High-tech chiefs establish fund to buoy public education in state
A group of Massachusetts high-tech chief executives, concerned the United States is falling behind global competitors in producing scientists and engineers, has begun an effort to boost the state's K-12 public education system by raising corporate money to support pilot schools and advanced placement programs.
The Fund for World Class Schools, launched with more than $250,000 in seed grants from companies like Analog Devices Inc. of Norwood, Genzyme Corp. of Cambridge, and MKS Instruments Inc. of Wilmington, seeks to raise $2 million over the next two years.
It was unveiled last night at a gathering of the Massachusetts High Technology Council, an organization of chief executives from state industries ranging from computer hardware to medical devices. Council members met at the Newton Marriott for their 30th anniversary dinner.
Analog founder and chairman Ray Stata, the cochairman of the council's education committee, said business leaders have concluded they must play a role in addressing a longstanding problem that has taken on more urgency as the global economy advances and nations like India and China challenge America for technology leadership.
"Business has to be at the table," Stata said. "Our education program is failing to prepare students for the kind of world they're going to be living in, which will be more and more technology intensive."
Stata said the failure of public education, especially in poor school districts, is a "complicated puzzle." Solving it, he said, will require efforts to attract and retain top teachers and change the public school governance structure so teachers can work longer hours and principals can make smart hiring decisions not governed by seniority.
Toward that end, the Fund for World Class Schools, which will be professionally managed by the Boston Foundation, will have a strong focus on preparing and supporting teachers in the classroom.
One goal will be to expand a pilot school program in which some Boston, Springfield, and Fitchburg schools have volunteered to waive union rules to enable more teacher training and collaboration. Another will be to back advanced placement programs designed by Mass Insight Education and Research Institute under a $13.2 million grant received this summer from a group funded by Exxon Mobil Corp.
The education push, which is being done in partnership with labor union leaders and lawmakers, is modeled after the collaborative approach that "overcame some negative perceptions at the Pentagon" and helped save a pair of Massachusetts military bases two years ago, said Chris Anderson, the president of the high-tech council and former chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Education.
Anderson said an advisory board made up of technology chief executives and a teacher will guide how money from the fund is spent.
"This is motivated by a sense of global imperative," he said. "The United States is no longer the world's number one producer of engineers. We've slipped behind five or six other nations. The businesses putting their money on the table recognize they have a stake in the outcome."
Robert Weisman can be reached at weisman@globe.com.
