State Rep. Kevin Wilson is planning to propose a bill this session to formally change the name of all junior colleges in the state of Missouri to “community” colleges.

It is time to remove the “junior” tag on all community colleges in the state of Missouri — because there is nothing “junior” about them.

Crowder College — which technically is Crowder Junior College in its legal form — is a true community college.

The community is what it serves, providing a quality two-year education to residents in Southwest Missouri and the surrounding area.

I am a product of the community college system.

Unfortunately, I did not attend Crowder College. I did attend one academic year at St. Louis Community College-Meramec, where I took some core classes and worked as the sports editor of the campus newspaper.

It was my experience at the community college’s newspaper that landed me a scholarship to Missouri Southern State College, now University, and later to a career.
Community colleges, in some circles, get a bad rap.

It’s a rap they do not deserve.

Some think their educational opportunities are inferior to that of their four-year institution peers.

That thought process is all wrong.

And that’s why the “junior” tag must be removed.

There is nothing “junior” about Crowder College.

That is evident by its recent growth in enrollment, its construction boom, the upcoming plans for the MARET Center, and the plans to expand into McDonald County.

The fight to legally change the names of junior colleges in this state to community colleges is not a new one, according to Wilson, who spoke of his plans during a short visit to the newspaper office Friday.

Wilson is passionate about getting this change done this year, and that’s why he plans to file this bill.

The residents of Southwest Missouri are extremely fortunate to have such excellent choices in higher education in Crowder College and Missouri Southern State University.

It is my hope that these two fine institutions will work together in the future to form a seamless transition for students wanting to transfer from a 2-year to a 4-year college.

Let’s hope other lawmakers in the state listen to the argument for this change, and make it a reality that we will soon be able to legally call Crowder by its deserving name — Crowder Community College.

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It’s about time lawmakers in Jefferson City took a hard look at raising teacher salaries in this state.

First, let me disclose that my wife is a teacher in the Neosho R-5 School District.

But, that doesn’t affect my position that teachers have been long underpaid for their efforts in molding young minds in the classrooms.

The challenges and pressures they face in today’s schools are far greater than those of their peers decades ago.

Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, introduced a bill that would increase the minimum salary for Missouri teachers.

According to information from the Missouri State Teachers Association Web site, the average minimum teacher salary in Neosho is $30,827 for those teachers with a bachelor’s degree. The average maximum salary is $38,027 for that same group.
Crowell, in his latest column to his constituents, wrote, “Educators are the backbone of any school. They are the ones teaching our students the lessons that will benefit them in the future.”

He is right. Crowell wrote the plan he is sponsoring in the State Senate would increase the minimum starting teacher salary — currently at a state average of $23,000 — to $31,000. The pay plan would also set minimum salaries for more experienced teachers ranging up to $46,000.

The good news for Neosho teachers is that they are paid well above the state average. According to the MSTA, Neosho teachers rank 70th out of more than 500 school districts in teacher pay.

But nationally, Missouri’s numbers are not too good.

According to numbers publicized by Crowell, Missouri ranks 44th in the nation when it comes to teacher pay.

That is unacceptable.

If a district could not afford to fund the pay increase if they were implemented, Crowell said the state would fully fund the increase.

He did not explain how the state would fund them, though.

Education should always be a top priority for our local and state legislators, and this bill makes sense.

The only concern is making sure the state could help our schools fund this increase to insure school districts would not go in the red and have to cut other programs that could benefit students.

Yes, teachers deserve better in Missouri. A national ranking of 44th in the U.S. in teacher pay is not acceptable. But neither is paying teachers more at the expense of putting school districts in the red and cutting other educational opportunities for students.

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Rick Rogers is the publisher of The Neosho Daily News. His “On the Record” column publishes on Sundays. E-mail him at rrogers@neoshodailynews.com.