Four Columbus finalists for state STEM Awards
Columbus Technical College is among four local finalists for the fourth annual STEM Education Awards in Georgia, according to a Monday news release from the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). The awards "recognize schools, programs, and companies for outstanding efforts and achievements in supporting and promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education in Georgia."
Columbus Tech and Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center were named finalists in the Post-Secondary Outreach category; Columbus Tech's partner industry, Pratt & Whitney, was named in the Corporate Outreach category, and Dimon Elementary Magnet School was one of only five schools statewide in the STEM Day Activity category.
TAG reportedly received more than 180 nominations for these awards, so the recognition of four Columbus finalists is evidence that they do, in the words of the official announcement, "represent the best of the best in STEM education in Georgia."
As reported on the Columbus CEO online newsletter, TAG-Ed director Michael Robertson estimates that Georgia will need to fill more than 200,000 STEM-related jobs in less than three years, "so we are pleased to showcase so many great schools, programs and organizations that are helping to develop a strong future workforce for our state. "
No news
The Alabama Legislature just ended a special called session without passing a budget. Under most circumstances that would be not just bad but infuriating news, and a gross waste of taxpayer money.
These are not ordinary circumstances. The state general fund budget is projected to have a $200 million shortfall, which means there must be either more revenue or deep cuts in essential services. Gov. Robert Bentley steadfastly insists on the former; the legislature, specifically the Senate, holds to the latter, on the premise that stolidly refusing to raise taxes is of not just primary but exclusive civic (and, of course, political) importance.
Momentum might be swinging, if only moderately, toward the governor, who says deep cuts in Medicaid, child welfare and mental health services would hurt too many people. This session ended with the Senate approving a gutted budget, which the House promptly body-slammed by a count of 92-2.
Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, called the conflict "personality driven." We'd prefer to think of it as philosophy driven, but in today's toxic political atmosphere (even though in this conflict the combatants are mostly Republicans vs. Republicans), that might be a distinction without a difference.
So sooner or later -- and probably later, after a cooling-off period -- Bentley will call the lawmakers back for another round. He already offered a $200 million compromise; the Senate has not budged. This looks like moral high ground vs. political high horse.
This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Four Columbus finalists for state STEM Awards ."