2010 Kentucky General Assembly
Gunn confirmation approved by House committee
Posted: 3-17-10
FRANKFORT -- The House Education Committee voted Tuesday to recommend confirmation of Dr. Cathy Gunn, dean of the College of Education at Morehead State University, for reappointment to the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB).
House Resolution 107 later was given first reading on the House floor and is expected to be adopted shortly. It does not require Senate approval.
Dr. Gunn was appointed in late 2008 to fill an unexpired term on the EPSB. Gov. Steve Beshear reappointed her last September to a full, four-year term on the board which oversees the credentialing of Kentucky’s public school educators.
She joined MSU's executive staff in 2005.
Senate budget chair warns of more cuts
Posted: 3-17-10
FRANKFORT -- The chair of the Senate budget committee said here Tuesday that the state budget bill likely will be changed in that chamber to make more cuts in all areas of government, including education.
“There are some very difficult decisions to be made. There’s a very large hole to be filled,” said Sen. Bob Leeper, I-Paducah, said as his committee discussed the budget bill passed by the House last week. “And without additional revenue we’re going to have to make decisions that are going to be extremely difficult for every member of this committee.”
The House budget cuts higher education 1.5 percent in the first year and one percent in the second year. The public schools would keep their primary funding but lose two days of instruction. READ MORE
House panel OK's bill to raise rates on KTRS health insurance
Posted: 3-16-10
FRANKFORT -- A House committee voted today to boost funding for Kentucky’s retired teacher health insurance program over the next six years.
Supporters of House Bill 540, sponsored by House Education Chair Carl Rollins, D-Midway, hope that the bill will lead to pre-funding of the retiree health insurance program by 2015-2016 through increased contributions from teachers in the public schools and their school districts, professors at five regional universities and KCTCS and their institutions, retirees under age 65, and the state. READ MORE
House adopts budget bill on party line vote
Posted: 3-11-10
FRANKFORT -- After nearly four hours of intense, partisan debate here Wednesday, the Kentucky House passed a $17.5 billion, two-year budget along a party-line vote of 65-33 and sent it to the Senate. The proposal cuts spending in most state agencies and public education in an effort to erase a revenue shortfall of more than $1.2 billion.
Under the House budget, Morehead State University and the rest of public higher education face a 1.5 percent cut in the first year of the budget and a one percent cut in the second year, a total impact of about $1.2 million on MSU alone. READ MORE