Foundation sees opportunities for Youngstown schools

Foundation sees opportunities for Youngstown schools

Youngstown

Youngstown schools have a unique opportunity for change, according to the president of a Cincinnati-based education foundation.

“Youngstown has somewhat of a unique opportunity in that the whole landscape is in the process of being reset,” said Brian Ross, president and CEO of KnowledgeWorks.

By someone pushing the restart button, you have the permission to make changes that are more bold or aggressive than what you normally would be able to do, he said.

At Youngstown City Schools Academic Distress Commission meeting last week, Stan Heffner, the state superintendent of public instruction, said that the Raymond John Wean Foundation, based in Warren, along with KnowledgeWorks, had offered resources to involve community outreach in the effort to improve the city schools.

“This is one of those critical moments in the community,” said Jeff Glebocki, president of the Raymond John Wean Foundation. “We think that [Superintendent] Connie [Hathorn] has got his hands full, making some tough decisions in moving the district forward. Early indications are they may be paying off.”

Read more in Wednesday’s Vindicator and vindy.com