Seliger praises CC during town hall

State Senator Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) met with Donley County residents last Wednesday, September 19, at the Bairfield Activity Center to discuss issues that will be coming before the state legislature next January.

Clarendon College was highlighted in the senator’s remarks, especially in terms of CC’s efforts to expand dual credit.

“Some of the best work being done in the state is being done in higher education,” Seliger said. “We have some kids getting an associate’s degree before they get their high school diploma.”

Seliger talked about the rigor of dual credit classes meeting the same rigor as college work and talked about the benefits of getting an associate’s degree before going to a four-year college.

“If you get your associate’s from Clarendon College, you’ll graduate faster at West Texas A&M than the kids who start there,” Seliger said.

The state has goal of having 60 percent of Texans have at least an associate’s degree or certificate by the year 2030, Seliger said, and he thanked CC President Robert Riza for his testimony the previous week in Austin on dual credit and workforce readiness.

Clarendon School Superintendent Mike Norrell also spoke in favor of dual credit.

“Dual credit saves our parents a lot of money,” Norrell said. “I think larger institutions don’t appreciate what community colleges are doing.”

Dr. Riza also thanked the senator for what he does for the district in Austin and also for what he keeps from happening.

Seliger opened his remarks by discussing the importance of voter involvement at the local level and efforts at the state level to control local officials’ ability to raise taxes.

“You don’t need Austin to cut local taxes,” Seliger said, noting that local officials can do that quickly and easily if it’s really important to local voters.

“Local decisions are better made locally,” the senator said. “That used to be a foundational issue. Now the Texas Public Policy Foundation claims local control is a myth because the state creates these local entities.”

Seliger also briefly discussed the state’s school accountability system before shifting his focus to school safety.

“Things have changed,” Seliger said, referring to the dangers that are now faced by schools. “Solutions will be local solutions. The state can tell you how to make schools safer, but the state can’t tell you how to pay for it.”

Seliger said he thought metal detectors in schools would take too much time and said he felt like schools would move toward having safety officers. He also said arming teachers should be a local decision.

On the subject of transportation, Seliger said he likes seeing traffic cones and barrels because it means TxDOT is spending money in our part of the state.

Donley County Judge John Howard thanked the senator for his support of local governments and his influence in keeping the local driver’s license office open.

Responding to a question from Mr. Norrell about teacher pay, Seliger said he prefers to increase funding to the basic allocation for schools and let schools decide where it’s needed.

Seliger also discussed the danger of the “wealthy far right” trying to buy seats in state government.

“That’s an oligarchy when you have wealthy people in control of the government,” he said.

Clarendon third grade teacher Cobette Riza presented questions from her students, including:

What’s your favorite thing about your job? “Being able to get things done that need to be done.”
How can you help our school? “By doing a good job funding schools.”
How many people voted for you? “80,000.”
Do you have a house like the governor? “No.”