Development News | New West Network

state politics: idaho

Representative Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, chair of the House Education Committee, asked the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee to fund $45 million in enhancements for the education budget.

Nonini also said he would be presenting to the education committee later today a bill for an “Idaho Education Network,” modeled after the extensive – and expensive – Utah Education Network that enables many Utah high school students to accumulate credits in Utah colleges.  [more]

Monday Politics

The candidacy of Republican fundraiser Bruce Benson to become the president of the University of Colorado received another blow over the weekend when CU regent Cindy Carlisle announced she would no longer support him. A candidate for state Senate from Boulder, Carlisle had previously been the sole Democrat on the board of regents to come out in favor of Benson.

Late last week the CU faculty assembly postponed a vote on whether to support the proposed appointment of Benson, who has been an oil and gas CEO and is the former chairman of the Colorado Republican party. He is the sole finalist for the job of CU president.  [more]

Introducing...

Driving past most any Western city these days is a little like watching those time-lapse films back in grade school. Empty fields become bulldozed lots become framed houses become finished homes with trucks in the driveway and new grass in the yard.

It’s a time of dramatic change in the Mountain West. And I’m excited to say that we at NewWest.Net are now launching a quarterly print magazine to help us tell the big story of growth and change in the region.

The best way to check out our magazine is to subscribe. We want to know who’s interested in The New West, so we have made the magazine available free to qualified subscribers who answer a short questionnaire.

• Click here for the questionnaire for a free subscription.
• You can also subscribe for $9.95 a year by clicking here.

We’d love to hear your input and feedback on our new venture. Comments? Criticism? Story ideas? I’d love to hear them. You can email me at . And click “more” below for the full announcement. 

Bison families are no different from mine and yours

Bob Jackson is a member of the bison family — that is if more viewed a bison herd as a family unit.

Many NewWest.Net readers may be familiar with Bob Jackson from the five part series Todd Wilkinson wrote late last year. (Read the series here.) From this series, a local Livingston organization, Bison Vision, found Jackson’s views and perspectives — as a former Yellowstone Park ranger turned bison rancher — to be viable source for developing alternatives and sustainable practices in bison ranching.

Bob Jackson is the only rancher in the world who raises bison and sells them as a family unit. “Yellowstone is why I started raising bison the way I do,” he said. “I have more feelings for what is happening here.”

He will be hosting a presentation tonight in Livingston on the structure of the bison herds in Yellowstone National Park, how they live as an extended family network and social order (similar to the social structure of indigenous people and elephants) and how ranchers or families can raise bison practicing this idea.  [more]

Will Tomorrow Ever Come?

We’ll all have to wait just a little bit longer for the unveiling of the MSU Tomorrow Plan. While the Plan, the guiding vision for the physical development of the campus for the next 25 to 75 years, was originally scheduled to be published by the end of this month, it’s running a bit behind schedule in the drafting process.

“Production is a little behind,” said Victoria Drummond, MSU Facilities Services-Planning Design and Construction associate planner. “It will most likely be closer to March.”

Sounds like most major projects, eh? Still, when considering this Plan was actually created upon the principle to avoid the rushed, short-term decisions that could potentially have detrimental long-term impacts on campus growth in the future, waiting a couple months to iron out the details and make certain it is both workable and viable is in line with one of the Plan’s main goals: slow down, think it out and make educated, well-planned decisions.

Drummond views the plan as the accumulation of a tremendous amount of campus and community collaboration to create what she views as one of the most unique, creative and inspiring campus master plans in the country.  [more]

A Community Conversation

There is a rare opportunity to address concerns to the Montana University System as a series of Regent’s and public conversations commence in the Bozeman area.

Its goal: Open dialogue between representatives of the university system with communities about the future of the system fitting Montana’s needs.

Last year, associate commissioners traveled Montana discussing the state’s healthcare and the university system. This year, they are taking a broader approach. They are seeking input as they develop their strategic plan for what the University system focuses on as guiding goals and objectives.  [more]

Education Reform

Almost exactly one year after Denver School Superintendent Michael Bennet announced his ambitious education reform plan for the district, scores on the latest Colorado Student Assessment Program were announced. "In the eight grades that took the CSAP in 2007," the Post reports, "scores were either flat or down over all grades in almost all subjects: math, reading, writing and science."

Now, Gov. Bill Ritter has formed yet another committee to come up with yet another education reform model -- the so-called P-20 Council convened this week, even as Bennet and Denver chief academic officer Jaime Aquino were exhorting educators at the Principal Institute at the Convention Center.

Am I the only one who thinks that these two goals – true education reform that benefits students and educators, and doing well on the CSAPs – are mutually exclusive? 

The Churchill Fiasco

I read yesterday's accounts of the firing of Ward Churchill with a mounting mix of aggravation and indignation. Not at Churchill himself, who demonstrated himself to be a contemptible buffoon long ago, but at the CU Regents, who should have disposed of this matter at least a year ago.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have one word for you: settlement.  [more]