Gov. Ted Strickland deserves an enormous amount of credit for making public education the centerpiece of his time as Ohio's chief executive. And his sense of timing is good, too, as shown by his schedule for school reform.

Strickland and other leaders in state government have been discussing education quietly but persistently for months, often through meetings with educators, business people, those in the social services - and anyone else with potentially valuable input. Now, the governor is kicking off a series of 12 events to be held throughout the state, as part of what he hopes will be a public dialogue concerning education. Though the meetings are open only to invited guests, they are to be televised and no doubt will be reported extensively.

Later in the fall, Strickland plans to hold similar deliberations regarding education funding in Ohio.

What is important about the series of meetings being held through Sept. 15 is that they quickly will set the tone for the governor's reform campaign. Simply because all of those participating directly will be invited guests, Ohioans will be able to gain some idea of just where Strickland is headed. The fall meetings on school finance will provide even more of a preview.

More of the "same old, same old" won't do what is needed for public education. Make no mistake about it: What needs to be done in Ohio will not be received well by a substantial number of people, many of them in organized groups with substantial political clout.

We urge Strickland and others involved in the 12 events being held this summer to be both open and restrictive in guiding them. Openness to new - even controversial - ideas is important. At the same time, rehashing of already discredited philosophies should not be tolerated.

This new school reform campaign in Ohio needs to get off to a good start. If that does not happen, Strickland's campaign will do no more good than its several predecessors.