Governor appoints 32 to education council

Panel to review legislation, make recommendations

Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 13, 2007 at midnight

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Gov. Bill Ritter Tuesday appointed a 32-member council with broad authority to recommend changes in education, from preschool through graduate school.

Ritter has been promising to name such a committee since the election campaign last year.

He put off approving several school reform bills during the 2007 legislative session, saying he wanted the council to look at the entire education system before implementing changes.

Unlike previous study groups, this one will not conclude its work with one report.

It will continue to make recommendations on legislation and administrative changes indefinitely, Ritter said.

Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien, who will co-chair the council, said the group will work to come up with ideas that "power us into a leadership position for the whole country."

Also chairing the panel will be businessman Bruce Benson, former chairman of Metropolitan State College trustees; and Colorado State University-Pueblo President Joseph Garcia.

The four-member advisory committee includes education commissioner Dwight Jones and higher education director David Skaggs.

Under an executive order issued in April, the panel will deal with such issues as early childhood education, dropouts, matching high school course work with college entrance -requirements, recruiting qualified teachers and measuring -attainment of educational goals.

Building and maintaining schools will not be part of the council's work, the governor said.

The panel will meet for the first time in July, said Matt Gianneschi, Ritter's education adviser.

It will make recommendations by November for possible bills during the 2008 legislative session.

morsonb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5209

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