Two years ago, Gov. Robert Ehrlich called on the business community to “get dangerous” about helping 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 Ehrlich 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 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.”
“A lot of them are coming without real skills” in reading, writing and computer literacy, Simmons said.
“I was greatly disappointed that the state was not able to take over the 11 failing schools in Baltimore City,” he said.
“This is a work force issue,” said Rocky Worcester, executive director of MBRG.
His group opposed the legislature?s override of Ehrlich?s veto of a bill to delay state takeover several city schools, as did
the Maryland Chamber of Commerce.
Baltimore Mayor Martin O?Malley thinks the idea of involving the business community in city schools is so good that he?s already doing it, said O?Malley spokesman Rick Abbruzzese.
Through a group the mayor created called “Believe in Our Schools,” businesses have raised more $10 million for city schools, he said.
“We have great partners in the business community,” Abbruzzese said.
