Superintendents like governor’s plans, but question funding

YOUNGSTOWN — Local public school superintendents like Gov. Ted Strickland’s plan to fund all-day kindergarten programs, and they have no problem with his proposal to scrap the Ohio Graduation Test.

Those were just two of the governor’s pronouncements regarding education in his State of the State address last week, and area superintendents asked about the speech reacted favorably to the governor’s plans.

“I thought he did a pretty nice job,” said Richard Buchenic, Hubbard superintendent.

Dante Zambrini, Canfield superintendent, said he was pleased to see the governor has made education a priority, and Austintown’s Douglas Heuer said he believes education will get better with the governor’s and the Legislature’s continued focus.

“It all comes down to how it will be funded,” said Mark Lucas, Liberty superintendent.

Ronald Iarussi, Columbiana superintendent, applauded the governor’s “bold initiative” to address school funding, and noted that all of Strickland’s plans are designed to raise the level of education. What remains to be seen is just how those changes will be financed, Iarussi said.

For more on this story, see Sunday’s Vindicator or vindy.com