Math, science key to corporate competition

Workers in the math, engineering, technology and science fields are only 8 percent of the Missouri work force but produce 75 percent of the state’s exports, Gov. Matt Blunt said at the summit, the second in a series of seven to be conducted throughout the state.

Efforts to attract new businesses will rely less on tax incentives and more on offering a work force skilled in those areas, Bill Gipson, president and CEO of Empire District Electric Co., said in opening remarks.

“Talent and human capital are the new currency for economic competitiveness,” Gipson said.

Blunt said he formed the state’s METS Coalition of business and education leaders in 2006 to improve teaching of math and science from preschool to graduate school and to expand the pool of students interested in math, engineering, technology and science careers.

“We are in a global economy,” Blunt said. “We are no longer competing just with other states.”

Working toether

During a panel discussion, Blunt asked how business and education are working together.

Rob O’Brian, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, told the governor about the chamber’s Teaching Reading to Every Kid program in the Joplin R-VIII School District. In TREK, volunteers organized by the chamber work one-on-one with students from Joplin elementary schools.

Kristen Westerman, manager of work force and business development for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, told the governor about the Partners in Education program, which allows businesses to partner with a school.

Higher education

Blunt asked the educators on the panel about efforts to prepare high school graduates to pursue higher education. He said 27.6 percent of incoming freshmen at colleges and universities in southwest Missouri need remediation

Shirley Lawler, associate vice president of academic affairs and work force development for Ozarks Technical Community College, said OTC is launching an initiative to address the issue and is revising its math curriculum.

Jim Baker, vice president for research and economic development at Missouri State University, said that community colleges such as Crowder College, OTC and MSU-West Plains help prepare students to advance.

Alan Marble, president of Crowder College, said that students taking remedial courses must succeed at a high level, such as a “B” or higher, to succeed at the next level.

No Child Left Behind

An audience member asked the panel if there is a connection between the federal No Child Left Behind program and low math and science scores.

Jim Simpson, superintendent of the Joplin district, said that there is not such a connection. No Child Left Behind, he said, is a measure of proficiency.

“If you are 100 percent proficient, then there should be no remediation in higher education in the state of Missouri,” Simpson said.

Stan Johnson, assistant commissioner for the state’s Division of School Improvement, said Missouri set its definition of proficiency before No Child Left Behind and the state’s standards are high compared to other states.

Norman Ridder, superintendent of the Springfield R-XII School District, said teachers may focus on getting the least prepared students ready for standardized tests and hurt the performance of high achievers.

The panel also addressed keeping students and teachers in school.

In Joplin, Simpson said, the proliferation of jobs in the service industry provides immediate positions for dropouts and keeps those who quit school from seeing the long-term consequences of the decision.

Kent Medlin, superintendent of the Willard R-II School District, said schools cannot compete with the private sector for teachers in the METS fields and said the state needs to make it easier for those successful in those fields to change careers and teach.

Jeff Wells is editor of Joplin Tri-State Business, SBJ’s sister publication.

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