State seeks stories, speakers

The goal is to share that
information with teachers across the state.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Ohio Department of Education is looking for stories about successful local efforts to create safe and supportive school environments.

The department is having a series of regional Safe Schools Summits this month, with one session set for 1 to 4 p.m. June 21 in Youngstown City Council chambers.

Other locations include Dayton, Cambridge, Cleveland and Toledo.

“While student achievement is at an all-time high in Ohio, many students struggle because of nonacademic issues such as discipline problems, school safety and truancy that can serve as barriers to learning,” said Susan Tave Zelman, superintendent of public instruction.

The summits

“At the regional summits, school and community leaders will share successful strategies for addressing these concerns, so that teachers can teach and our students can concentrate on learning,” Zelman said.

Speakers from school and community settings will share practical strategies that address issues such as psychological safety; physical safety; bullying, harassment or intimidation; alternatives to suspension or expulsion; and school-community partnerships for in-school and after-school activities.

The department has scheduled as many 10 minute oral presentations for the summits as time permits, and written testimony by other interested parties can be submitted to the department on its Web site at www.ode.state.oh.usthrough June 30.

The information gathered during the summits will help guide ODE in shaping policy recommendations.

The recommendations will be submitted in September to the State Board of Education and a state-level policy panel of legislators, educators and children’s advocates that was convened for the initial Safe Schools Summit held April 16 in Columbus.