Endowment Association announces changes

The Kansas University Endowment Association has announced several staff changes, according to President Dale Seuferling.

New staff positions include:

• Jerome Davies, an Endowment Association employee since 2000, has been promoted to senior vice president for development.
• Jim Mechler, also an employee since 2000, has been promoted to vice president for development.
• Judy Wright, who joined the association staff in 1994, is now assistant vice president and director of the Chancellor’s Club, KU’s major-donor organization.
• Joe Zanatta, a staff member since 1993, has been promoted to assistant vice president and director of scholarship support.
• Jeff Davis, senior vice president for finance and treasurer of the board of trustees, also has been named corporate secretary of the board of trustees.
• Clark Cropp, senior vice president for administration, has been named assistant corporate secretary for the board of trustees.

Dole institute to hold study sessions

Two seven-week study groups have been scheduled at the Dole Institute of Politics at Kansas University.

The first course, titled “The Public Opinion War: Political Communications in an Over-Communicated Society,” will be led by Steven Jacques, who worked for the Carter and Clinton administrations and has served on the national staffs during the last eight presidential campaigns. It will run from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays beginning March 3.

The second course, titled “In the Crosshairs: Realities of Running a High-Profile U.S. Congressional Race,” will be led by Adam Taff, who ran unsuccessfully twice for the 3rd District Congressional seat.

Neither group will meet March 21 through March 25, when KU is on spring break.

Both Jacques and Taff are Dole Fellows at the institute this spring.

“The study group concept is a no-grade, no-roll-call and no-reading weekly educational opportunity for students and adults to learn more about focused topics,” said Bill Lacy, the institute’s director.

Nursing home bill defeated in House

Topeka — The Kansas House on Friday changed course and defeated a bill sought by the nursing home industry that would have prevented some reports of care of patients from being entered into evidence in lawsuits.

The measure failed 53-69. On Thursday, the House gave preliminary approval of the bill on a 63-54 vote.

After Thursday’s vote, advocates for the elderly and disabled met with numerous lawmakers, urging them to change their mind about the bill.

“This bill protects the industry and not the customers of the industry,” said Shannon Jones, an advocate for Kansans with disabilities.

But nursing home representatives said the measure was needed to reduce skyrocketing insurance premiums. The measure is House Bill 2241.

School boundary forums discuss changes

Public forums on the proposed boundary changes affecting Deerfield and Quail Run schools have been scheduled for:

• 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, in the music room at Deerfield School, 101 Lawrence Ave.
• 7 p.m. Thursday, in the commons area at Quail Run School, 1130 Inverness.

Last week, Lawrence school board members tentatively approved plans to move 97 students from Deerfield to Quail Run. Final approval could be voted on as early as March 14.

Under the proposal, students living north of Sixth Street between Folks Road and Monterey Way would attend Quail Run next fall instead of Deerfield.

Cordley teacher honored

A longtime Cordley School teacher received the 44th Legacy Award this week.

The Lawrence Education Association and KU Credit Union gave special education teacher Joni Weiss the award.

Weiss sees the best in every child, takes time to listen to her students and gets to know them as children with lives in and outside school, her nomination said. She often keeps in touch with students for years.

She has been a special education teacher at Cordley for 15 years.

Weiss is very organized and flexible to meet so many people’s needs, her colleagues said.

She has served as a mentor to many student and beginning teachers. Her career began as a special education teacher in Topeka Public Schools.