MHCC president picked to lead Oregon education forum

MHCC Interim President Michael Hay was scheduled to help lead a forum for the Oregon Education Investment Board Thursday evening.

Hay said Thursday morning that Todd Jones, policy coordinator for the Education Investment Project, appointed him as a co-convener for the forum two weeks ago.

Two other co-conveners have been chosen to help lead the forum with Hay. Charles McGee, member of the Early Learning Council and Executive Director of the Black Parents Initiative, and Carole Smith, superintendent of Portland Public Schools, were the other two co-conveners selected.

Hay said co-conveners are responsible for introducing the topic of public education funding and how it’s changed due to Senate Bill 909. Funding is now distributed according to completion of degrees rather than based on enrollment.

He said co-conveners were chosen based on their relevancy to the metropolitan communities and the different phases of education.

Hay said he would talk about the role MHCC plays in advancing community education. He also said he would focus on three key aspects that MHCC has to offer the community.

“The first thing I’m going to talk about is how Mt. Hood Community College is well positioned to deliver on the bill for a continuum of education,” he said.

“MHCC matriculates our students to a university level as well as matriculating high school students to a community college level. ”

He said the second key issue he would discuss is the Early Childhood Center. Hay said, “The head start accounts for many of the good things happening on campus. Life happens there.” He also said, “People laugh, cry and begin to grow there. We feed people there and put people in a position of readiness to learn. We serve the community as well as MHCC students.”

The third thing Hay mentioned was MHCC’s ability to send people from learning to working. He said, “More than just finishing the programs, students who graduate from here get jobs. MHCC is well positioned to put people to work.”

He said the Allied Health Program alone is proof of success for putting students to work. Hay said, “More than just putting students to work, we want to know that our students are well received and liked by their employers. We want to promote the community and know that our students are bettering society.”

The forum was scheduled to be held Thursday at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, 10303 N.E. Glisan St., Portland from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Advocate Staff