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WEDNESDAY • AUGUST 10 • 2011
Schools keep kids on the move
HEALTH COVERAGE
Gov. rejects $31.5M grant ——
Brownback’s decision a missed opportunity, says insurance commissioner
City OKs funding for SRS office By Chad Lawhorn
By Scott Rothschild
clawhorn@ljworld.com
srothschild@ljworld.com
TOPEKA — Gov. Sam Brownback on Tuesday rejected a $31.5 million grant from the federal government to implement a part of health care reform designed to allow Kansans to get the best insurance coverage possible. In announcing the decision, Brownback, a Republican, said in a prepared statement, “There is much uncertainty surrounding the ability of the federal government to meet its already budgeted future spending obligations. Every state should be preparing for fewer federal Brownback resources, not more. To deal with that reality, Kansas needs to maintain maximum flexibility. That requires freeing Kansas from the strings attached to the Early Innovator Grant.” Asked to elaborate on what federal requirements were attached to the grant, Brownback’s office did not respond. Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger, also a Republican, who was administering the grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said there were few strings attached. “There are conditions with the grant that we were going to have to meet, but HHS has been incredibly flexible,” Praeger said. “It’s a missed opportunity,” Praeger said of Brownback’s decision, “but I understand the politics.” Republicans in Kansas and nationally are calling for repeal of President Barack Obama’s signature piece of legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. At the American Legislative Please see GRANT, page 2A
at South Middle School. The district provides a Get Moving program for elementary students in coordination with the Douglas County Community Health Improvement Project. In past years, students recorded their physical activity outside of school by pen and paper and then received rewards for their achievements like bowling or swimming passes. This year, the program will be offered online through school websites in a fun format that includes tips and resources.
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday agreed to pay half of a $450,000 local package to keep the state’s SRS office in the community, but commissioners bit their tongues while approving the unique deal. “I’m really uncomfortable with the precedent here,” said Mayor Aron Cromwell. “Local governments are being asked to pay for a state office, but I’m not going to sit up here and put ideology in front of people.” CITY Under the COMMISSION deal, the city will pay $112,500 in both 2012 and 2013 in order to help the state offset its costs to continue operating the SRS off ices near 19th and Delaware streets. The county will pay an equal amount in those two years. Tuesday’s unanimous approval sends the deal to Douglas County commissioners, who are expected to approve it today. The deal staves off a July decision by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services to close the Lawrence office, which employs 87 people and serves several thousands of clients per month. City commissioners on Tuesday said they and their colleagues at the county were forced to act quickly to make a deal. According to several commissioners, furniture at the SRS office was being marked for moving on Friday, and movers were delayed while negotiations between local officials and the state took place. “I was convinced that when those desks and pieces of furniture got in the moving truck, SRS was not coming back to Lawrence,” City Commissioner
Please see HEALTHY, page 2A
Please see SRS, page 2A
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
FAMILY MEMBERS, FROM LEFT, Michael, Janet, Adam, 11, and Molly Roecker, 7, take an evening run together Monday near their home. Molly and Adam have been participating in the Bobcat Marathon Club at Langston Hughes School. The exercise program has even inspired their parents to get moving.
Physical activity becoming more prominent part of student life “
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a three-part, back-to-school series on wellness initiatives in the Lawrence school district. Today: Physical activity. By Karrey Britt kbritt@ljworld.com
Molly Roecker, 7, and her brother Adam, 11, have been walking and running at least a mile before school twice a week. Last year, the Langston Hughes students completed 26.2 miles — a marathon — along with about 100 classmates. “It’s not that hard,” Adam said. They participate in the Bobcat Marathon Club, which was started in 2006. Students receive a T-shirt when they complete a marathon and their picture is posted in the school. Their parents, Michael and Janet, said the program gets them moving, too. “I’m not an athletic person. That’s just really not my thing, but
this April, Molly and I did a 5K together,” Janet said. “We didn’t run a whole lot of it. We just ran a little bit and walked most of it, but I told her the fact that we finished it — she was 6 years old and I had never done one — that was something to be really proud of.” Adam has surprised his parents by taking his running to the next level. He’s completed several 5K — 3.1 mile — runs and has improved his time with each race. The marathon club is expected to be offered at seven additional Lawrence schools this year. It’s just one initiative that aims to get students moving. Other examples include: ● A bicycle club at Prairie Park. ● Walking school bus program at New York. ● Intramural volleyball program
We are working to provide kids with lots of different alternatives before and after school and to educate them and their families.” — Anne Hawks, district curriculum specialist
Police, fire unions reach tentative pay deal including raises By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
A deal is all but done between the city and its police and fire unions, as City Hall leaders announced a tentative four-year agreement that will provide raises to public safety employees through 2015. But the explaining to nonunion City Hall employees may be just beginning as the deal announced Tuesday widens differences in pay strategies between public safety employees and other
city employees who staff everything from the water department to street crews. “We are doing more on the union side this year,” Mayor Aron Cromwell said. “Everybody’s job is super critical, but it is somewhat different to be getting a call and really have someone’s life on the line. We have to acknowledge that there is a difference.” Cromwell said it was a “priority” of the commission to bring the wages of police and firefighters up to the average paid by surrounding communities.
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We are doing more on the union side this year. Everybody’s job is super critical, but it is somewhat different to be getting a call and really have someone’s life on the line. We have to acknowledge that there is a difference.” — Lawrence Mayor Aron Cromwell The tentative agreement, which still must be ratified by the police and fire unions and approved by city commissioners at their Aug. 16 meeting, calls for:
● General wage adjustments of 1 percent in 2012, 1.5 percent in 2013, 1.5 percent in 2014, and 1 percent in 2015. All members of the union will receive those annual increas-
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es, except for police detectives. Detectives already were found to have wages well within the average of area communities. Detectives won’t be eligible for a general wage increase until 2015. ● Police officers and firefighters who are not already at the top of their pay scale will be eligible for either a 2.5 percent or 5 percent merit wage increase. Unlike the general wage adjustment, which is similar to a cost-ofliving adjustment, the merit wage increase is based on an
employee’s performance review. Not all police and firefighters will be eligible for a merit increase. About 75 percent of firefighters are ineligible because they are at the top of their pay scale, and about 65 percent of police officers are at the top of the scale. ● Police officers also are eligible for another 2.5 percent wage increase that is based on an officer adding certain competencies, such as foreign language skills or
COMING THURSDAY Continued coverage of Kansas University’s preseason football camp.
Please see CITY, page 2A
Vol.153/No.222 26 pages
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