Message from the Director

College Tech Prep is at 'Tipping Point'

by Tim Nolan

Feb. 13, 2008

Status of the Greater Cincinnati Tech Prep Consortium

On behalf of the staff and partners of the Greater Cincinnati Tech Prep Consortium, I am submitting this overview of the consortium and Tech Prep in general to update its schools, colleges, and business partners.  With this information, the consortium can then proceed to make informed decisions that will impact their own institutions or companies.

Big Picture:  College Tech Prep at the “Tipping Point”

Regionally, the consortium has served pivotal roles in the following list of initiatives and agencies:

• Strive, our regional P-16 Council
• Agenda 360, the Cincinnati Chamber Regional Action Plan  (Career Pathways)
• STEM High School Initiative (proposal) partnering with UC and CPS
• WIB Youth Council (Linking youth employment to academic achievement)
• OCAN Planning and Implementation Grants for College Retention  (lead organization)
• COFSP (Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program) 
• Urban Initiative (Big Eight Urban Districts involving Tech Prep)
• National Career Pathways Network (NCPN), hosting Conference on October 22 – 25, 2008

Uncertainties and Future Opportunities

Key organizational issues need to be directly advanced and discussed for regional educational services, coordination, and workforce development effectiveness.  Factors clearly outside the realm and span of control (not necessarily influence) will impact and reshape our consortium, processes, and even our major role(s) within our service area.  These diverse and numerous issues will create the backdrop for our work and effectiveness.  Major Influencers driving change for education and Tech Prep:

Perkins IV             

State will submit its final operational plan on April 1, 2008 to Washington for Perkins funding until June, 2013.  This plan will describe the Tech Prep program and its role, operations, and measures of performance. Impact: Direct, immediate, and measurable.

University System of Ohio

The newly emerging system for post-secondary education continues to raise issues that will have major re-alignment and internal changes for our higher education partners. Semester scheduling, status and role of university regional branch campuses, the recently announced Governor’s  “Senior to Sophomore” program, lack of dual enrollment policy, and the Sinclair College Cooperative agreement with Miami University and UC, an example of blurring of historic service areas of local colleges. Impact: Indirect, sporadic, and not measurable.

Funding Crisis

After the State of the State address, Governor Strickland has asked all state agencies to prepare for major cuts in this remaining fiscal year and next.  Our two educational agencies (ODE and OBR) must cut $100 million in each year, about $50 million each.  Fifty percent (50%) of our operations come from State funds. Consequently, our consortium can expect no increases and should prepare for 10 percent cuts in budgets for the next biennium. ($25,000).  Our major urban district, Cincinnati Public Schools faces severe cuts even with the passage of a levy on March 4.  One proposal eliminates all career technical education in the district, which in essence would eliminate 10 programs in six high schools for over 500 students.  Impact: Direct, immediate, and measurable.

Call for Task Force Memberships

To address these “good, bad, and ugly” situations, the consortium is inviting you and your institutions and companies to join in participating in one of three task force teams. 

NCPN Conference Coordination Team

Since we will be hosting this major national convention/conference for over 4,000 people interested in professional development sessions about Career Pathways, including Tech Prep, we need a dedicated team of volunteers to assist in coordinating this major event.  We will be conducting the following major activities:

• Tour of Construction Pathway including Woodward Career Technical High School, Cincinnati State, and Allied Construction Industries with business partner site. (Ruth Armstead)
• IT Videographer Team interviewing and documenting conference activities, participants’ remarks, and editing presentation for Saturday morning closing session.(Shi O’Neill)
• Student Ambassador for our students to serve as Tech Prep and Cincinnati ambassadors in assisting participants with information and directions on October 22, 23, and 24.
• Tech Prep Showcase: a statewide competition on Thursday, October 23 will be conducted for outstanding Tech Prep student teams from across Ohio to compete for awards presented at the opening session later that afternoon.  Exhibit hall space is planned for this and our member booths. (Terry Benedict)

In addition, sponsorships and related activities need to be solicited and coordinated. Lorrie Baxley will coordinate this team and I will serve as chair and contact person with NCPN. Time frame: March to October 30, 2008.  Facilitator: Tim Nolan.  All volunteers will have their conference registrations paid by the consortium.

Perkins IV Restructuring Team

After the State Plan for Perkins IV is finalized, this team will be charged with studying this document and examining its implications for operations and services within the GCTPC.  This team will recommend its changes to the Steering Committee for discussion and decisions at the May meeting.

The consortium reserves the right to invite and solicit membership to ensure regional representative stakeholders for all its partners.  Consortium members should consider recommending or nominating other people to serve on this team as well.  Time frame: April, 2008 to June, 2008 Facilitator: TBA.

Perkins Implementation Team = Consortium Restructuring Team

Based upon the recommendations of the Perkins IV Restructuring Team this Spring, the Perkins Implementation Team will be charged to carry out the decisions of the Steering Committee and membership by assessing operations and resources.  Funding and planning for the next two years will become the focus of this team.  All recommendations will be presented to the Steering Committee for guidance and decisions.  Membership is open to interested consortium members with expertise in planning and resource management.  Time frame:  June, 2008 to November, 2008.  Facilitator: TBA.

Timothy D. Nolan
Director
Greater Cincinnati
Tech Prep Consortium

"Education remains the key to economic opportunity and political empowerment."
Barbara Jordan