Girard schools urging tech, math studies

The program will be implemented this school year.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

GIRARD — School officials are addressing the lack of students entering the technology and science fields with a new program that is expected to bolster study in those areas and spark economic growth on the local level.

Superintendent Joseph Jeswald announced plans for the district’s new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program, commonly called the STEM program, at a breakfast meeting Thursday.

The program, which begins this school year, will emphasize math, science and technology and incorporate communication skills, economic and business studies, foreign language studies as well as experiences in the arts.

The district, in preparation for the program, has hired a new full-time math teacher and a second part-time teacher.

The program will include a list of courses and activities for all students beginning in the fourth and fifth grades and continuing through high school.

Jeswald told those educators and business people at the meeting the program is needed because the United States is losing its place as a leader in technology fields.

According to Jeswald, China and India, as an example, graduate four to five times as many engineers as the United States and by 2010 more than 90 percent of all scientists and engineers will be living in Asia.

College success

Jeswald said college must be made more accessible to students and schools must do a better job of preparing kids for collegiate success. The STEM program helps prepare students for that success, he said.

George McCloud, special assistant to the president for university advancement at Youngstown State University, told Jeswald the university is on board with the project. He said the program works toward educating students in a well-rounded fashion.

“Kids in this century cannot be educated by schools alone,” McCloud said. “The schools are not enough. Educating includes the schools and a lot of other things. We need to do that for every kid in the community, and this is an excellent program to do that.”

YSU has started a college of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics this fall.

According to Jeswald, YSU has an agreement with the school district to give college credit for credits earned in its high school engineering pathway program. The district and university, he said, are also working on a plan to offer college credit for credits earned in another program.

Jeswald said the program also will be a community development tool with students going to school locally and staying in the area after college graduation. Those who remain in the area will give a boost to the technology-driven manufacturing base in the area, he said.

Business help

Jeswald asked members of the business community to join the district in the program by sitting on a curriculum board, speaking to students and offering unpaid internships to students.

Tony Paglia of the Regional Chamber said the chamber would take steps to help get word about the program to area businesses.

“We applaud you for this program. This is a great opportunity to really start moving forward,” he said. “All of our 3,000 members will be aware of this, and hopefully we will get some people to help.”

Jeswald said the district has applied to the Ohio Department of Education for a $40,000 grant, but the program will be implemented even if the grant is rejected.

State Sen. Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd, asked how much the program will cost the school district and pledged assistance from her office.

jgoodwin@vindy.com