Public response to college funding bill

Proposed Kansas Senate Bill 434 (SB 434), the SUCCESS Act, was a major topic of discussion during Monday night's Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees regular meeting.

A legislative committee is now reviewing the bill submitted earlier this month. If passed, the bill would allow community colleges to reduce a portion of their mill levy in exchange for state dollars. If the bill continues through the proper channels--and isn't changed--Fort Scott Community College could have a chance to participate in the program.

Former Kansas Sen. Bob Marshall was the first of three people who addressed the board during the public forum portion of the meeting in relation to SB 434. Marshall said he is "greatly in opposition" of the bill.

He handed out copies of a newspaper article related to the recent FSCC spring rodeo. Marshall said an event such as the spring rodeo provides a major economic advantage to the city because FSCC is a "viable community college."

"And my concern is that Senate Bill 434 is going to make that not happen," Marshall said. "That Fort Scott Community College is not going to be the same if Senate Bill 434 happens."

Kansas Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Ty Masterson, a District 16 Republican, recently told The Tribune he was heavily involved in the writing of SB 434. Marshall said he believes the proposed bill is a "backdoor effort" by FSCC President Clayton Tatro to reopen "strategic alliance" discussions between FSCC and Pittsburg State University. In October, after some community backlash, trustees voted during a special meeting to table enhanced affiliation discussions with PSU.

"I don't think we should call this the Success Act. I think we should call it the 'Strategic Alliance Two,'" Marshall said. "And it's an effort to come up with a merger. And, as I'm afraid of, it's going right back to Pittsburg State (University) and it's going to be some kind of merger between Pittsburg State and Fort Scott Community College."

Tatro testified in support of the proposed bill on March 13 at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka.

"Did the president have permission and authority from the board of trustees to speak positively on behalf of Senate Bill 434?" Marshall asked. "In the March 15 Tribune article, President Tatro stated, he apprised the board of trustees of his testimony. Now, my question, is that the same as receiving authority from the board of trustees?"

If SB 434 is passed, 19 community colleges in Kansas would have an opportunity to submit a written proposal for state funding. The bill states, "The SUCCESS selection committee shall select at least one, but not more than two applicants as participants in the program."

"Senator Ty Masterson is the author and he has worked with Dr. Tatro to produce Senate Bill 434," Marshall said. "When I saw these bills when I was in the Senate, my question was always 'What's the motive behind this bill?' Well, Senator Masterson has openly stated that he would like to see half as many community colleges in the state of Kansas than we have right now. He'd like to see only half as many because he doesn't think the state can fund them. That's another discussion, but, that's his motive and that's what I think he's trying to do, is eliminate some community colleges in the state."

Marshall, who provided board members with a copy of the bill, asked how many trustees have read SB 434. Only trustee Mark McCoy raised his hand in acknowledgment.

"I think if Senate Bill 434 passes and if Fort Scott Community College (is selected), there will be less opportunities for Bourbon County students to attend college courses, both academically and (with) career vo-tech programs that lead to certification," Marshall said.

His daughter Dana McKenney also spoke in opposition of the bill during the public forum.

"I can only imagine how much time, money, resources and effort has been directed toward Pittsburg State (University) and Crawford County, and now legislative efforts, over the last two years," McKenney said. "And just think what could have been accomplished if these efforts and dollars had been spent here."

Also during the public forum, FSCC English instructor Ronda Bailey gave an impassioned speech relating to the negative impact SB 434 could potentially have on FSCC.

"I feel that Fort Scott Community College is worth fighting for," Bailey said. "My reasons are being attacked. I'm afraid with this bill. I'm scared again. I want to preserve my college if we can. This scare tactic was used before."

Earlier this month, Tatro said Jacob LaTurner, a District 13 Republican, as well as District 12 Republican Kansas Sen. Caryn Tyson, District 2 Democrat Representative Adam Lusker and District 4 Representative Marty Read, a House Republican, "to some level" have been involved in discussions regarding SB 434 prior to it becoming a (proposed) bill.

"This is not a solid plan. I cannot go for anything that one week is three colleges, four colleges, and the next week is this much money -- and then it's this much money," Bailey said. "It's coming at us too quickly with too many questions in it. If a student wrote an essay like this to me, with this being the support, I'd hand it back with an 'F' on it, because the support isn't there. So, look into it closely is what I'm asking you to do."

Bailey shared additional thoughts regarding SB 434 with The Tribune after the meeting concluded Monday night.

"As an English instructor, I want absolute proof and support," she said. "And I'm not getting absolute proof and support when I read this. It's changing nightly, daily, it's in committee, it's out of committee. And they're moving it so quickly -- I don't like all the changes."

Bailey said what concerns her most about the bill is the prospect of "losing local control."

