If Ohio wants to be first in line when companies decide where to invest, we need to show that we are serious about cultivating the most prepared workforce in the nation.
Dublin City School District high school redistricting plan unveiled
Dublin City Schools Superintendent John Marschhausen revealed the district’s draft plan for redistricting the district’s three high schools on Sept. 29, 2025, explaining the need for the effort and seeking feedback.
State Representative Kevin Ritter, serving his first term in the Ohio House, represents the 94th District covering Washington, Meigs, and parts of Athens Counties.
Our students — whether in Cleveland, Marietta or anywhere in between — deserve equal access to the tools that will shape tomorrow’s economy.
In September, I joined U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, JobsOhio, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Sherwin-Williams, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association and leaders from education and industry to celebrate the launch of the Experiential Robotics Platform at MAGNET in Cleveland.
What I witnessed that day was nothing short of transformative: students building, coding and testing robots — gaining firsthand experience with the technologies that will shape the future of work.
And here’s the part that still takes my breath away: this world-class training in robotics, engineering, coding and artificial intelligence can now be delivered to our students at the cost of just $50 per student — less than the price of a textbook.
The ribbon-cutting in Cleveland marked an important beginning, but it is only the first step.
Over the next few months, I am proud to be working with local schools in my district in Southeastern Ohio to bring Experiential Robotics Platform —XRP — to our classrooms as well.
What makes XRP so remarkable is its open-sourced design.
Students are not confined to one kind of robot — they can dream, design and build robots of any shape or size using 3D printers located in their local community colleges or innovation hubs like MAGNET.
The benefits don’t stop at the high school level
The standard kit is on wheels with a camera that students assemble and then program on a computer to command its movements and functions. But the possibilities go far beyond that.
In rural areas, for example, students have created an AgXRP from the open-source catalog: a 3D-printed frame that attaches to PVC pipes over a milk cart, plants seeds, waters them using two ordinary water bottles and uses a camera with AI to assess plant health based on leaf color.
This is innovation by Ohio students, for Ohio’s future — hands-on, affordable and inspiring.
And the benefits don’t stop in high schools. This program supports higher education training by giving college students opportunities to apply advanced additive manufacturing skills as they produce these kits, while also training high school teachers on the curriculum.
Everywhere we look, industries are being reshaped by automation, advanced manufacturing and AI.
The companies driving these changes are making billion-dollar decisions about where to invest and where to locate. Their number one consideration is talent. If Ohio wants to be first in line when companies decide where to invest, we need to show that we are serious about cultivating the most prepared workforce in the nation.
We must prepare our students for the age of robotics and AI
Some will ask what this costs.
Outfitting every Ohio high school classroom with XRP over three years would cost roughly $9 million — and likely significantly less, thanks to the 3D printing infrastructure already in place in schools and colleges across the state.
Ohio’s history has always been one of innovation and industry. From the Wright brothers to space exploration to advanced manufacturing, we have never shied away from leading.
Today, that same spirit demands that we lead in preparing our students for the age of robotics and artificial intelligence. We can be the state where companies look first when deciding where to invest. We can be the state that levels the playing field for every student — urban, rural and suburban alike — giving them a shot at high-paying, high-demand careers. But to do that, we must act.
I strongly support making the Experiential Robotics Platform a priority in our next budget cycle and sending a clear message to the world: Ohio is ready. Our students are ready. The future is here — and it starts in our classrooms.
State Representative Kevin Ritter, serving his first term in the Ohio House, represents the 94th District covering Washington, Meigs, and parts of Athens Counties. A former educator, entrepreneur and Washington County Commissioner, Ritter holds degrees in history and political science from Central Michigan University and has spent over two decades teaching and running a successful business in southeast Ohio, where he lives with his wife, Khadine, and their two children.
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