Two years ago, Gov. Robert Ehrlich called on the business community to “get dangerous” about helping to rescue failing Baltimore City schools, now he’s also asking them to “get involved.”
Today, at a lunchtime address to more than 600 business executives in Baltimore, he’s expected to renew his call for businesses to “get dangerous” and stop supporting politicians who vote against their interests.
He is also expected to ask corporate leadership to join him in a group that will get their companies involved in the education of city children.
“The governor wants to make sure that the business community is aware of the connection between the children of today and the work force of tomorrow,” said Erhlich spokesman Shareese DeLeaver.
The governor floated the idea of “forming a long-term group” of business leaders to work on the city schools, apparently after Comptroller William Donald Schaefer suggested such a group before the meeting of the Board of Public Works on Wednesday.
“I think it’s an excellent idea,” said William Simmons, president of Group Benefits Services in Hunt Valley.
Simmons said his health insurance brokerage firm, with about 180 employees, hires many entry-level administrative and clerical employees. But many of these new hires, particularly from Baltimore City, need basic training “to bring them up to speed,” he said.