"Because when you lose local control, you lose the entity," she said. "And we could very well lose."

During his report, Tatro detailed a timeline of the events leading up to his testimony in support of SB 434, on March 13. This timeline included discussions Tatro has had with PSU about "exploring" the possibility of an enhanced future partnership.

The timeline also included information about the Legislative Bus Tour and its stop on the FSCC campus in October.

"I was approached at that time by Senator Masterson to discuss how the conversations were going, both with Pittsburg State University and with.... the local conversations," Tatro said. "I was very straight forward with him. And I talked about the anxiety and the concern that was being felt in the community.... the conversations that we've had. And the fact that we had a special board meeting setup for the following Monday (Oct. 28), to talk about this very issue."

Tatro said after the board's 6-0 vote to end talks with PSU during the special meeting, he "halted all conversation with Pittsburg State University regarding the operations and logistics of any partnership."

"Was there follow-up conversation with PSU to talk about what happened at the meeting? Absolutely," Tatro said. "Was there questions as to what the board voted on and what the intent was? Have I seen and talked with (PSU President) Steve Scott at PSU since? Definitely. We were at the K-Board meetings together. The board directed me in October to stop having conversations about a PSU partnership.... I did that."

In December, Masterson requested Tatro meet him in Andover to "discuss" the outcome of the talks with Scott and PSU, community conversations relating to the enhanced partnership, the board's decision from the October special meeting, and to "look at what it might take to reengage those conversations (with PSU)," Tatro said.

"In January, three board members from the college went with me to Topeka to talk to Senator Masterson to discuss what it might take to even consider the possibility of partnership," Tatro said. "Following that meeting, Senator Masterson and Senator LaTurner requested that a group from Fort Scott Community come up to Topeka.... and discuss. I was not part of that meeting. Mark McCoy was there as part of that meeting. My understanding is that Senator Masterson, Senator LaTurner, Senator Tyson, Representatives Marty Read and Adam Lusker were present."

Tatro said he thinks there has since been some follow-up with the group of legislators "about conversation and discussion regarding potential legislation." Tatro said he did not have any knowledge or assistance in the drafting of SB 434. Tatro said the (Kansas) Council of Presidents was called to a meeting in Topeka earlier in March, in which all 19 Kansas community college presidents were in attendance, to meet with Sen. Masterson, Republican Sen. and Education Committee Chair Steve Abrams, and Republican Sen. Tom Arpke -- to discuss Senate bills 427, 429, and 434.

After Tatro finished describing numerous meetings that have taken place over the past several months which involved FSCC, he proceeded to read to the board a full transcript of his March 13 testimony, in which he supported SB 434.

"My job as president of the college, is the protection of the college and the preservation of the college," he said. "Stagnant and reduced funding for the state of Kansas has made FSCC much more dependent upon student revenue."

Tatro later added, "With local sources remaining relatively flat, pressure is placed on revenue from student tuition and fees. Tuition has increased significantly as a result, 67 percent since 2003. In order to compensate for declining and flat state and local revenues, expenses typically increase 3 to 5-percent per year. Revenues are not keeping pace. FSCC has already reduced existing expenses $1.53 million dollars over the last five years. For comparison purposes, our total general funds budget was $10.98 million in 11-12. The chance to stabilize resources and to better serve students was at the heart of the discussions with Pittsburg State University -- as to further potential collaboration during the Fall of 2013."

Tatro also said he is "fully convinced" the landscape of Kansas public higher education will change significantly over the next five to 10 years.

"While FSCC already has an enviable partnership with Pittsburg State University, dating back to 1985, I believe that we have an opportunity, if we so choose, to assist in state-level strategies to create incentives for those institutions to partner differently with other colleges and universities," he said. "Change is hard. It would have been easier not to explore anxiety-producing options to keep the college in a positive position."

Tatro also said "We cannot ignore the impending financial realities, no matter how uncomfortable. Having discussions in advance of ever-tighter budgets will allow Fort Scott Community College to better prepare for the future.

"My motivation, my sole motivation for conversations with any institution that might partner with us, is, 'How do we stay strong?' 'How do we stay at a 15 percent cash carryover?'

"My sole motivation in January of 2013 was to try to anticipate and get out in front of conversations," Tatro said. "My sole motivation in August of 2013 was to anticipate and get out in front of conversations. My sole motivation in December, my sole motivation in January, my sole motivation in February, my sole motivation in March was to keep us strong."

FSCC Legislative feasibility committee phone number

The board passed a motion to establish a legislative feasibility committee to evaluate and review proposed Senate Bill 434. The board asks any citizens who are interested in joining the committee, to call (620) 223-2700 ext. 5130, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The deadline to call is 5 p.m., Monday, March 31. McCoy posed the idea of establishing the committee to the board.

See comments from board members in Friday's Tribune.