BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org
COFFEYVILLE — A rural Cherryvale resident invited Coffeyville Community College board of trustees to a March meeting with Independence Community College board of trustees to explore possible consolidation of the two colleges.
David Wallis of rural Cherryvale said the issue of community college consolidation had been discussed as many as 30 times in the past 40 years but had never been officially voted upon by voters in each college district. He said the increases in property taxes has prompted Montgomery County residents, such as himself, to take the college consolidation issue on their own. He said his intent was to get the two colleges’ trustee boards to sit down together — at a neutral place — to consider plans for a possible merger.
Wallis said the joint meeting would be held at 6 p.m., Friday, March 19 at the Dearing Christian Church would be open to the public.
“What I’m asking from you is that in the spirit of democracy you participate in this open discussion and address your concerns with your counterparts at ICC and at that meeting to commit in writing whether you would consolidate the colleges into one college district,” said Wallis.
Wallis presented the CCC trustees with copies of Kansas laws that spell out the procedures for community college consolidation. While the final issue of college consolidation rests with the voters in the ICC and CCC districts (ICC and CCC are divided into separate tax districts with ICC occupying the northern half of Montgomery County and CCC occupying the southern half), it requires the trustees from both colleges to authorize a consolidation plan to be put on an election ballot.
“It all starts here,” said Wallis, pointing to the trustees’ meeting room.
Some trustees gave lukewarm response to Wallis’ proposal. Trustee Lue Barndollar said thatunderstood the arguments for college consolidation for many years but the political implications — and the community impact — have overwhelmed those arguments.
Barndollar said such ramifications of a college consolidation may cause merger-minded voters to reconsider their desire to combine the two colleges.
“I truthfully believe they would not vote for it,” said Barndollar. “Logically, consolidation seems to make sense, but politically it doesn’t make sense.”
Trustee Blake Allen did not say whether he favored a college merger but said he would attend whatever meeting is planned that would involve the CCC and ICC governing boards.
“I’ll be at your meeting, David,” Allen told Wallis.
Trustees Buck Walton and Becky Medley did not make any comment on the matter. Trustees Jerry Allison and Sherri Melander were absent from the meeting as was Dr. Don Woodburn, CCC president.
Wallis said he planned to approach the ICC trustees at their March meeting about a similar proposal for a joint meeting.
Wallis said he was influenced to take action on a college consolidation after seeing an increase in his property taxes. He attended a recent property tax relief meeting in Independence that was attending by 98 residents, most of whom favored a reduction in governmental expenses.
“There has been a mass exodus of businesses and citizens because they cannot afford to live here,” claimed Wallis. “I want your budget cut so that I can afford to live here. Something has got to change guys.”
What is required to combine community colleges in Kansas?
According to Kansas State Annotated 71-1301, the process of community college consolidation requires the boards of trustees of any two or more community collges to enter into an agreement seeking consolidation into one community college district.
The consolidation agreement must specificy:
• the name of the community college district,
• the date of election for approval of consolidation,
• composition of the board of trustees,
• the method of election and voting plan,
• a description of member districts, if needed, and
• the membership of a temporary board of trustees to serve until a board of trustees is elected.
Such agreement must also first be approved by the Kansas Board of Regents and then be submitted to the voters in the community college districts at a special election in the territory which will comprise the consolidated community college district.
The state law also specifically lists how the election ballot question should read: “Shall ______ Community College and _____ Community College form a consolidated college district?”
Voters will then be asked to vote yes or no only on that ballot.
The question shall be deemed approved if a majority of those voting in each community college district being consolidated shall vote “yes.”
If a consolidation plan is approved by voters, the newly-merged entity will assume the bond debt and assets of the two previously separate college districts.
