Members of the Westerville City School District’s Community Engagement Committee (CEC) are ready to begin a “Great Conversation” about public education. Their first step will be to foster connections with local civic groups, service clubs and other organizations interested in achieving three common goals: to increase student success, enhance community pride and improve the life of residents in the Westerville-area community.
The CEC is a group of community volunteers consisting of retirees, clergy, parents, full and part-time employees for both non-profit and for-profit businesses, district employees and the self-employed. They were appointed to the CEC, which is part of the Board of Education’s Business Advisory Council, following a thorough screening and interview process of 35 applicants last spring. Ohio school districts must establish a Business Advisory Council to examine and offer recommendations on academic or operational topics as determined by their respective boards of education. Members of the CEC will serve one initial 12-month term with 1-year renewal terms thereafter.
CEC Chair Steve Hittle said the Board's objective for the committee is to engage the community and serve as a conduit for the two-way communication of ideas that will make the Westerville City School District and its students more successful.
“The foundation of our work comes from Jamie Vollmer’s book, ‘Schools Cannot Do It Alone,’” explained Hittle. “We’ve worked throughout the summer to collaborate on a common message and develop a plan of action. Now we’re ready to begin helping others understand why it is crucial for schools and their constituents to work together for the overall well-being of a community.”
Members of the Community Engagement Committee (CEC) are: Seth Bumgarner, Vaughn Bell, Susan Burton, Amber Dinopoulos, Ran Flasterstein, Steve Hittle, Rodney Johnson (district staff), Brent Long, Patricia Merryman, Sarah Painter (district staff), Brian Pierson, Robin Pryfogle, Tina Shirey (district staff), Kari Tucker (district staff), Rick Vilardo, Peter Wilms, and Thelma Young.
“Abraham Lincoln once stated that ‘Public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against it, nothing can succeed,’” said Hittle. “To that end, the CEC is focused on building a collaborative culture through an open, honest exchange of ideas with members of the Westerville-area community. We must all work together to support and prepare students for future success.”
Any group interested in hosting the “Community Engagement Committee Great Conversation” should contact the Community Engagement Committee at wcs@wcsoh.org.