Governor's Workforce Development Board Established
By executive order issued on May 1, 1997, Governor George V. Voinovich
established a 19 member Governor's Workforce Development Board (GWDB) to advise him on
matters relating to workforce training and development. In the same order, the previous
Executive Order establishing the Governor's Human Resource Investment Council (GHRIC) was
officially revoked. The new Board will assume many of the functions previously ascribed to
the GHRIC, which fell out of favor following meetings late last summer. At that time
several members raised concerns about elements of the workforce development
"reengineering" plan Anderson Consulting was developing under contract from the
state during. Specifically, GHRIC members questioned the plan's perceived primary focus on
welfare reform issues and well the short timeframe in which the plan was being produced.
What will the GWDB do?
According to the Executive Order establishing it, the major
responsibilities of the new GWDB are
- to develop and recommend to the Governor a plan for implementing Ohio's
workforce development strategy as outlined in Jobs: Ohio's Future. In so doing, the
GWDB will address issues related to human resource and economic development needs; and
- to review plans of all relevant state programs including, "Ohio's
One Stop Career Center Systems, Ohio's School-to-Work Initiative, Employment Service
Programs, Ohio Works First, Adult Basic Education and Literacy, Carl d. Perkins Vocational
and Applied Technology Education, Food Stamp Employment and Training, the Industrial
Training Program, the Job Training Partnership programs administered by OBES, other
programs identified in the report, Windows of Opportunity, and any activities that
the Governor may ask the GWDB to address."
Who will be on the GWDB?
The GWDB members will include the Lieutenant Governor who will be the
Chair of the Board, the Director of the Ohio Department of Human Services, the
Administrator of the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services, the Director of the Ohio
Department of Development, Ohio's Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Chancellor of
the Ohio Board of Regents, one member of the Ohio House of Representatives recommended by
the Speaker of the House, and one member of the Ohio Senate recommended by the President
of the Senate. The GWDB also will include three representatives of business and industry;
three representatives of organized labor nominated by the recognized state labor
federations; three representatives from local public education, postsecondary schools, and
secondary or postsecondary vocational education; and one representative of a
community-based organization.
According to Jim Mermis, of the Lieutenant Governor's office, since it
will be impossible to appoint to the committee representatives of all possible stakeholder
groups, committees will be established. Mermis indicated that One-Stop-Shop and
School-to-Work Committees would definitely be formed.
The GWDB will operate according to bylaws which will be approved by the
Governor, The GWDB will submit a report to the Governor annually.
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From The Literacy Communicator, Columbus, OH. Vol. 12. No. 2, 1997