Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools
An Advocate For Ohio's Rural Appalachian School Children
For Over Two Decades
The Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools, in partnership with the Ohio University College of Education, is an organization composed of 136 school districts, institutions of higher learning and other educational agencies in the 35-county region of Ohio designated as Appalachia. School districts in neighboring counties, institutions of higher education and related organizations may become members of the Coalition. The Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools is under the governance structure of a Regional Council of Governments and is funded through membership dues and support from the Ohio University College of Education.
Established in 1988
In Partnership with the Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education and Human Services, Ohio University
The Coalition's Mission and Goals
MISSION
The mission of the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools is to advocate for and support the public schools of Appalachia Ohio in the continuous improvement of educational opportunities available to all the region's children. This statement of mission acknowledges that the region's public schools are an integral part of the public education system for Ohio and that the Coalition may support and join with similar efforts throughout the State to improve the educational opportunities for all children.
GOALS
1. To seek equity in Ohio's system of school funding and adequacy of educational opportunity for all of Ohio's children.
2. To support the continuous development of educational leadership throughout the region’s public school systems.
3. To identify and analyze policy issues that impact the effectiveness, strength, and character of the public school system and to formulate and communicate position statements in response to these issues.
4. To sponsor and promote the use of research and to share successful practices for improving educational opportunities for all children in the CORAS region.
CORAS Executive Board Minutes from January 15 Meeting
Next Meeting:
Hicks Executive in Residence to Honor Richard Fisher April 16 at the Ohio University Inn
This year's Hicks Executive In Residence Honoree will be Richard Fisher. Mr. Fisher who served as the CORAS Executive Director from 2000 to 2010 also served 40 years as a teacher, principal and County/ESC superintendent. This meeting will include a presentation by Mr. Fisher and al panel discussion of on the topic of
Panel members will include: Mr. Fisher; Mr. Max Evans, former superintendent, university professor and CORAS Executive Director; Mr. William Phillis, Ohio Equity and Adequacy Coalition; Dr. Jackie Osborne, former assistant superintendent, superintendent, former CORAS President and currently with the ODE Office of School Finance; Dr. Jim Mahoney, Battelle for Kids and former CORAS President; and Dr. Allen Myers, former Dean of the College of Education at Ohio University.
In addition there will be a budget update by Tom Ash of BASA and review of Legislative hearings by CORAS members who recently testified at the State House.
April 16 Agenda and Registration Form
Announcements
New Executive Board Members Elected:
Mark Wilcheck, Thomas Gibbs and Mark Murphy have been elected to the Executive Board of CORAS.
March Meeting Held at State House
In order for us to fulfill the MISSION of CORAS (advocacy for the Boys and Girls of Rural Schools), the officers of our organization President Lowe, Vice-President Perkins, and Dean Middleton along with Dick Murray, Executive Director have decided the best way for our member Superintendents to spend our time on Tuesday March 12th (CORAS regular meeting date) is to MOVE our meeting to the Education Finance Subcommittee hearing room (017-018) at the Capitol Building in Columbus. At this time a number of our member Superintendents will deliver testimony that points out the many costly program/finance disadvantages the current funding proposal inflicts upon your respective school , boys/girls and communities.
As Rural school advocates we would be remiss if we failed to deliver this message to this legislative committee chaired by Representative Bill Hayes of Perry County .
Your attendance in Columbus at this " HEARING" on this critical matter will send a power message that EACH of you could not accomplish individually. We cannot STRESS enough the importance of you taking you valuable time to personally attend and be present.
Here is our itinerary/agenda for this Important CORAS meeting.
Letter from President Lowe regarding this meeting.
New Policy Breif Completed
The latest Policy Brief has been completed and posted. This document compares the FY2011-12 and FY 2012-13 variances in the state budget and the consequences to Appalachian Ohio school districts.
NEW INTERIM DIRECTOR NAMED:
Dr. Richard Murray, Superintendent of the Muskingum Valley ESC, has been named Interim Director of CORAS. He can be reached at rmurray@mvesc.k12.oh.us.
Contact us
For additional information contact:
Dr. Richard Murray
Interim Executive Director
Lori Spencer
Administrative Assistant
740-593-4414
740-593-4445
Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools
McCracken Hall, Ohio University
Athens, Ohio 45701