Familiar GOP faces return to House Education

House Republican leaders on Monday made their committee assignments for the 2015 legislative session, including five members for the House Education Committee.

Returning to the panel are Rep. Jim Wilson of Salida, the ranking minority member, and Reps. Justin Everett of Lakewood and Kevin Priola of Henderson.

Wilson has become a prominent GOP figure on education issues and has made priorities of increased funding for full day kindergarten and reduction of regulatory burdens for rural districts. Priola has pushed unsuccessfully for providing additional pay to highly effective teachers who work in low-performing schools. Everett has not been particularly active on education issues.

Newly elected GOP members who will join the committee are Paul Lundeen of Monument, who’s been chair of the State Board of Education, and JoAnn Windholz of Brighton, a businesswoman who won an upset victory over Democratic Rep. Jenise May in November.

Windholz’ campaign website says, “Education standards are the responsibility of local districts and states, not the federal government. JoAnn supports high education standards without federal interference.”

Democratic members of the panel were appointed last week (see story), and the lineup of the Senate Education Committee was set earlier (see story).