(Story & photo by Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“All I know is that I don’t believe we’re providing equitable education opportunities across the entire county.”

Those words came from Commissioner Jack Manning at the February 16 work session at the Beaver County Courthouse, one day after the Beaver County Partnership released a study done by Johns Hopkins University in regards to education and educational opportunities in Beaver County. Manning, who himself has been working with the BCP on this process, feels that there are greater opportunities for students to have.

“I’m not a fan of mergers, and this isn’t about mergers in my mind,” Manning stated, “but there are plenty of examples where 9 through 12th graders–when they really start to identify with their career paths and could have opportunities to go to centers for excellence that meet their and their families needs for them to be successful in life, and I think some of the smaller school districts struggle with that–with resources and capability.”

The study made mention of Beaver County’s declining population coinciding with increasing numbers in “wealthier neighboring counties”, and Manning hopes that certain improvements in attainable and affordable options within the county can reverse that trend and keep families here.

“It’s not about bigger being better,” Manning added, “it’s about equitable opportunities that will really prepare kids for life and the career path that’s right for them and their families…and I think we can do better.”