Business voice must be heard from more often in Gist debate

Editor’s note: The following letter was sent to R.I. Board of Education Chair Eva Marie Mancuso on May 24.

Dear Chair Mancuso and Board Members:
I am the executive director of the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association, a position that I have held since early 2012. Prior to that I held a number of top management positions at several Rhode Island and Massachusetts manufacturing companies.
I was born and raised in Rhode Island and come from a family of educators (McCourt Middle School in Cumberland was named after my late father, who was also instrumental establishing the adult education program in Rhode Island many years ago). I am also a parent with two children currently in high school (a third graduated last year and is in college).
Given the importance of a sound educational system and the recent groundswell of opposition to our present education commissioner, I, along with a number of Rhode Island business leaders, attended last evening’s Board of Education meeting at the University of Rhode Island. While I was not surprised that the room was filled with individuals who oppose the renewal of Commissioner Deborah A. Gist’s contract, I was pleased that some of us actually got a seat in the main hearing room.
I do, however, have a couple of concerns. First, I went out of my way to help ensure that I, along with local business owner and RIMA Board Chair Bob Nangle, had an opportunity to speak before the education board. I believe there were 20 names ahead of us on the list. A number of other business leaders also signed up to speak, but they were much lower on the list, and we knew going in that it was doubtful that they would be heard. Despite being on the “short list,” however, none of us were afforded the opportunity to speak. While I understand that time did not allow all to be heard, Mr. Nangle and I certainly thought we were low enough on the list to have been called.
My second concern is perhaps much more significant. Certainly the teachers’ union was afforded the opportunity to make sure its voice (and displeasure with the commissioner) was heard. And, while you went out of your way to ask for teachers and students, you somehow failed to recognize the other important party in this equation – the business owners who will be employing these children someday, whether they go to college or not. I have to be honest, this happens all too often (not necessarily with the Board of Education but many of the various state and local boards and commissions). At the end of the day, we have to wonder whether people realize who provides the jobs that enable these individuals to put food on their table, clothes on their backs and a roof over their heads.
Business owners and managers have a vested interest in the education of our children. As a parent, I want to make sure my three children have an opportunity to find a job and stay here in Rhode Island and hopefully raise their children here.
In order to make this a reality, however, we have to admit that the current system is broken and needs to be reformed. We believe Commissioner Gist is attempting to challenge the status quo and implement the necessary changes to make our education system more effective. As business owners, we know all too well that change is a painful and difficult process, but it is critically necessary to survive in today’s competitive world. Our companies are competing on a world stage, not merely a local one. Workforce challenges we face today are indeed real; this would have been made very clear last night if some of my group were afforded the opportunity to speak.
We believe we need to get tougher with our educational system and demand more of our students, teachers and parents. The harsh reality is that an individual with a sound K-12 education and a diploma that means something is the minimum requirement to succeed today. We simply cannot afford to continue to pass children along until they are out of the system. Employers are extremely frustrated with the deficient math and writing skills that they are seeing. Change is needed. We believe Commissioner Gist is the change agent that is needed, and she needs to be allowed to continue her reform efforts in an attempt to get back on the right track.
We have had the opportunity to work with the commissioner and her staff. They have been open to our concerns and clearly demonstrated a willingness to work with the business community to help ensure that the requirements of the future employers are taken into consideration. While we appreciate the desire to make our children college ready, we also have an obligation to them to make them job-ready. I have witnessed the looks of nervousness within the education community when the notion of a child not going to college right out of high school is mentioned. We need to realize that our children have varying talents and abilities, and our education system needs to address the myriad capabilities. Given the technological changes within the manufacturing sector, many low-wage/low-skill jobs that do not necessarily require even a high school education are gone and will never come back. Today’s shop floor is leaner, cleaner and more intellectually challenging – a high school diploma supported by a sound educational foundation is merely the starting point. Today’s business owners are looking for individuals who will grow with them; who will continually look to improve themselves and move up through the ranks.
While we may suggest that individuals can enjoy a successful career right out of high school, we are not suggesting that their education necessarily stop there. We want individuals to go on for their associate, bachelor’s or other higher degrees or certifications. We are looking for buildable credentials and credit for experiential learning. Again, we believe this commissioner understands this reality and is willing to work with us to achieve that objective. In the end, that is what is in the best interest of all – the parents, the children and the employers.
It was regretful that we did not have the opportunity to publicly present this last night, as it would have made the discussion more balanced and rounded. The end result of last night, instead, was a one-sided, anti-Gist demonstration. We need to look at this from all sides, and business needs to have a seat at the table in this discussion. We support the renewal of Commissioner Gist’s contract and look forward to continuing to work with her and her staff getting Rhode Island back on the right track and becoming an educational leader once again. We would like to know what steps we need to take to make sure our side of the story is heard.
William A. McCourt
Executive Director, Rhode Island Manufacturers Association

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