barnes UNANIMOUSLY CONFIRMED by STATE senate as PA secretary of education

   The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously approved Francis V. Barnes, Ph. D., Tuesday evening as the Commonwealth’s Secretary of Education.

   The vote came nearly four months after Governor Edward G. Rendell named Barnes, 55, to lead the state’s 501 school districts, and implement the Governor’s Block Grant Funding Program that allocates $200 million in the 2004-05 school year for districts to implement research-based programs to boost student achievement such as full-day kindergarten, pre-kindergarten, smaller class sizes, tutoring and English as Second Language programs.

    “Dr. Barnes brings enthusiasm and experience to the Department of Education and I am pleased that his nomination was unanimously approved by members of the state Senate,” said Governor Rendell. “He is passionate about ensuring that all children have the same opportunities to learn regardless of their backgrounds and where they live in Pennsylvania.”

   Following his acceptance as Secretary designee in July, Barnes resigned his position as superintendent of the Palisades School District, Bucks County, effective the first week of September.

   “This is a very exciting time for me both professionally and personally,” said Barnes. “I can’t imagine being in a better position to witness and lead the important and relentless work for our students that was begun by this administration.”

   Filling the job of the state’s top education officer with another former superintendent is a clear sign of the administration’s focus on using tested initiatives to bring about positive changes for Pennsylvania’s nearly 2 million students.

   Barnes’s confirmation was met with praise from a number of influential educational associations across the state.

   “Dr. Barnes has had a genuine and profound impact on improving student achievement and building community support for public schools,” said Tom Gentzel, executive director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. “He is exactly the right person at the right time to lead the Department of Education.”

   Barnes currently meets with a large group of representatives from various educational associations every month to maintain a strong working relationship and to receive feedback on planned PDE initiatives.

   “The Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals looks forward to working with Dr. Barnes,” said Joseph Acri, assistant executive director. “We have found him to be cooperative and caring in assisting school principals and supervisors in their role of educating the youth of Pennsylvania.”

   In addition to his tenure at Palisades, Barnes previously served as Superintendent of Huntingdon Area and Hopewell Area school districts.

   After earning his Doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh he also served as senior high principal at North Allegheny School District and as a teacher and administrator for the Pittsburgh Board of Education.