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Wednesday, February 14, 2007
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Pawlenty supportive of chamber goal
Associate Editor Gov. Tim Pawlenty told a delegation from the Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce on Tuesday that its education initiatives were "very forward thinking" and offered general support for a school pilot project the group is pursuing.
Chamber Chief Executive Officer Lisa Paxton said the 10-member delegation and two area lawmakers, Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, and Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, met with the governor for about 15 to 20 minutes Tuesday afternoon in his reception room at the state Capitol.
"He said he's been very interested in following our progress," Paxton said.
The governor said he had asked his education policy advisers to keep the Brainerd chamber project in mind as they worked on his education initiatives.
The chamber's Workforce Committee is proposing a pilot partnership which would include the Brainerd, Crosby-Ironton, Pequot Lakes, Pillager and Staples-Motley school districts, Central Lakes College and area businesses. Bridges Career Academies and Workplace Connections would aim to give high school juniors and seniors rigorous courses that focus on career paths toward high demand and high-paying jobs.
The business group is asking for legislation that would provide $1.67 million in funding over a three-year period for the pilot program. The program also would be aided by $600,000 in-kind services from area businesses and school districts.
Chamber officials who met with Pawlenty included Paxton, Kathy Schroeder, chamber tourism director, and Mary Gottsch. Chamber committee members who were at the session were Theresa Sullivan, of Cuyuna Regional Medical Center; Steve Lackner, of Lakeland Mold; Pam O'Rourke, of BISYS; Jim Christenson, of Crosby-Ironton School District; Larry Lundblad, CLC president; Joe Opatz, CLC administrator and a 13-year veteran of the Legislature; and Twyla Flaws, of Clow Stamping.
The delegation also met with Rep. Mindy Greiling, DFL-Roseville, chair of the House K-12 Committee and with Ward and Koering. Greiling and Ward are among the co-sponsors in the House. Koering is a sponsor in the Senate.
Paxton said there's a chance the chamber initiative could be included in the omnibus education bill. She said that among the Workforce Committee's next steps will be to meet with the committee members on the Senate side.
MIKE O'ROURKE can be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.
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