1-Color
May 2, 2014
75 cents Arapahoe County, Colorado | Volume 94, Issue 11 A publication of
englewoodherald.net
Measure would help with tuition Low- and middleincome families would benefit from legislation By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com More than $30 million — money earmarked for education that has been sitting idle for four years — will be freed up to help low- and middle-income students pay for college, under a bill that passed the House last week. House Bill 1384 creates the Colorado Opportunity Pipeline Fund, which would provide needbased scholarships and Report grants for instate college students. The bill passed the House with unanimous support on April 24. The legislation now heads to the Senate. Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, a bill sponsor, said the bill would help students who may not qualify for existing need-based financial aid programs, because their household earnings exceed qualifying income standards. “What we often miss are those kids who are just on the bubble,” McNulty told the House Education Committee on April 21. “The kids whose families make just enough money that they don’t qualify for many scholarships and grants, but not enough money that they are priced out of college education.” McNulty said that “a significant portion” of the new scholarships will be dedicated to students whose incomes are 100 percent to 250 percent of the poverty line. The dollars for the new program would come from found money that has been buried in the state education budget since 2010. That money came about from the state’s sale of its College Invest Loan Portfolio, when it was moving away from providing state-backed college loans. Scott Wasserman, chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia, said the sale of the state’s loan portfolio required that the proceeds could only go toward tuition assistance, but that the accompanying language provided an “ambiguous mandate.” “This (bill) transfers the money and clarifies what the money is for,” Wasserman told the committee. The bill provides a one-time transfer of $33 million to the new loan pipeline. A newly-created board would determine how the money gets awarded. The bill includes a legislative declaration, which requests that the General Assembly provide fresh funding for the program each year. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, a bill co-sponsor, said the bill “is very personal to me.” Pettersen, who was the first member of her family to attend college, was overwhelmed with the tuition process and ended up paying her own way through college. “This is something that would have significantly helped me, especially as we see the cost (of college) continue to increase,” Pettersen said. “This is about making sure that some of our most vulnerable students are getting the wrap-around services that they need to get into school...”
Capitol
Alison Krak, left, and her sister Eva dance with their dad Tom at the April 25 Daddy and Daughter Dance. This is the second year for the event and about 80 fathers and the young ladies they escorted took part in the dance. Photo by Tom Munds
Dads, daughters go dancing About 80 attend the special event at the recreation center By Tom Munds
tmunds@colorado communitymedia.com Well-dressed young ladies accompanied proud escorts through the Englewood Recreation Center door to attend the April 25 Dad and Daughter Dance. This is the second year for the Dad and Daughter Dance. About 80 people attended the event, and the gymnasium that usually echoes with the sounds of
athletic competition was transformed for the night into a dance club. Other dance event preparations included greetings at the door and wrist corsages for the daughters. Just inside the door to the gymnasium, a popcorn machine was going strong and there was a table of refreshments inside the door. A short distance away, there was a backdrop where dads and daughters could have their pictures taken for free. Balloons scattered around added to the festive atmosphere and the individual playing the music set the tone with songs ranging from a slow ballad to an up-beat hip-hop song. During the two-hour event, there were contests with the winners getting prizes and, of course, there were partic-
ipation dances like the Chicken Dance. There was dancing but some of the young girls also found it more fun to chase and kick balloons or to dance with a girlfriend than to try to dance with dad. But there were also couples like Teri Crawford and her step-dad who were on the floor for most songs. “I got a new dress for tonight. Don’t you think it’s petty? I do,” the 7-year-old said as she and her step-dad headed to the floor to dance to another song. “I like music and I like to dance as I make up my own steps. Dancing with dad has been a lot of fun so far tonight.” Dancing continues on Page 9
Legislature honors city manager State House applauds Gary Sears’ service By Tom Munds
tmunds@colorado communitymedia.com State Rep. Daniel Kagan, D-Cherry Hills Village, took his turn at the state House podium April 23 and detailed highlights of
the more-than-40-year career of retiring Englewood City Manager Gary Sears. Kagan said he was pleased to be able to provide the well-deserved and long-overdue recognition of the state House of Representatives, honoring Sears for his dedication and work in his years of public service. “Gary Sears is a special person. (He) has worked tirelessly in the communities he City continues on Page 9
POSTAL ADDRESS
Printed on recycled newsprint. State Rep. Daniel Kagan, D-Cherry Hills Village, presents Please recycle this copy.
a commendation of Englewood City Manager Gary Sears to the Colorado House of Representatives. The House accepted Kagan’s recommendation and commended Sears for his 43 years of public service to communities in Colorado. Photo by Tom Munds