T3, 19187 —1E
Novem ber
Vol. 86, No. 17
VISTA
Tuesday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Regent retirement policy supported by law, cases By J. Money
Oklahoma Attorney General Robert H. Henry released a legal opinion Oct. 20 declaring the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges a constitutional board that may make policies regafding the payment and benefits given to its employees free from legislative interference. The ruling was asked for by the regents who had attempted to authorize the additional contribution of funds as a retirement incentive to retiring educators and staff members of institutions under the board's control. Under the Omnibus law passed by the legislature prior to their adjournment, the retirement system and the special window of added benefits for those who wish to retire between July 1, 1987 and Jan. 1, 1988, sets up the following requirements: 1) The staff member must be an active member of the Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement System who chooses to avail himself of enhanced retirement benefits by retiring between July 1, 1987 and Jan. 1, 1988. 2) 1981 state law provides that contributions to the OTRS are made by individual members. The law also points out, however, that
an individual member's employer may pay all or part of the employee's contribution to the system if it desires. 3) Members may pay an additional contribution to the OTRS before retiring, in order to receive a larger pension fund. The law says specifically that any member of the OTRS who retires between July 1, 1987, and Jan. 1, 1988, will receive for life an amount equal to approximately two percent of his or her average yearly salary, multiplied by the number of years service completed. 4) Employees who wish to take advantage of the pension, however, are required under the law to pay to the system an additional contribution equal to 30 percent of the difference between the member's average yearly salary, taken from three consecutive years during the last five of service, or $40,000, whichever is less. When members of the OTRS under the control of the board of regents applied for retirement during the advantageous window, July 1, 1987 and Jan. 1, 1988, the regents authorized the schools under its control to pay the additional contributions to the OTRS
Services held Monday for president's mother From Staff Reports
Mrs. A.M. Georgia Odom, 84, Oklahoma City, mother of CSU President Bill Lillard, died Saturday, Oct. 31, at Lackey Manor Nursing Home. Born Aug. 13, 1903, in Altus, Ark., she had been a resident of Oklahoma City since 1947, and at the time of her death was a resident of Superbia Retirement Village.
A homemaker, she was a member of the First Methodist Church of Oklahoma City and Sorosis Club. She was preceeded in death by her husband, A.M. "Mutt" Odom, 1978; a son, Gene Lillard, 1973, and a granddaughter, Louise Lillard, 1974. Services were held 2 p.m. Monday. Memorials may be made to a favorite charity.
Higher education budget finalized by state regents From Staff Reports
Students at CSU and other schools around the state may face more tuition hikes. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education approved a $850.6 million budget to cover the needs of the State System for Higher Education for fiscal 1988-89. The final budget projections, approved Oct. 28 by the regents,. would bring Oklahoma colleges and universities closer to the regional average of other institutions. The Regents' plan establishes an incremental increase each year in state-appropriated funds and revolving fund income so full-funding will occur in 1991-92. The projection for 1988-89 shows an expected increase of $75 million over the current budget, $55 million from state funds and $20 million from student tuition and fees and other revolving funds. The resulting shortfall would be $277 million, according to a Regents' press release.
on behalf of the member. Keith Allen, Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges executive secretary, said when the regents filed claims on an individual basis for the payment of those funds, however, a dispute was raised by Dr. Alexander Holmes, director of the State Finance Office. Holmes said he interpreted that the state law mandating the additional contributions did not entitle the board to authorize payment of funds on behalf of retiring individuals. When Holmes rejected the claims, the regents asked for the attorney general's ruling. The attorney general's ruling gave the regents the authority to authorize the additional payments on behalf of members under their control, citing the Oklahoma Constitution and several state laws as support. The attorney general held in his opinion that part of the power to govern includes the setting of salary schedules and compensations paid to employees, including the additional contribution to the OTRS fund.
Photographic Services: Tom Gilbert
Elevator repairman Tom Collier (left) and a helper works within a tangled mess of wires in the bottom of an elevator shaft in the University Center. Auxiliary Enterprises Director Robert Fields said all of the elevators in the University Center will be renovated to update switching units and door closing mechanisms. Fields said he hopes the work will be completed by Jan. 1.
400 expected at issues conference The 25th CSU-sponsored Critical Issues Conference will be at 8 a.m., Nov. 4, in the Ballroom of the University Center. The conference is co-sponsored by the Oklahoma Commission on Educational Administration, Inc. "It is an effort to speak in one voice about education," said Dr. Kenneth Elsner, dean of the College of Education. "We feel very fortunate that CSU has played the role of hosting the conference." "The thrust of the conference each year is to identify common problems facing education in Oklahoma and to bring in recognized leaders in those areas," Elsner said. Conference speakers include Alfred Tutela, Cleveland Ohio superintendent of schools, whose topic is the Scholarship in Escrow program. The program pays
students for making good grades in an effort to solve the drop-out problem in the Cleveland school system. The payment is in the form of an escrow account to be used following graduation for college or job training. "Even people from an impoverished background can earn enough in high school to go to college," Elsner said. "The program is funded entirely through private donations." Speaking on the topic "The Nitty Gritty of School Improvement at the Building Level," will be Jim Monasmith, principle of Coleville High School, Coville, Wash. Susan Forte, the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education, Pensacola, Fla., NASA Teacher in Space Program, will speak on preparing
students for the future. "She will discuss the needed curriculum in schools to prepare people for the next 20 years, the space age generation," Elsner said. "It is appropriate," Elsner continued, "that we have our own Statesman-in-Residence, former Gov. George Nigh, who will be making comments during the luncheon." Because of the program and problems being addressed this year, Elsner said he expects a larger than usual attendance. "We expect about 400 superintendents, principles and business leaders from around the state," he said. Program registration will begin at 8 a.m. with the general session beginning at 9 a.m. Adjournment will be at 2:30 p.m.
CSU intercollegiate members mentioned By Elaine Coleman
Three Central State University students were honored at the second session of the 19th Legislature of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature for presenting the Best Piece of House Legislation. Lee Allen, Jerry Blansett and Joe Stehr were on the committee that presented a resolution supporting the dispensing of condoms at state universities during the mock legislative session, Oct. 21-25, at the Oklahoma State Capitol.
The resolution was chosen because of the high quality of debate it drew. It proposed that the OIL governor, CSU student J. Paul Gumm, write a letter to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education expressing OIL support of dispensation of condoms to students at all Oklahoma institutions of higher education. The resolution also specified that the condoms be dispensed without parental consent and at no profit to the institution or medical facility. Students would be required to pay for the condoms.
The OIL resolution passed the house and will now become part of the final package of legislation that was passed by the 19th Legislature. The package will be presented to Gov. Bellmon and other elected state officials for their consideration. Delegates from all major Oklahoma universities attended the OIL. Conducted on the floors of the state House of Representatives and Senate, the mock sessions allow collegiate legislators to learn proper parliamentary procedure and legal law-making.