Kansas Association of Community College Trustees
700 SW Jackson, Suite 1000 • Topeka, KS 66603-3757 • 785-357-5156 • FAX 785-357-5157
• 19cc@kacct.org
Sheila Frahm, Executive Director
Policy
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700 S. W. Jackson, Ste. 1000, Topeka, Kansas 66603 - (785)-357-5156 |
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Happy Kansas Day To
All….The Kansas Statehouse is
packed today with all those celebrating our state’s birthday.
A highlight of the day’s activities included the rededication of
the Senate Chamber this morning. Former
Senate leadership, including former Senate Majority Leader Sheila Frahm,
were recognized during the ceremony. The
Senate Chambers are truly beautiful – worth a visit to the Statehouse to
see. House Higher
Education Moves on Legislation….The
House Higher Education Committee passed along four bills this week,
including HB 2572, private and out-of-state post secondary educational
institutions; HB 2575, Kansas challenge to secondary school pupils (concurrent enrollment and gifted children); HB 2604,
Midwestern higher education commission; and HB 2602, energy conservation
project financing for technical and community colleges.
Several committee members had concerns about the concurrent education
bill at the end of last week, but, following a meeting with Marilyn
Rhinehart and Bill Osborn from Johnson County Community College on Friday,
their concerns were answered and the bill was passed.
Vicky Smith, Neosho President, testified on HB 2602, and did a great
job of presenting the information legislators needed. Robinson Speaks to
Senate Ed….Kansas Board of
Regents’ President and CEO, Reggie Robinson, spoke to the Senate Education
Committee on Thursday, offering an update on higher education. He reported that the Regents were pleased with the
Governor’s budget, but would have liked to see more resources. He noted that Adult Basic Education in Kansas was one of
three in the nation noted for “best practices.”
The committee questioned Reggie about the recently released nursing
shortage report. He responded
that the Regents would have included a funding request to expand nursing
education in the state, but the timing of the report kept that from
happening. The committee also
challenged him concerning funding for technical education.
The committee is scheduled to hear an overview of technical school
funding and governance in early February.
Senator Greta Goodwin, D-Winfield, asked whether or not SB 345
funding had hurt community colleges. Jean
Schodorf, Chrm., R-Wichita, who is also on the higher education budget
committee, said she was aware that the out-district tuition offset was not
recommended in the Governor’s budget, but promised “this will be
addressed.” Legislative
Community College List Grows….We
continue to hear of community college ties with our Kansas legislators… ·
Peggy Mast, Emporia:
Butler ·
Mitch Holmes, St. John:
Hutchinson ·
John Grange, El Dorado:
Butler ·
Sydney Carlin, Manhattan:
Neosho and Highland ·
Terrie Huntington, Mission
Hills
Johnson County Important Community
College Contacts: Higher
Education Committee: Tom
Sloan, Chrm., R-Lawrence; Everett Johnson, Vice Chrm., R-Augusta; Sydney
Carlin, D-Manhattan; Barbara Craft, R-Junction City; Don Hill, R-Emporia;
Deena Horst, R-Salina; David Huff, R-Lenexa; Richard Kelsey, R- Goddard;
Carl Krehbiel, R-Moundridge; Annie Kuether, D-Topeka; Julie Menghini, D-Pittsburg;
Bill Otto, R-LeRoy; Eber Phelps, D-Hays; JoAnn Pottorf, R-Wichita; Stephanie
Sharp, R-Lenexa; Sue Storm, D-Overland Park; and Valdenia Winn, D-Kansas
City Senate
Education Committee: Jean
Schodorf, Chrm., R-Wichita; Barbara Allen, R-Overland Park; Pat Apple,
R-Louisburg; Greta Goodwin, D-Winfield; Janis Lee, D-Kensington; Carolyn
McGinn, R-Sedgwick; Ralph Ostmeyer, R-Grinnell; Roger Pine, R-Lawrence;
Chris Steineger, D-Kansas City; Ruth Teichman, R- Stafford; and John Vratil,
R-Leawood House
Education Budget Committee:
Becky Hutchins, Chrm., R-Holton; Bill Feuerborn,
D-Garnett; Lana Gordon, R-Topeka; Bob Grant, D-Cherokee; Steve Huebert,
R-Valley Center; Bonnie Huy, R-Wichita; Carl Krehbiel, R-Moundridge; Joe
McLeland, R-Wichita; and Tom Sawyer, R-Wichita Senate
Ways & Means Subcommittee for Higher Education: Steve Morris, Chrm.,
R-Hugoton; Ruth Teichman, R-Stafford; Jay Emler, R-Lindsborg; Jean Schodorf,
R-Wichita; and Jim Barone, D-Frontenac The
Week Ahead….Committee
meetings of interest next week include: Monday,
January 30: House
Appropriations HB 2574:
State Board of Regents; power to dispose of property acquired by
devise Monday,
January 30: House Higher Education HB 2603:
Tuition for Kansas high school graduates after military service HB 2593:
State board of regents; procurement of health insurance for students
at state educational institutions Tuesday,
January 31: Economic
Development Wednesday,
February 1: Federal and
State Affairs HB 2615:
Colleges and universities; fees and tuition; undocumented
non-citizens Wednesday,
February 1: House
Higher Education Thursday,
February 2: Senate Education
SB 332: Authorizing regents’ institutions to acquire insurance Important
Resources to gather legislative and budget information:
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