Proponent Testimony on Senate Bill 1 — Brian Bontempo, Superintendent, Auburn Career Center

Summary

Proponent testimony on Senate Bill 1 dated March 28, 2023, from Dr. Brian Bontempo, superintendent of Auburn Career Center (serving Lake and Geauga Counties) and a Board Member of the Ohio Association for Career-Technical Education, to the Ohio House Economic and Workforce Development Committee. The testimony addresses the component of SB 1 that proposes to adjust the structure of the Ohio Department of Education to elevate Career-Tech education. It says enrollment at Auburn Career Center is the highest since the doors opened in 1965. It states that representation at the cabinet level and on the Governor's Executive Workforce Board will build trust and inspire talent.

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                           Ohio House Economic and Workforce
                                 Development Committee
                           Proponent Testimony on Senate Bill 1
                   Brian Bontempo, Superintendent, Auburn Career Center

                                            March 28, 2023

Good afternoon Chairman Swearingen, Vice Chair Santucci, Ranking Member Upchurch, and
members of the Ohio House Economic and Workforce Development Committee, thank you for the
opportunity to share some thoughts today regarding Senate Bill 1. My name is Dr. Brian Bontempo,
and I am submitting this testimony as the superintendent of Auburn Career Center (serving Lake
and Geauga Counties), as well as a Board Member of the Ohio Association for Career-Technical
Education. My brief comments will be specific to the component of SB 1 that proposes to adjust the
structure of the Ohio Department of Education in an effort to elevate Career-Tech education (CTE).

Auburn Career Center serves Lake and Geauga County high school students; our Ohio Technical
Center (OTC) additionally serves the adult student population throughout eastern Cuyahoga County,
often times partnering with regional businesses like Magnet, Lincoln Electric, and the Alliance for
Working Together (as well as a host of others) to offer various in-demand customized training
opportunities. Suffice it to say that employers in Lake, Geauga, and Cuyahoga Counties rely heavily
upon the success of our training programs. Whether it’s manufacturing, healthcare, IT, or any trade,
these employers look to us to be connectors and trainers to meet the demands of our local economy.

As with most regions of Ohio, our student application numbers are way up and our enrollment is the
highest it’s been since we opened the doors 1965. We continue to work hard to meet the demands of
students and parents who seek to gain access to our programs, as well as workforce needs of business
and industry. Some of our facilities are aging but we do an outstanding job staying current with
maintenance as well as curriculum, supplies and equipment designed to meet the input of program
advisory committees and continually evolving training requirements.

During my time as a superintendent I have worked collaboratively with my colleagues from across
Ohio and in some cases outside of Ohio in search of ideas and strategies to continue to serve unique
regional workforce demands and to grow opportunities for students. We welcome SB 1 as a tool for
improvement, which will help elevate our work and more quickly meet the mission of expanding
CTE statewide. We envision the new Deputy Director of the Division of CTE helping to inform,
navigate, inspire, listen, and carry our message to policymakers in Columbus. Great organizations are
mission-driven with leaders that speak to the mission every day, provide support and purpose, and
drive passion to meet new goals. The new leadership structure appears to offer CTE a “seat at the
table” to better guide and inform the leaders of Ohio. I often reflect on an old saying, “great teams
are a magnet for great talent.” Being represented at the cabinet level and on the Governor’s Executive
Workforce Board will undoubtedly build trust, inspire talent, and allow for an efficient and
responsive approach to career-tech across Ohio.

I am optimistic about the future in Ohio with all of our talent. It is time to put a plan into action.


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