Twenty-five years ago, Colorado voters approved a measure that restricts revenues for all levels of government (state, local, and schools).  Under TABOR, over the past 25 years the state has returned more than $2 billion to taxpayers; in 2016, refunds ranged between $14 and $37, with very low income residents receiving up to $217.  At the same time, Colorado is ranked 39th nationally in K-12 funding per pupil, 47th nationally in funding per million dollars of personal income, and our state’s infrastructure and roads are considered inadequate and unsafe.  

This week, recently retired CSU Political Science Professor John Straayer will review TABOR’s impact on state and local budgets, governance and our economy overall.  He will be introduced by former colleague and RCFC Member, Dr. Bob Lawrence.  

Thirty-seven years ago, Political Science Department Chair, John Straayer took over CSU’s fledgling Legislative Internship program. According to former intern and state Senator Cory Gardner, “Every Tuesday and Thursday, rain or snow, Dr. Straayer, a van or two, and an over-caffeinated, sleep-deprived, ambitious crew of college juniors and seniors would travel to Denver from Fort Collins, under the tutelage of Dr. Straayer, to learn the art of legislation.”  

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper declared April 27, 2017, “John Straayer Day”, in honor of the recently retired professor.  The proclamation calls Straayer “one of the preeminent minds working in the area of local and state government, and his scholarship has advanced the body of knowledge in the field, bridged the divide between academics and policy, and served as an invaluable resource to several generations of scholars and practitioners.”  Besides Gardner, past interns include former Gov. Bill Ritter, state Sen. Matt Jones and state Sen. Dan Nordberg.

Straayer received his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in 1967 and has been at Colorado State ever since.  He was department chairman from 1972 to 1987 and served two terms as faculty representative on the Colorado State University Board of Governors.  His books include The Colorado General Assembly; State of Change: Colorado Politics in the Twenty-first Century; State and Local Politics; Introduction to American Politics; American State and Local Government; American Government; Policy and Non-Decisions; and The Politics of Neglect: The Environmental Crisis.  Chapters in State of Change include “The Colorado General Assembly: It Ain’t What It Used to Be” and “One Thing after Another: Layers of Policy and Colorado’s Fiscal Train Wreck.”

Straayer has received the Colorado State University Oliver P. Pennock Distinguished Service Award, the Colorado State University Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Award, five commendations from the Colorado General Assembly, was the 2011-2012 Colorado State University Liberal Arts John N. Stern Distinguished Professor and recipient of the 2015 Colorado State University Liberal Arts award for Distinction in Outreach.

Professor Straayer has three children who, like him, have enjoyed the fruits of public higher education.  He is, hopefully, anticipating the same for his grandchildren and your off-springs as well.

 

Terra Thiebaut, a Fort Collins High School business teacher was honored at our May 24 meeting.  Raised in a family engaged in business, Terra grew up expecting to pursue a business career. Nevertheless, she found that the most rewarding experiences of her eventual work in the real estate and pharmaceutical industries was mentoring and training new hires.  Ten years ago these experiences convinced her to seek a master’s degree in order to pursue a career in teaching.

Terra has been extremely active as advisor to the business students’ DECA program, which involves them in their own real world business projects. Marketing leadership skills are honed in this organization. Terra has shepherded DECA students through local, state, national and international competitions. The DECA group also contributes many community service hours.

Terra is also responsible for teaching a required sophomore course, Career and Financial Planning, which shows students various career options and such practical matters as writing a resume.

Last week Rotarians learned that 18% of Poudre School District students live at or below the poverty line, and nationwide more than 40% of teachers say they bring “extra” food on Mondays, to alleviate the malnourishment students face on weekends.  After a nourishing meal, Dr. Dale Lake, McBackback Program board member shared a short video on the program, and answered questions.  PSD School Board Director Susan Gutowsky introduced Dr. Lake, noting his varied career.  

Ten years ago Ann Randall (Assistant professor at CSU) and Gerry Lake (retired journal editor) recognized the problem faced by malnourished students, and started filling and delivering five bags of food to two PSD schools each Friday.  The word spread quickly, other schools began requesting food bags, and teachers volunteered to pick them up.  

According to Dr. Lake, today, 50 volunteers fill more than 400 food bags each week, and deliver them to 38 PSD schools.  These bags provide more than 1200 students with weekend meals during the 35-week school year.  In 2016-17, they will deliver over 12,000 food bags, providing over 38,000 meals.  McBackpack is able to fill each bag for approximately $5 per bag.  

When the volunteers are asked why they get up at six each Thursday and do this for 35 weeks a school year, they will typically respond: “when I sit down to Saturday dinner and know that more than 1200 kids are also eating in part, because of my contribution, I receive all the reward I need.”