OAK HARBOR – On Nov. 10, the first Community V.O.I.C.E. (Vision, Outreach, Insight, Collaboration, Empowerment) Network gathering was held at Oak Harbor High School.

This collaborative event brought together leaders from Benton-Carroll-Salem (B-C-S), Port Clinton, Danbury, Woodmore, and Put-In-Bay school districts, including district superintendents, treasurers, and select community members. The group also welcomed former Chancellor Randy Gardner, who participated in an engaging Q&A and shared valuable insight from his state-level perspective.

The purpose of the Community V.O.I.C.E. initiative is to build connections between local schools and the broader community, ensuring that citizens are informed and educated about important issues affecting public education. The network aims to foster transparency, strengthen community understanding, and promote informed advocacy at the local and state levels.

Superintendent of Benton-Carroll-Salem Local School District, Cathy Bergman, opened the event with a warm welcome, followed by remarks from Port Clinton Schools Superintendent, Pat Adkins, who outlined the purpose of the initiative. B-C-S Treasurer Cajon Keeton and Port Clinton Schools Treasurer Jeff Dornbusch shared an informational presentation, and Superintendent of Danbury Local Schools, Cari Buehler, provided closing comments and a vision for the future of the V.O.I.C.E. network.

The meeting was well attended by Ottawa County community members and marked a successful start to what promises to be an influential and ongoing regional partnership. The future of Community V.O.I.C.E. is bright.