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| May 11, 2006 |
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Taft was joined by President Moeller, Superintendent of Westerville Schools George Tombaugh, Nationwide CEO Jerry Jurgensen, State Representative Arlene Setzer, and State Senator Joy Padgett in discussing the Ohio Core and its relationship to Tapping Ohio’s Potential.
The coalition supports the passage of Governor Taft’s Ohio Core Plan (SB 311 and HB565) as a first step in doubling the number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics graduates with bachelor’s degrees by 2015. “Education is a systems challenge. In order to give students a better chance to succeed in grades 9 through 12 and in college, we need to better prepare them for K through 8,” Jurgensen said. “Our students need a solid education not only to succeed in college, but in the professional world as well. One key way to do that is to get behind Ohio Core.” Only 24 percent of Ohio’s students currently complete a rigorous high school curriculum. The Ohio Core will require all students, beginning with the high school graduation class of 2011, to complete a rigorous curriculum as a requirement for high school graduation and admission into Ohio’s four-year state-assisted college’s and universities.
The Ohio Core requirements include: four years of math, including algebra II; four years of English; three years of lab-based science, including one year each of physical science and biology, and one year selected from chemistry, physics or advanced biology; three years of social studies; and two years of a foreign language. “Our tenth grade test doesn’t cut it today. We have four of every 10 students going from high school to college taking remedial math and English classes. Our coursework needs to be rigorous and strong,” said Governor Taft. “The time to act is now. Twenty other states, including Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky, have already enacted or are enacting core curriculum.” Jokingly, Taft said, “It might be okay to be behind Indiana, but to be behind Michigan is not acceptable.”
Senator Joy Padgett, chair of the Senate Education Committee, agreed, saying, “Our students have a lot of potential and are capable of handling a rigorous curriculum.” She continued, “I live by a fortune cookie fortune I once read that said ‘The person who says something cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it.’”
Ohio Senate and Senator Ray Miller commend Columbus State The Ohio Senate recently passed a commendation, sponsored by Senator Ray Miller, honoring Columbus State “for its numerous accomplishments,” and for “preparing countless students to meet the challenges of the future.” The commendation lauds the college’s success in graduating students, developing online programs, establishing transfer agreements with other colleges, and securing Jobs Challenge grants. It also praises Columbus State students for succeeding in national competitions. The commendation states, “This record of attainment is a justifiable source of pride and an excellent reflection not only on the school itself but also on its faculty, staff, and students and on the entire community.” In an accompanying letter to President Val Moeller, Senator Miller wrote, “Your record of achievements is one to be proud of and reflects the hard work and development that you have made in the past years. I commend the school, faculty, staff, students, and community for all of its efforts in making Columbus State what is has become: an excellent provider of higher education. At this point in Ohio education you have surpassed standards and have met the demands of the individuals of this state.”
Health care and dental open enrollment meetings
set for all full-time employees The college’s health care coverage will remain with UnitedHealthcare. The health care plan options and the plan designs will remain the same. There will be a change in the premiums, which will be discussed at these meetings. Delta Dental will remain the dental provider for the college. The Delta Dental Preferred Point-of-Service Plan will be the only plan option available, with no increase in premium. Those people in the Premier Plan will be automatically transferred to the Preferred Point-of-Service Plan with a slight increase in their premiums. If you wish to change plans, add or drop coverage, or enroll in either the health care plan or the dental plan, you will need to fill out the appropriate insurance carrier form and the Section 125 Form. Plan to attend one of the following meetings:
I Group wants your feedback
In-Service Wellness Fair was a great success Human Resources extends congratulations to the following employees who were winners in the Employee Giveaway featured at the Wellness Fair as part of the day’s events: Grand Prize winners: If you have not already stopped by Human Resources, please remember to come by to pick up your gift.
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Tapping Ohio’s Potential, a statewide coalition of business, higher education, and K-12 leaders, believes in order for Ohio to compete in a global economy we must better prepare our talent base, whether they go to college or directly into the workforce, by requiring all high school students to take more rigorous and challenging courses, particularly in science and mathematics.
“It has been a long journey to get to this point, and we need to plant the seeds in our students and have them say, ‘I want to learn for myself,’” said Representative Setzer.
According to President Moeller, three of Columbus State’s key missions will grow as a result of Ohio Core. “One, we need to expand our expertise in developmental education to help turn non-core high school graduates into students who are prepared for success in college,” said Moeller. “Two, we need to turn out more associate degree graduates for a marketplace that will be demanding 32 percent more associate degree graduates by 2010. And three, we need to expand our efforts to be a doorway back into education and retraining for thousands of older, nontraditional students across the state who need to return to school to remake their careers.”
Donating blood this summer can last for miles with the Summer Blood Drive Marathon. Give blood between May 26 and June 30 and you can enter to win one of two $500 gas cards to either Marathon or Speedway SuperAmerica.