EAST LIVERPOOL - An additional workforce for a cyber education curriculum may come to East Liverpool, according to the head of Midland-based PA Cyber.
Dr. Nick Trombetta discussed that and a host of other issues during an East Liverpool Rotary Club luncheon Tuesday.
Trombetta is the CEO of the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. He is also the founder of the National Network of Digital Schools (NNDS) and had a role in establishing the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School among other local entities involving cyber education.
NNDS has offices in a former bank building in downtown East Liverpool. Trombetta said Tuesday that "he made a commitment to the mayor" (Jim Swoger) to use another building downtown if possible.
Trombetta said it is still in the planning stage, but cyber offerings in the fields of writing, editing and artistry could be located in East Liverpool.
However, the bulk of Tuesday's talk dealt with the here and now. Trombetta voiced his opinion on a variety of issues and maintained that any negative impact first feared about the arrival of cyber schools was unwarranted.
Trombetta said the competition from cyber schools has actually strengthened the public school system like East Liverpool's. Jobs have not been lost, and the public school system is actually on sound financial ground now, Trombetta maintained.
He didn't credit any turnaround to local cyber schools such as the Buckeye Online School for Success and others, but he said that BOSS has certainly not hurt the public school system.
"Cyber education is no longer something that people see as an anomaly," Trombetta said.
He said some 1,200 jobs have been created locally, and PA Cyber has exceeded his expectations as far as student enrollment is concerned. The academic progress is cause for celebration as well, according to Trombetta.
PA Cyber celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and the school made all 29 Adequate Yearly Progress targets the past two years.
With nearly 10,000 students, PA Cyber is the largest charter or cyber charter school in the nation ever to make AYP, according to the CEO.
Trombetta said he felt comfort in knowing that last summer, PA Cyber received a five-year charter renewal from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
"When you treat people right with dignity and respect, you get a lot of customers," Trombetta said about a growing enrollment.
Still, Trombetta acknowledged there are some clinging to, in his view, an older style of education that does not meet the needs of every student.
"The enemies of what we do are powerful," Trombetta said without naming anyone specific. He added that cyber education has won many battles along the way.
Despite the successes, Trombetta said he still has concerns and is looking for ways to push cyber education in other places around the globe. He said representatives from Korea, Japan and China have visited Midland for a first-hand look into the operations.
Trombetta said that he works to make sure that "PA Cyber won't be the next Crucible" for Midland and the surrounding area. Once the lead employer in the area, Crucible Steel is no longer what it once was.
The goal is to keep employment local, and Trombetta said he wants employees and students to remain a part of the Midland community.
"We want them to come downtown, work downtown and dine downtown," Trombetta said. "We want to keep that money local."
Trombetta added that he feels like cyber education will continue to play a significant, positive, role for Midland and the surrounding communities.
