In November, the London City School District played host to leaders and officials from across the state for the inaugural convening of the Campus-Based Schools Network. The mission of the Campus-Based Schools Network is to establish a collaborative platform for single-campus school districts, enabling them to pool resources, share best practices, and enhance safety, equity, and efficiency for all students. With 32 campus-based school districts in Central Ohio and over 200 districts statewide, the potential impact of this collaborative effort is extensive.
The visionary behind the Campus-Based Schools Network is Dr. Jack Conrath, a seasoned education professional with over 50 years of experience as an educator, school superintendent, and former leader of The Ohio State University Superintendent Licensure Program. Drawing on his wealth of experience, Dr. Conrath identified the necessity for similar school districts to join forces, fostering collaboration and support for students by identifying and implementing best practices while leveraging available resources. Dr. Conrath is joined in this endeavor by Dr. Dustin Miller, Assistant Professor and Director of the Educational Administration Program at The Ohio State University, and Dr. Lou Kramer, Superintendent of the London City School District. The founding members of CBSN include Dr. Natalee Long (Accel Schools), Dr. Danielle Prohaska (Mechanicsburg Schools), Dr. Kim Radulovich (Walnut Township Schools), Dr. Sharee Wells (Whitehall Schools), Dr. Kim Halley (Circleville Schools), and Dr. Andy Culp (Grandview Heights Schools). Representatives from the Ohio Department of Workforce and Development, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, Action for Children (a Central Ohio early learning advocacy group), SHP (a design and engineering firm), and the London City School District also participated in the organization’s inaugural meeting.
The group is actively developing a comprehensive online presence, including a website and newsletter, along with plans for a series of quarterly online and in-person meetings to further support their collaborative efforts.