Focus Area Members:
| Member | Organization |
| Brad Mitchel (Chair) | Educational Council |
| Teckie Shackleford (Chair) | I Know I Can |
| Anthony Hebron | Battelle |
| Bo Chilton | Columbus Urban League |
| Dr. David Andrews | OSU-Dean of ED & Human Ecology |
| Dr. Gene Harris | Columbus City Schools |
| Janet Ravneberg | United Way |
| Kirk Hamilton | SouthWestern Schools-Superintendent |
| Pat Losinski | Columbus Library |
| Renee Hampton | Columbus State-Director TRIO Program |
| Rhonda Dickson | Central OH Special ED Regional Resource Center |
| Sandy Miller | OH Dept of ED-Office of Early Learning |
| Tanny Crane | Crane Group |
| Tom Rieland | WOSU General Manager |
| Wanda Dillard | OSU Medical Center-Community Development |
| Yvette McGee Brown | President, Center for Child and Family Advocacy |
| Meetings: | Work Session 1 - Notes |
| Work Session 2 - Feb. TBD | |
| Work Session 3 - March TBD |
Focus Area Description: The role and function of Columbus as a center of education – from public and parochial schools to university town – is of critical importance. The focus group will address these issues, including the role of schools in our neighborhoods, the role of after-school education, Columbus as a center of higher education, retaining college graduates, continuing education and other town-gown issues.
Key Question: What should Columbus do to support our children throughout their education?
Public Input about the Focus Area: Respondents care deeply about the quality of education and discussed the vital role education plays in the economic, social, and physical health of the city and region. Comments on learning spanned all ages, generations, and backgrounds as respondents wanted to see improved access to educational services for all people. In particular, many discussed how a solid foundation of education helped the local economy and reduced crime by diverting energies into work instead of acts of violence and crime. Many of the comments recorded from the Youth Brainstorming session with 300 high school aged students fell into this category. Their recommendations ranged from including more mentoring and community focused activities in their educational experience to increasing flexibility in class scheduling. Many also wanted modernized facilities with up to date technologies and new materials from which to learn.
Public Input Themes for the Focus Area:
1. Equipping Columbus Public Schools with safe educational facilities,
quality teachers and a competitive curriculum to properly prepare
all students. The schools should have every resource available to them
technologically, academically, and financially. Many contributors commented
on the need to attract better teachers, provide better learning environments, or
improve the academic requirements of youth in Columbus.
2. Create citywide school programs with public and private
partnerships mentoring youth in job training, volunteerism and
summer programming. Many respondents talk about the need for better
opportunities after school ends. Recreation, cultural, and educational programs
were mentioned as important. As well, several respondents discussed the need
to have more comprehensive mentoring programs for children so they have
a real life role model, use their time to give back to the community through
volunteerism, and stay out of negative activities.
3. Provide financial incentives for post-secondary education. Numerous
respondents pointed financial funding as a key element to the success of
educational institutions. Respondents felt that actively recruiting better
teachers was needed while others discussed the inequitable distribution of state
educational funding. Other comments emphasized the need to help children pay
for their college education and the desire to keep talented local students in the
area.
4. Create healthier school environments with increased physical
education classes and improved nutritional options in schools. One
strong response category was improving health through working with youth
to educate them about nutrition, physical activity, and the importance of a
balanced lifestyle for long term health. Many saw improving nutritional options
in schools as key to helping youth learn about healthy eating. Additionally,
respondents felt that consistent physical education was important for lifetime
health and fitness.
5. Provide tools to increase parental involvement, ESL and adult
education courses. Respondents want to see efforts made to boost the
involvement of parents in their children’s education as well as programs that
provided adults with the tools to better their job situation. Many discussed the
need to provide free English as a second language classes for immigrants. As
well, contributors want free access to educational opportunities that allow them
to get better jobs.