Springfield (KMTR) – As the new school year got underway in Springfield, Governor John Kitzhaber, (D-Oregon) stopped by their annual pre-school gathering to welcome teachers and staff back to work.Dr. Nancy Golden, who spent six months as the governor's education policy advisor, is also back at work full time as Springfield’s superintendent. She delivered her annual State of the Schools address during the meeting at Springfield High School.
Gov. Kitzhaber also spoke, saying that public schools are stuck in an old-fashioned way of doing business and that Oregon must do better at keeping up with the changing world.
“We want our employers to know that they can locate and grow right here in Oregon,” said Kitzhaber, “and find high-skilled, productive employees right here in our state. We want Oregon graduates to contribute to our state and to our economy and we want them to feel confident they're on the path to those careers that produce family-wage jobs.”
The governor said every Oregon child should graduate high school and 80% should get at least two years of post-high school education or training. But he said the goal will never be accomplished "if we hold tight to the status quo."
