Gov. Hutchinson To Speak At Political Animals, Plus Public Policy Conference Set

The May 11 meeting of the Political Animals Club in Little Rock will feature a post-session talk from Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Hutchinson will give a speech during the 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. meeting at the Grand Hall of the Governor’s Mansion, club president Rex Nelson said.

The cost to attend the meeting is $20 a person and lunch will be served. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Also, Nelson, who represents the Arkansas Independent Colleges and Universities, said his group is hosting a one-day public policy conference May 14 at the Pleasant Valley Country Club in west Little Rock.

The event will feature discussions on recent developments in K-12 education, workforce education and higher education.

The schedule for the conference is as follows:

• 8:15 a.m. Registration and welcome.
• 9:00 a.m. – Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin speaks on Common Core and the work of his task force.
• 9:30 a.m. – Dr. Brett Powell, director of the state Department of Higher Education, speaks about his new job and the state of higher education in Arkansas.
• 10:15 a.m. – Roby Brock of Talk Business & Politics reviews the education-related actions taken by the Arkansas Legislature earlier this year.
• 10:45 a.m. – Sen. Jane English talks about the new direction of workforce education in the state.
• 11:00 a.m. – Senate President Pro Tempore Jonathan Dismang and House Speaker Jeremy Gillam review the legislative session and look to the future as it involves education.
• Noon – Lunch is served followed by a luncheon address by Walter E. Hussman Jr., publisher of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, who will give a business leader’s perspective on the state of education in Arkansas.

The cost of the conference is free due to the event being funded by a grant from the Council of Independent Colleges.

People interested in attending both events can email Susan Edwards at [email protected].