Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tues., May 13, 2014, at 5:30 p.m. in the SWCC Administration Center for their regular monthly board meeting.
During the meeting, the board approved a resolution directing the sale and delivery of $5.34 million in Dormitory Revenue Bonds to D.A. Davidson & Co. in Des Moines. Larry Burger, vice president of Speer Financial, Inc., spoke with the board, stating that following Speer Financial’s examination, it was their recommendation for approval of the bid. It was noted that Moody’s Investors Service has assigned a rating of A3 to the bonds, which have a true interest rate of 3.8748 percent.
Bill Taylor, SWCC vice president of instruction, spoke to the board regarding the college’s ongoing partnership with the Union County Development Association (UCDA) for the college carpentry and building trades program. Taylor said this would be the third year for SWCC and UCDA to partner for construction of a home. The proposed home for 2014-15 is to be located on property owned by the UCDA at 501 South Elm Street in Creston. According to Taylor, the project is not to exceed $95,000. Taylor said within 60 days of completion, the home would be purchased by UCDA if it is not already sold. Taylor said this year’s house, located at 507 S. Elm Street in Creston, is nearing completion. Following Taylor’s presentation, the board authorized the SWCC administration to enter into a Building Partnership Contract with UCDA for the construction of the home.
Uncollectible account write-offs were approved as presented by Teresa Krejci, SWCC chief financial officer. Krejci said the accounts presented to the board, most of them from fiscal years 2010-12, had been at collections with little or no activity for 18 months or more. Krejci explained although the account balances are written-off, students’ transcripts are held and students cannot register for additional classes until the balances are paid. According to Krejci, SWCC utilizes two collection agencies, as well as the State of Iowa Offset Program, to attempt to collect the accounts after write-off.
The board appointed Dr. Tony Cass, SWCC board of trustees member from Creston, as the college’s representative to the Union County Rural Enterprise Zone.
In personnel, the board approved the hiring of Stephen Jefferies, English instructor, at an annual salary of $34,250. Jefferies comes to SWCC from Eastern Illinois University in Champaign, IL, where he has been teaching English, business writing, and accelerated composition classes. He earned a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in English from Eastern Illinois University and an associate’s degree from Lakeland College in Mattoon, IL.
During the president’s report, Dr. Barb Crittenden, SWCC president, informed the board summer commencement will be held on Fri., June 27, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Center gymnasium.
Crittenden talked briefly to the board about the college’s early childhood education program seeking credentialing from the Iowa Family Support Credentialing Program. Crittenden said there will be an on-site visit at the college on June 25, in which Vicki Sickels, board member from Mt. Ayr; Fred Shearer, board member from Corning; and Jerry Smith, board member from Osceola, will represent the board of trustees.
Following the president’s report, Smith, who is also SWCC’s Iowa Association for Community College Trustees (IACCT) representative, reported on the recent IACCT board meeting.
The board then adjourned and went into a collective bargaining strategy session.
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