Chamber leader promotes tuition-free college idea

BOARDMAN — The Regional Chamber is considering a program that would provide free tuition to area high school graduates for college or vocational training.

Tom Humphries, chamber president, mentioned the idea Wednesday along with a plan to push for the consolidation of school districts and governments in the Mahoning Valley.

Humphries said at the chamber’s annual meeting at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman that he has spoken to other area leaders about starting a free-tuition program similar to one in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Graduates of the city school district there receive free tuition to any Michigan university or college if they have been in the city schools all 13 years. Tuition payments are prorated for attendance for fewer years. Students who move into the district in their final three years of high school are not eligible.

The program is paid for by anonymous donors. It distributed its first round of scholarships last year.

Already, the number of students going to college, public school enrollment and property values are up, said Marty Dodge, a spokesman for the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.