden
As mentioned yesterday, this article will focus my thoughts on a strong educational policy and the importance of having a policy that is constantly focusing on graduating our children either college ready, career ready or both.
Currently having a 13yr. old son (Kayden) and a 7yr. old daughter (Josie) that have been in the Greenville City Schools system since the day they were born, I believe we must have a strong educational policy, inclusive of all our students that provides the maximum amount of opportunity and varied avenues to grow successfully.
For my 8th grade son, I am concerned about how he is going to be prepared to tackle either a 4-year/2-year University/College or possibly a Technical Trade School he may be interested in. It’s important to note, it is estimated that on average the Greenville School District (while it’s impossible to track the exact statistic) has 50% of graduating seniors that will enroll in either a 4-year/2-year University/College. Of those students, a little over 50% will complete their goal of earning their degree within a 5-year time frame.
One of my goals would be to institute an educational policy that helps identify students that may not have an interest in attending a 4-year University/College, but have a desire in pursuing a 2-year degree or even a Career Technology Center program (Greenville CTC), that is desirable for a local company to gainfully employ a skilled graduate from one of the School District’s programs. This does a couple of things, it encourages local businesses (small and large) requiring skilled workers to work with both the Greenville CTC and community colleges like Edison State, Sinclair University, Wright State’s Lake Campus, thus keeping talent in the community long term while strengthening our opportunities for our older children. Students should always be encouraged and fostered to pursue a 4-year College program, but it is prudent to recognize that this is not a path for every student, alternative career paths should be shared and pursued as viable options when appropriate. I work with and personally know many professionals (Engineers, Teachers, Architects, School Administrators, Computer Programmers) that have 4-year degrees, 2-year degrees, CTC training, Trade Training (Farmers, Electricians, Plumbers, Welders, Structural Erectors, HVAC Installers, Controls Technicians, Cosmetologists, Mechanics, etc.), that all have successful and rewarding careers. Having a strong Board of Education that expands our Career Technology Center, works with licensed Trade programs, regional 2-year Colleges, 4-year institutions along with local businesses will result in keeping talent in Greenville and strengthening our community! In the long term (8 yrs. +) this should result in encouraging existing business expansion, new business location and provide opportunities for our 4-year college graduates to find the growth potential locally they seek and desire. Our current CTC has already engaged on some of the activities listed above, I view this as a potential cornerstone for the School District to significantly contribute to the community in terms of employment, wage expansion, long term population growth and retention. Not working with local businesses (small and large) and understanding their needs; is a failure to all of us.
For my 2nd grade daughter, one thing that runs through my mind continuously is CHANGE! The world around us is changing every day. To deny it or not address it; is doing all of us a dis-service. Whether we like it or not, by the time my daughter turns 18, the day of paper textbooks and workbooks will be a thing of the past. Colleges and Universities along with other educational programs have already begun the transition to all electronic teaching in the classroom. We need a School Board that is forward thinking in seeing some of these “Change” challenges affect us now and in the future. What we all view as education priorities now, will be drastically different 15 yrs. from now. I consistently have access to multiple School Districts, Career Technology Centers and Colleges on a daily basis, sharing that knowledge will hopefully result in instituting a District policy with programs that are leading edge for our younger students; this will have OUR children uniquely prepared for the future. The word “change” is sometimes viewed in a negative connotation; the key is not to be reactive as a District, but pro-active in our policy and decision making, ensuring we are not following, instead we need to be leading. The School Board must be pragmatic, while also being quick and decisive in our educational policy decisions. Results will not be instantaneous, but staying on this consistent path moving forward will lend its self to additional strengthening of our school district.
Please check in tomorrow for my last article on Strong Leadership and Strong Community Partnerships. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at david.madden35@yahoo.com and visit Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/DavidMaddenforBOE for additional campaign information.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Please show your support by Voting Madden on November 5th.
David Madden
