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Alliance, Ohio —
Canton Country Day School (CCDS) held a Legislative Day to invite state and local policy makers and other leaders in the community to breakfast to hear and learn about CCDS's role in Stark County. CCDS is the only independent school in the county.
Independent schools are primarily supported by tuition, charitable contributions or endowments versus tax money or church funds. These schools range in size, differ in grade level offerings, some are boarding schools, day schools or single gender schools. These schools can be religious based or non-sectarian. Some are traditional in philosophy while others are considered progressive or alternative. Many people think of independent schools as private or non-public.
“Canton Country Day School is a non-sectarian, PK through 8th grade and while we are a non-public school, we are not anti-public,” said Pamela Shaw, head of school.
“We are a school that is founded as one that institutes innovative programs such as our laptop program or our robotics programs. We implement innovative programming and then reach out to city schools and others around the county to report our progress,” Shaw said.
Shaw had several reasons to invite state and local leaders in to spend the morning with the teachers, students and other administrators. Foremost, she wanted to build awareness of what the school offers in terms of innovative programming. She also wanted to ask their help in lessening legislation that causes unintended consequences and impedes the ability of independent schools to build and implement best practices. And, finally, she wanted to share how independent schools give back to education through collaboration with public schools, colleges and universities.
Shaw said that Ohio regulates independent school more than any other state. Some of those regulations such as instructional hours versus calendar days, BMI testing, end of course exams, curricular mandates, minimum competency tests, and the ability to use online learning hinder the progress of independent schools.
“Many of the regulations result in unintended consequences and even act as barriers to innovation. Certain mandates, such as the new Blizzard Bags for calamity days, don't work with our model,” Shaw said.
After the guests finished breakfast, they were treated to a special ceremony, Pinwheels for Peace, presented by students and teachers. The executive director of the Ohio Association of Independent Schools and a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives talked about legislative updates. Keith Shahan, president of the Independent Schools Association of the Central States gave an independent school perspective.
Canton Country Day School (CCDS) held a Legislative Day to invite state and local policy makers and other leaders in the community to breakfast to hear and learn about CCDS's role in Stark County. CCDS is the only independent school in the county.
Independent schools are primarily supported by tuition, charitable contributions or endowments versus tax money or church funds. These schools range in size, differ in grade level offerings, some are boarding schools, day schools or single gender schools. These schools can be religious based or non-sectarian. Some are traditional in philosophy while others are considered progressive or alternative. Many people think of independent schools as private or non-public.
“Canton Country Day School is a non-sectarian, PK through 8th grade and while we are a non-public school, we are not anti-public,” said Pamela Shaw, head of school.
“We are a school that is founded as one that institutes innovative programs such as our laptop program or our robotics programs. We implement innovative programming and then reach out to city schools and others around the county to report our progress,” Shaw said.
Shaw had several reasons to invite state and local leaders in to spend the morning with the teachers, students and other administrators. Foremost, she wanted to build awareness of what the school offers in terms of innovative programming. She also wanted to ask their help in lessening legislation that causes unintended consequences and impedes the ability of independent schools to build and implement best practices. And, finally, she wanted to share how independent schools give back to education through collaboration with public schools, colleges and universities.
Shaw said that Ohio regulates independent school more than any other state. Some of those regulations such as instructional hours versus calendar days, BMI testing, end of course exams, curricular mandates, minimum competency tests, and the ability to use online learning hinder the progress of independent schools.
“Many of the regulations result in unintended consequences and even act as barriers to innovation. Certain mandates, such as the new Blizzard Bags for calamity days, don't work with our model,” Shaw said.
After the guests finished breakfast, they were treated to a special ceremony, Pinwheels for Peace, presented by students and teachers. The executive director of the Ohio Association of Independent Schools and a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives talked about legislative updates. Keith Shahan, president of the Independent Schools Association of the Central States gave an independent school perspective.
A few of the guests included Christina Wagner, the Eastern Ohio Regional Liaison for Governor John Kasich, Senator Scott Oelslager, Representative Steve Slesnick, Stark County Commissioners Janet Weir Creighton and Peter Furguson as well as past and present CCDS board members and several CCDS founders including Robert Vail, Judy Hoover, John Schumacker and Jack Timken.
“The day went really well. There was enlightenment for everyone in attendance,” Shaw said.
Quick Facts about Canton Country Day School
- Has graduated close to 800 students
- Employs 53 people
- Offers a robotics outreach program with local schools
- Has been an active part of the Stark County community for 47 years
- Competes in Power of the Pen, chess, Robotics, National French Exam, History Day, Science Fair, Geography Bee, Spelling Bee and Math Counts competitions
