WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS - Coal is king in West Virginia, but that doesn't mean there aren't challenges, the president and chief executive officer of Patriot Coal said Wednesday.
The way West Virginia's schoolchildren are learning has recently undergone a complete overhaul, thanks to The Partnership for 21st Century skills initiative, said Steven Paine, state superintendent of schools.
"We are not just tinkering around the edges. We are completely revising our education system in West Virginia," he said. "The whole phenomenon of globalization has changed the way to conduct public education."
From public school education to the state's higher education system, reform abounds.
Robert Plymale, chairman of the state Senate Education Committee, said change in the state's community and technical colleges began in 1970s.
Still, there is work to be done, he said, particularly the coordination of a competitive, affordable community and technical schools system.
"We need a more skilled work force ... We are still stuck in the 1970s," he said. "We have to make a paradigm shift in what we are doing and that's what we are doing."
In other higher education, Stephen Kopp, president of Marshall University, said education and research play a critical role in work force development.
"An educated citizenry is the real wealth of nations," he said. "There needs to be a transformation statewide. This state can not prosper and thrive if education is looked at as an option."
Higher education must find a way to educate its students for jobs that aren't even around yet, he said.
"If we look at [education] as a static equation, then we are going to be going back over and over again and retraining them [the work force]," he said. "It's critical that the education prepares them to be an adaptive learner. The key is that a student learns and learns how to learn."
So how can the business community help? Get involved, said Tom Jones, a member of the governor's 21st century jobs cabinet and the state Higher Education Policy Commission.
One way is West Virginia's Student Educational and Economic Development Success program, known as SEEDS, which pairs business leaders with public school principals, he said. The program was launched in October 2007.
The business leader serves as a mentor to the principal, helping to improve the condition of the school, but also drive change throughout the public school system.
The state gave $1 million for the program, and so far, donors have contributed about $500,000 in matching funds.
Overall, education and businesses need to be partners in creating a vibrant state work force, he said.
"Business needs to get more involved," Jones said. "If our voices are in that room, it will make a difference."
Reach Sarah K. Winn at sarahkw...@wvgazette.com">sarahkw...@wvgazette.com or call 348-5156.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS - Coal is king in West Virginia, but that doesn't mean there aren't challenges, the president and chief executive officer of Patriot Coal said Wednesday.
"Clearly, coal is a good business to be in right now, but each cycle brings new challenges," Richard Whiting told business leaders gathered at the 72nd annual meeting of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce at The Greenbrier hotel.
"Every citizen with a vote, every business leader, has an influence on policy of this nation," he said.
The annual meeting of the state chamber and the accompanying 2008 West Virginia Business Summit continues through Friday.
Topics for the meeting and summit include work force development, taxes, workers' compensation, human resources, health care, economic development and education.
Whiting, along with Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Steve Roberts, the president of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, spoke during the opening luncheon Wednesday.
Roberts highlighted the chamber's work in the previous year, including business tax reform, modifying environmental air permitting and economic development initiatives including workers' compensation and broadband Internet.
Both Capito and Whiting addressed the issue of energy, saying that West Virginia is poised to be a leader in the global market.
"We have got to do it now and meet the challenge," Capito said. "West Virginia is a great place for it."
Whiting agreed.
"Make no mistake, we are in a global market," he said. Patriot exports about 15 percent of its produced coal, he said. Most is used to make steel, he said.
The price of coal has doubled, and in some grades, tripled over a year ago, Whiting said. Part of Patriot's long-term strategy includes gauging how high the price will go and how long it will stay at those levels, he said.
The outlook on electric cars is also a factor in Patriot's business, he said.
Both Whiting and Capito agree that the energy markets are in flux. How West Virginia will play in the change is the responsibility of everyone.
"We must find the right balance and the best outcome for all citizens and challenge everyone to engage in the debate," Whiting said.
Education and work force
Following the opening luncheon, the conference held a panel discussion on the role of education in economic development.
The way West Virginia's schoolchildren are learning has recently undergone a complete overhaul, thanks to The Partnership for 21st Century skills initiative, said Steven Paine, state superintendent of schools.
"We are not just tinkering around the edges. We are completely revising our education system in West Virginia," he said. "The whole phenomenon of globalization has changed the way to conduct public education."
From public school education to the state's higher education system, reform abounds.
Robert Plymale, chairman of the state Senate Education Committee, said change in the state's community and technical colleges began in 1970s.
Still, there is work to be done, he said, particularly the coordination of a competitive, affordable community and technical schools system.
"We need a more skilled work force ... We are still stuck in the 1970s," he said. "We have to make a paradigm shift in what we are doing and that's what we are doing."
In other higher education, Stephen Kopp, president of Marshall University, said education and research play a critical role in work force development.
"An educated citizenry is the real wealth of nations," he said. "There needs to be a transformation statewide. This state can not prosper and thrive if education is looked at as an option."
Higher education must find a way to educate its students for jobs that aren't even around yet, he said.
"If we look at [education] as a static equation, then we are going to be going back over and over again and retraining them [the work force]," he said. "It's critical that the education prepares them to be an adaptive learner. The key is that a student learns and learns how to learn."
So how can the business community help? Get involved, said Tom Jones, a member of the governor's 21st century jobs cabinet and the state Higher Education Policy Commission.
One way is West Virginia's Student Educational and Economic Development Success program, known as SEEDS, which pairs business leaders with public school principals, he said. The program was launched in October 2007.
The business leader serves as a mentor to the principal, helping to improve the condition of the school, but also drive change throughout the public school system.
The state gave $1 million for the program, and so far, donors have contributed about $500,000 in matching funds.
Overall, education and businesses need to be partners in creating a vibrant state work force, he said.
"Business needs to get more involved," Jones said. "If our voices are in that room, it will make a difference."
Reach Sarah K. Winn at sarahkw...@wvgazette.com">sarahkw...@wvgazette.com or call 348-5156.
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