New state K-12 lobbyist

Lawyer Ann McColl will be the new lobbyist for the state Department of Public Instruction.

She replaces Chris Minard, who was reassigned earlier this year.

McColl, who starts Jan. 3, will have the title legislative programs director and make $101,867 a year.

She'll have plenty to do, with giant state budget cuts looming.

Though education was spared doomsday cuts this year, the State Board of Education is still smarting from a legislative decision to move the operation and oversight of three residential schools for deaf and blind children from the state Department of Health and Human Services to DPI.

DPI has been struggling to figure out how to make the change work. Board members have talked about asking the legislature for increased staff to work with the residential schools.