Birmingham has to commit to opening more early childhood learning centers throughout the city through public-private partnerships, Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin said.

"If we don't lay the proper foundation for our children before they ... enter our elementary schools, it is hard to catch up. It is hard to close the gap," he said.

Woodfin, a former Birmingham Board of Education president, spoke about the importance of better educating the city's children and putting education at the forefront during a Monday morning press conference.

The mayor-elect announced the formation of two new citizen-led committees that will focus on strategic priorities of his administration during the next 100 days. These committees will focus on education and workforce development and economic development and entrepreneurship.

Woodfin, who takes office on Nov. 28, made the announcement at the Alabama Workforce Training Center. The center provides training for the manufacturing and construction industries at no-cost to students.

Serving as co-chairs of the education and workforce development committee are Perry Ward, president of Lawson State Community College, and Fred McCallum, former AT&T president.

Tracey Morant Adams, executive vice president at Renasant Bank, and Josh Carpenter, director of external affairs at UAB, are serving as co-chairs of the economic development and entrepreneurship committee.

In ninth through 12th grades, the city has to make sure students have only three options when they leave school: enter the military, go to college or other technical school or enter the workforce, Woodfin said.

"They should have only three options," he said.

"Educating our children is more than 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Educating our children is more than Monday through Friday," Woodfin said. "Educating our children is more than August to May when school is in and when school is out. We have to commit to an entire educational pipeline as it relates to investing in our children."

He said the city has to commit to workforce training and workforce development.

"It can no longer be just talk," Woodfin said.

The education committee is charged with developing plans to align and expand education and workforce programs to make sure students have the skills to land high-wage, high-demand jobs. The committee will work with Pre-K, K-12, community colleges and universities, state government agencies and business community.

The economic development entrepreneurship committee will work with leaders in Birmingham and Montgomery to understand all efforts to recruit and expand industry and jobs. The committee will partner with the Innovation Deport and other groups to support budding entrepreneurs.

Last week, Woodfin announced the creation of three committees to address neighborhood revitalization and public safety, social justice, and transparency and efficient government.

The neighborhood revitalization and public safety committee is co-chaired by Herschell Hamilton, managing partner of BLOC Global Group, and Birmingham police Detective Ralph Patterson.

The social justice committee is chaired by Dr. Nancy Dunlap and human rights attorney Richard Rice. Dunlap is professor emerita of medicine and scholar for the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy at UAB.

The transparency and efficient government committee is chaired by Daniel Coleman, former CEO of KCG Holdings, and Annie Allen, owner of iSeek Solutions.

Earlier this month, Woodfin announced that retired Gen. Charles Krulak - credited for saving Birmingham-Southern College and a decorated Marine - and Bobbie Knight, a former Alabama Power vice president, would lead his transition team.

Anyone interested in being involved is asked to send an email to transition@randallwoodfin.com.