Austintown grad looks to form outside source for school funds

The school board needs more information, the schools superintendent says.

AUSTINTOWN — An Austintown graduate who recently moved back to the township says he sees a need for a school-funding resource besides levies, the state and grants.

Doug Srock, who addressed the school board at its meeting earlier this month, is looking for people to help him form an educational foundation to be “an outside resource of cash flow” for scholarships, teachers awards and projects for classrooms.

“There’s a lot of companies that will give to a foundation,” he said.

He said he envisions scholarships for “average kids,” because they deserve a chance at a secondary education along with students who excel in academics.

The nonprofit foundation would not be a part of the school district, but Srock said he would like the endorsement of the school board.

Superintendent of Schools Doug Heuer said the board believes it needs more details from Srock before endorsing his proposal.

Srock said he is looking for an attorney, someone “strong on project management,” someone with a background in writing grants, and someone with a financial background to sit on a board of directors for the foundation.

He said he also would like to see liaisons from teachers, students, the school board, local governments and buildings and facilities for the school district.

Srock, who graduated in 1979 from Fitch, said he went to the University of Houston and studied computer technology.

He said he worked for 15 years as a PC software consultant and then went into Web design and marketing with the Internet.

He said he moved back here a year ago.

Srock told the school board that 80 percent of his graduating class left the Mahoning Valley for better opportunities elsewhere, and he would like to see that change.

He also said Austintown should work with the state to establish a community college in the district.

Srock is encouraging anyone who is interested in helping to establish the foundation to contact him at austintownacademic@earthlink.net, or at P.O. Box 4010, Austintown 44515.