The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met electronically on Tues., February 10, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in the Administration Center on the Creston campus.
The board set a public hearing for review and approval of the college’s fiscal year 2016 budget. Randy Cook, SWCC chief financial officer, said the estimated taxation rate for the coming year will be $.079922 per $1,000 taxable valuation. The public hearing was set for March 10, 2015, at 5:30 p.m., in the board room of the college’s Administration Center.
Cook informed the board the college received an unmodified audit report and said the firm, Denman & Company, LLP, was very complimentary of the business office staff. Following Cook’s report, the board voted to receipt and file the audit report as presented.
In personnel, the board approved early retirement requests from four college employees:
• Deb Andrews, payroll and benefits clerk – Andrews, of Corning, began part-time employment with the college’s business office in March 1998. Her position as payroll and benefits clerk became full-time in May 1998 and she has worked in that capacity since that time.
• Jean Gibbons, health education occupation coordinator – Gibbons, of Creston, has been employed in this position with the adult and continuing education department since August 2005.
• Terry Wangberg, early childhood program director – Wangberg, of Thayer, started as a part-time Child Development Associate (CDA) trainer in January 2000. She became the full-time CDA coordinator in July 2001, TriUMPH early childhood coordinator in July 2007, and early childhood and Parents as Teachers coordinator in July 2014. She has instructed early childhood classes since 2009.
• Darwin Wetzel, welding technology instructor – Wetzel, of Guthrie Center, began teaching welding courses for adult and continuing education in fall 2003. He became the industrial coordinator in July 2005, and moved to welding technology instructor in August 2010.
Ken Rech, SWCC board president from Red Oak, noted an online evaluation survey will be utilized once again for the annual evaluation of SWCC President Dr. Barb Crittenden.
Beth Kulow, SWCC dean of students, reported on the college’s spring 2015 enrollment. Kulow stated SWCC’s enrollment for spring 2015 increased 2 percent from the college’s spring 2014 enrollment. Kulow said total credit hours are up as well. Students are enrolled for 14,820.5 credits for spring 2015, up 5.5 percent from spring 2014. For spring 2015 semester, SWCC has 1,509 students.
Crittenden spoke briefly about the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees (IACCT) Conference, which will be held in Ottumwa this year from July 22-24.
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