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Local control and a well deserved AAA S&P Financial Rating have created and maintained perhaps the nation's strongest community college funding environment. I have worked as Finance Committee Chairman and lobbied effectively with other trustees over the past 10 years to reduce the JCCC Mill Levy when annual increases in Johnson County Assessed Valuation would allow adequate funding for our enrollment growth and infrastructure and instructional needs. We have made 5 annual mill levy reductions in the past 10 years while funding building expansion and maintenance to meet enrollment growth, new programs, and increasingly expensive related technology. Informed visitors to our campus including our current Interim President, Dr. Larry Tyree, and permanent president candidates recently interviewed are impressed with our campus and the quality of our instructional offerings to students. JCCC was recognized by the State of Kansas with the Kansas Excellence Award in 2003. "Learning Comes First" and JCCC has faithfully fulfilled this mission while balancing the cost to students and taxpayers. We have a responsibility as trustees to achieve the original mandate for community colleges across the nation which is to offer high quality, low cost instruction and skill development in accessible locations and in the most convenient time and mode (internet, TV, classroom, company conference room) possible. Community Colleges are about "hope and opportunity" while generating important community economic development through a much more productive workforce. Deferred maintenance is an important issue for Kansas Board of Regents governed universities (est, cost $800 million) and the other 18 Kansas community colleges (est. cost $200 million). We have no deferred maintenance at JCCC.
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| 2. |
I am in favor of our current policy. The unique position enjoyed by JCCC in the Johnson County education and training arena allows the college to contribute to workforce development. By offering in-state tuition for these students we can advance their chances of a more productive life in our community which translates into improved economic health and stability of our private and public sector.
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I began serving JCCC Foundation as a volunteer fund raiser over 20 years ago. My wife and I have been contributors to the foundation scholarship endowment because we identify with the mission. It is the most efficient and effective avenue for funding the continued robust health and prosperity of our society. I have a passion for this mission, and I want to use the next 4 years to complete my effort to preserve and enhance the college. The successful transition from Dr. Carlsen's 25 year tenure which ended in April 2006 will require dedicated guidance from experienced trustees who can serve to nurture community acceptance of our new permanent president. The dedication this summer of $70 million in new buildings affords JCCC the opportunity to expand in new directions with technology training especially in bio science fields emerging throughout the region. Private gifts will continue to be important as new buildings are needed. I can add leadership as a member of the Board of Trustees to our new president's efforts to build sources of new funding.
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I have served as a trustee since September 1996. I am the current board chair. In the past I have served as chair of JCCC Finance, Human Resource, and Collegial Steering Committees. My professional, for pay, career has included leadership roles at several area banks including President and CEO and founder of Corporate Woods State Bank, Chairman and CEO Western National Bank, and Executive Vice president of Bank IV and UMB. My volunteer leadership positions have included Chairman Overland Park Chamber, Chairman Community Foundation of Johnson County, Chairman of O.P. Rotary Foundation, Chairman K-10 Corridor Assn., Chairman JCCC Foundation, and Chairman The Learning Exchange. I have served as a director and volunteer worker for many other Johnson County and regional non-profit organizations. I was honored with the Kansas Volunteer of the Year Award in 1990 for the effort to attract the Sprint Campus to Overland Park. In 2000 I accepted a leadership role in planning the 150th Birthday of Kansas City celebrated with the "Under The Clock Event". More recently, I am involved as Programming Co- Chair of the Dead Seas Scrolls Exhibit at Union Station.
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| 5. |
JCCC will soon celebrate 40 years as an essential community resource. I am well acquainted with the surviving founding trustees, and I was fortunate to serve out the remaining term of a revered founding trustee, Dr. Hugh Speer. The "Blue Book" they created has been an important resource for me in serving the college and understanding my role as a trustee. We have only partially completed the "current leadership transition". I believe my experience on the board and as a proven community leader and volunteer will contribute to our success over the next 4 years.
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