Month: August 2022

New funding for cancer research announced

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., announced that the National Cancer Institute has awarded $2,822,506 to the University of Kansas Cancer Center to support research.

Last month the center was officially designated as a “comprehensive” cancer center by the National Cancer Institute, the highest level of recognition awarded by the NCI.

“The University of Kansas Cancer Center has long been a leader in our region for health and cancer research,” Rep. Davids said. “The new NCI distinction will enable their world-class scientists to continue making inroads in cancer research, saving lives in the 3rd District and around the world. I want to congratulate them on this new designation and thank them for their tireless efforts.”

“Thanks to the Cancer Center Support Grant, The University of Kansas Cancer Center may continue to grow its research programs and shared resources, which will lead to a better understanding of how to prevent and treat cancer more effectively,” said Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center. “The additional funding also helps the cancer center grow and retain our team of researchers and physician-scientists, convening the brightest minds in science and medicine.”

Earlier this year, Rep. Davids visited the KU Cancer Center to celebrate the passage of her funding request for a new imaging machine to advance cutting-edge cancer research and treatment in Kansas. This project was one of eight federally funded projects in the Kansas 3rd District successfully secured by Rep. Davids.

  • Story from Rep. Davids’ office

KCKCC budget hearing scheduled today

The budget hearing and the hearing for exceeding the tax revenue neutral rate for Kansas City Kansas Community College is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, at the college, main campus, Upper Jewell building, 7250 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.

According to a budget summary document published in the Wyandotte Echo on Aug. 11, the KCKCC proposed budget for 2022-2023 would be a mill rate of 27.382, the same amount as the 2021-2022 year.

The revenue neutral rate would be 24.108 mills, and the proposed amount is around 3 mills higher.

Assessed valuation is up about $200,000 over last year, meaning that the same mill levy would produce more dollars, according to the budget document. The total tax levied would be $46,799,984 for 2022-2023 as compared to $41,133,834 for 2021-2022, according to the budget document.

There will be a presentation on the final KCKCC budget at the 5 p.m. meeting today, according to the meeting agenda.

Budgets are subject to change, until final approval by the board.

Also planned on Aug. 23 are executive sessions at 4 p.m. to discuss personnel matters, to discuss acquisition of real property and to consult with the attorney.

Other items besides the budget hearing on the 5 p.m. agenda include the KCKCC annual report; a resolution about allowing wine at a Catholic Mass at the college; reports from college officials; and a draft of the 2024 -2027 strategic plan creation calendar.

The proposed budget also is contained in agenda documents online at https://www.kckcc.edu/files/docs/trustees/agenda/2022-2023/board-of-trustees-budget-hearing-and-regular-meeting-book-aug-23-2022.pdf.

The meeting will be livestreamed at https://vimeo.com/731014899.

KCK school board to meet today

The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Education is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, in the third floor board room of the Central Office and Training Center, 2010 N. 59th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The agenda includes:
• an update on elementary reading intervention resources;
• publication of the notice of hearing and transfer from contingency reserve;
• 2023 graduation dates;
• K-12 Junior Achievement curriculum adoption;
• Kansas Assessment Program report;
• policy reviews;
• executive, closed sessions to discuss matters of nonelected personnel.

On the consent agenda are the human resources report; KidZone contract approval; monthly financial report; approval of Head Start director’s and financial reports; approval of professional development and student travel; approval of annual subscription for Frontline Student Analytics Lab; approval of an addendum to the contract for legal services; and approval of TPT tutoring contracts.

Other regular meeting items also are on the agenda.

The proposed date for the budget hearing for the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools district is 5:10 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Central Office, 2010 N. 59th St.

The proposed date for the hearing on exceeding the revenue neutral rate will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Central Office, 2010 N. 59th St.

At an earlier meeting, the board approved a limit to the maximum mill levy rate for the 2022-2023 fiscal year with no increase over the 2021-2022 year, according to district information. The proposed budget in the agenda for Tuesday lists a very slightly lower proposed mill rate than the previous one.

According to the proposed budget documents online, the proposed estimated tax rate will be 49.65 mills for 2022-2023. It is less than the 2021-2022 tax rate of 49.656 mills. The rate in 2020-2021 was 49.65 mills.

The assessed valuation in the district has increased, according to the budget documents, and plays a role in the budget this year. The money raised by the increased valuations means that the district would receive a greater amount of funds for the same mill levy as last year. That means a hearing is necessary for exceeding the budget neutral rate.

Proposed total budgeted expenditures for the district in 2022-2023 are $577.9 million, as compared to to $479.7 million in the 2021-2022 school year, according to the proposed budget document.

Budget documents are online with the agenda, posted at https://www.kckschools.org/, posted under board documents, meetings, Aug. 23 meeting, and then under item 5B.

The meeting will be on YouTube at https://youtu.be/4J0jt4Mohx8.