COLUMBIANA COUNTY Video conference links high school seniors, state legislators

Legislators fielded questions from students at five video sites.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
EAST PALESTINE -- Providing a $500 scholarship to each Ohio senior who passes all five parts of the 12th-grade proficiency test is a promise the state intends to keep, legislators say.
Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and state Rep. Charles Blasdel of East Liverpool, R-3rd, made that vow when they spoke to a number of Columbiana County seniors for nearly an hour Wednesday by video link connecting the Statehouse in Columbus to five schools.
The project was handled by Columbiana County Educational Service Center teachers who coordinate EXCEL, a program for gifted students. Gifted and advanced placement seniors from most county high schools gathered at the service center and Crestview, East Palestine, East Liverpool and Beaver high schools.
Householder told the students the funding for the scholarships will be in the budget because "we made that promise, so we have to make sure the money is there -- absolutely."
Technology advances: He said the video conference with students at five sites was the first he'd participated in. He noted efforts of state legislators in recent years to bring such technology into the classroom raised Ohio from 49th in classroom technology to fourth.
Students grilled the legislators about standardized testing and the state's plans for public school and higher education funding.
"It was a good idea -- a good chance for us to interact and have a voice in government," said Ryan Jayne, of East Palestine.
Jayne's classmate, Aaron Workman, said it was obvious the legislators had done their homework before the session.
"Their comments and a lot of their answers were well-rehearsed, but a few of the questions did surprise them," Workman said. "We put some pressure on them. We made them think."
Blasdel told students of his experience as one of 45 new legislators this year. Because of term limits, more than half the House is new.
He also shared how he started in politics as a high school student and organized Young Republicans groups in Columbiana County.
An accountant and financial planner by trade, Blasdel said young people interested in politics as a career should not give up easily.
He said even an unsuccessful bid for county recorder helped his political career because he gained campaign experience.