Irene Caudillo (File photo)
Irene Caudillo was chosen for an open Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education position at the Tuesday night school board meeting.
It was a unanimous vote, 5-0, according to the board’s clerk.
The board also received the sad news that long-time board member George Breidenthal died June 23.
Christal Watson, a current board member, removed her name from the list of applicants who wanted to be considered for the open position at Tuesday night’s meeting, and then Watson voted for Caudillo. Seven candidates had submitted their names and were interviewed for the position last week.
Caudillo will be filling the position of Vicki Meyer, who resigned for health reasons after 18 years of service on the board.
During the spring election campaign, Caudillo had emphasized closing the student achievement gap, as well as more collaboration and accountability, increased graduation rates, increased parental involvement, and advocacy for adequate state funding.
Caudillo, president and CEO of El Centro, will start her board service in July. Rep. Valdenia Winn, who was elected to the school board, also will start her school board term in July.
No details have been announced yet for the process for another open board position that will be filled, but the board is expected to follow the same procedure.
It will be one of the biggest tax shifts in the history of the state of Kansas. The Kansas Legislature approved, by a very close margin, a one-half cent increase in the sales tax to cover the significant loss because of decreased income tax from businesses. That will hurt the working folks in Wyandotte County the most.
It all started in 2012 when Gov. Sam Brownback proposed -and the ultra-conservative legislature approved–a dramatic shift that allowed businesses to escape paying income taxes. That was supposed to bring in hordes of new businesses to the state. It didn’t. What it did do is cause existing businesses — more than 300,000 that IRS classified as “S corporations” — to make a raid on the state treasury.
Gov. Brownback was under the illusion that Kansas could compete with those states that do not have an income tax — such as Texas, Wyoming or Florida. What those states have — that Kansas doesn’t have — is either substantial tourism or large mineral and oil deposits, or both.
Kansas has traditionally had a balance among three basic taxing sources —property, income and sales. Property taxes are the most stable and sales taxes are the most fluid; income taxes are some place in the middle. The analogy is made that Kansas taxes are like a three-legged stool. Pull any one of those legs off, and you have serious problems.
One of the basic disagreements in the recent legislative session was whether the income tax would be restored or if the sales tax would be hiked. The governor and his very conservative allies won out — at least for now.
The ultra-conservatives — the Tea Party crowd — have control of the legislature. However, not all of the conservative legislators are happy with the governor; the $15.3 billion budget that he approved didn’t cut enough spending, certain ultra-conservatives alleged.
Last spring I was at a luncheon of the William Allen White Foundation in Lawrence. I was sitting at the table with two very prominent Kansas editors — Dave Seaton and Susan Lynn.
Steve Morris, a former moderate Republican senator, was also at the table. Larry Powell, an ultra conservative, defeated Morris in the 2012 primary election. Morris said about 15 ultra-conservatives would have to lose to regain control of the Kansas Senate.
Seaton, whose family has deep roots in the Kansas newspaper and business and politics, told of grass roots efforts in his hometown of Winfield to get more responsible legislators elected, whether they are moderate Republicans or Democrats. I would hope that there are similar efforts in other parts of the state.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press.
From left to right, Patrick McCartney, executive director of the KCKCC Endowment Association; Leota Marks, dean of academic workforce programs at KCKCC-TEC; George Crump, instructor of electrical technology and Cliff Smith, dean of operations at KCKCC-TEC. (KCKCC photo)
by Kelly Rogge
A new scholarship is encouraging students at Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center to complete programs in technical fields.
The Applied Skills Based Technology Endowment Scholarship is geared specifically to students at the KCKCC-TEC. Patrick McCartney, executive director of the KCKCC Endowment Association, said the new scholarship is being funded through a $40,000 donation, made by a group of anonymous donors. The goal is to encourage students in certain fields to finish their education, rather than leaving early.
“This is the biggest donation we have received since I have been at KCKCC,” McCartney said. “This is really an incentive for students to complete the program, rather than leaving early for a career opportunity. While those opportunities pay a lot, students can earn more by staying and completing their course work.”
The scholarship is available to residents of Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties who complete Applied Technology Programs such as electrical technology, HVAC, machine technology, major appliance repair, welding and automotive technology. It is through completing these programs that students will earn high income and be in a better position for job creation and entrepreneurial opportunities.
“The new Applied Skills Based Technology Endowment Scholarship is a great opportunity for students. It is designed to help offset the cost of a technical education for those students who need assistance,” said Leota Marks, dean of Academic Workforce Programs at KCKCC-TEC. “This chance at a technical education can be a life changing opportunity that changes an unemployed person into an employed person with a career and a bright future.”
Starting in 2016, up to four students will receive a $500 scholarship each year. A four-person panel will select the scholarship recipients.
Candidates must have a high school diploma or GED with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. Students must submit a brief biography and letter stating future career plans with the scholarship application, and the candidate must exhibit “good judgement, practice safety techniques and aspire to display the skills they have learned in an effective and efficient manner.” In addition, students selected will exhibit a willingness and drive to succeed as well as an ability to learn. According to the scholarship criteria, students will have a vision for the future and will be able to apply the technology they have learned in their chosen field. Attendance, assignment completion and student conduct will also be taken into consideration, among other requirements.
McCartney said this is the first scholarship designated specifically for KCKCC-TEC. The group of donors have also set up a similar program for students at Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kan.
“This is an impressive gift,” he said. “A significant impact will be made with this kind of donation.”
For more information on the Applied Skills Based Technology Endowment Scholarship, contact the KCKCC Endowment Association at 913-288-7675. Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at KCKCC.
