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May 5, 2000 Education For the past several years, I have been committed to improving education in this state. The record we have been able to put together for education in Missouri is among the best in the country. Over the past several years, we have fully funded the school foundation formula. For four years in a row, we have increased funding for A+ schools and early childhood development, and put into place numerous programs to help students improve their reading skills. Yet, in today’s increasingly high tech economy, it is impossible to overestimate the value to our children of having the opportunity to further their education past the high school level. In Southwest Missouri, we are fortunate to have a wide variety of quality institutions that certainly can provide those opportunities. One such institution, Ozarks Technical College (OTC), has dedicated its mission to training high quality workers for our rapidly growing workforce. In fact, the role of OTC is even more important in our corner of the state because of the extreme and unique growth over the past eight years, especially in Christian County. That is why I am especially proud that the newly passed state budget includes nearly $200,000 in matching planning money for the design and construction of a south campus for OTC. The proposed high tech satellite facility will be located near the cities of Nixa and Ozark, so that the young and old alike will have easy access to further job training in both of these fast growing communities. In a year where stall tactics have received more time on the floor of the Missouri House and more media attention than the needs of Missouri’s children and their education, I am pleased that we were able to fight for this important state funding for our area and to continue funding education for our children. Sincerely, Jim Kreider Speaker Pro Tem | |||||
Paid for by Kreider for Senator.
Bobby Neal Jr., Treasurer. Not at taxpayer's expense.
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