Warren council, school board partner on bettering education

The council president
suggests building
recreational facilities for youths.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — City council and the board of education intend to put together a partnership in an effort to make the community a better place for its pupils.

“We believe that working together can only enhance the effectiveness of both the board and city council,” said Edward Bolino, school board president.

The two bodies will meet in joint session at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers to approve a resolution forming the partnership.

“With the building of new schools in the district and the disposal of outdated buildings, this is a great time to collaborate,” Bolino said.

Council president Robert Marchese commented that the partnership “is not ceremonial.”

Marchese said it is the result of conversations he has had with Bolino about the future of educating young people and what each body can do working together for the betterment of education.

Marchese said that they will look at what can be done with the 13 school buildings that will eventually be razed to make way for new ones.

In 2003, district voters approved borrowing $40.7 million through the sale of bonds to finance the district’s share of a $153 million school construction project.

The board is working with the Ohio School Facilities Commission to replace all 13 of Warren’s current schools with a new high school and four new kindergarten-through eighth-grade buildings.

Marchese explained the two bodies also will look at the need for new traffic patterns because of the new buildings and building policing issues.

In addition, Marchese said, he wants council and the board to look at what can be done to turn school violence into something productive.

He suggested the city participate in Lights On Afterschool in the fall to help keep children safe after school, help working families and inspire learning.

“We don’t know of some of the programs that can be done now,” the council president said. “It’s going to take time, though.”

“The future depends on this type of [mutual] support,” Marchese added. “It’s for mutual support, if for no other reason. We want the kids to know the community is behind them,” he added.

yovich@vindy.com