Trustees at Barton Community College have changed the date of their December business meeting, and may move their January study session to Topeka, where they hope to repeat last year’s visit to the Capitol.

The board of trustees usually holds its study sessions on the first Thursday of each month, discussing issues but taking no formal action. Voting takes place at the business meetings, usually on the third Thursday of each month.

For December, the business meeting has been changed from the 15th to Tuesday, Dec. 13. The reason for the change was that Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman will be traveling to Topeka that Thursday for the Kansas Board of Regents meeting, and the college will hold its Fort Riley graduation ceremonies on Friday, Dec. 16.

January’s study session may be replaced with an overnight trip to Topeka for trustees, although it won’t necessarily be on the regular meeting date. Barton trustees try to meet with legislators from the college’s service area at least once a year. In the past, elected officials were invited to the college, but last year the trustees went to Topeka. It worked so well the board will probably do that again in January.

"I think going to Topeka is probably the best way of insuring some face time with legislators and selling them the Barton message," Heilman told trustees at last week’s study session. "It’s a strong message when you show up in their office."

By going to Topeka last year, Barton officials were also able to introduce elected officials to the lobbyist from the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees, said board chairman Mike Johnson, who is also the board KACCT representative and past president of the association.

"Our visit to Topeka last year went very well," Johnson said. "We saw other legislators as well."

In other business at the Dec. 1 study session:

• President Heilman report that a memorandum of understanding for Emergency Medical Service training had been signed with Osage County EMS in Osage City.

• Dean Mark Dean reported there are "no surprises" in the college’s financial statement.

• Bill Nash from the Fort Riley campus reported that the Military Certificate offered by the college should be separated into three certificates: Military Logistics, Military Leadership, and Military Dangerous Materials Handling. Bundled with other courses, this will allow more soldiers to complete an associate’s degree through Barton Community College.