Superintendents from fifteen northwest Pennsylvania counties came together at Grove City College this month to share education concerns and propose solutions to some of their most pressing issues.
The Northwest Pennsylvania Superintendents’ Summit on April 22 brought together school district administrators and legislative leaders to discuss and consider how state and federal decision making regarding the state education budget, programs, testing requirements and mandates affect local school districts and the education of their students. It is part of an ongoing regional effort to have small and rural schools speak with a unified voice, summit planners said.
“Grove City College is proud to host these educational leaders on campus and support their efforts to advance the educational goals and needs of our region,” said Dr. Constance Nichols ’93, chair of the College’s Education Department.
The summit included 81 superintendents and Intermediate Unit administrators from the region, including Mercer, Erie and Beaver counties. The event was the second of its kind for regional superintendents and was designed to provide a forum to discuss current education challenges and gather questions, comments and solutions that can be shared with legislators and the state Department of Education.
Nichols welcomed participants to the College before beginning their day of break-out sessions. Small group break-out sessions were facilitated by state Deputy Secretary of Education David Volkman, U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson and members of the summit planning committee.
Highlights of the day included a keynote address from state Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera, who also held an informal question and answer session with the group.