Official: Opportunities are here

Anthony D'Ambrosio worries high schoolers feel there's no reason to stay.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- A top Trumbull County education official is concerned that high school students seem to be planning to head out of the area when they graduate.
"A lot don't think there is a future here in the Mahoning Valley. Many are looking to leave ... because they see a future somewhere else," said Dr. Anthony D'Ambrosio, superintendent of the Trumbull County Educational Service Center.
"We need to get the point across that there are opportunities here," he told the "Good Morning, Trumbull County" meeting of the Regional Chamber Friday at the Avalon Inn.
D'Ambrosio addressed the issue to the chamber audience because as members of the business community, they have an impact on young people's attitudes about their community.
He said the schools and business community share more in common than many people think. "In many communities, the school is the largest employer in the community," he noted.
D'Ambrosio said he has concerns about a couple of school districts that are struggling. He said he thinks the Champion school district, which has repeatedly scored excellent on state school report cards, may be looking at making drastic staff cuts because of the failure of its levy last month.
In Maplewood, he said, the system cannot afford to heat a new school and may have to close it.
D'Ambrosio said he also has concerns about the "millions in taxpayer money going out the window" in the form of charter schools that are, in some cases, not reporting scores on standardized tests and are showing poor scores in others.
Schools performing well
Thomas Humphries, the chamber's president and chief executive officer, said he is encouraged by one indicator of the success of area schools: About 65 percent are rated effective or excellent on the most recent state school report cards.
He stressed the need for students to seek advanced training, such as master's degrees and doctorates. He said young people going into skilled trades need more than a high school education.
He reminded the audience of the West Corp. expansion on Youngstown-Warren Road in Niles, which has brought 700 more telephone customer service jobs to the facility.
Two other speakers were county commissioners Daniel Polivka and Paul Heltzel, who discussed the state of county government.
runyan@vindy.com