Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. in the Administration Center on the Creston campus.
The board set a public hearing for the replacement of the gymnasium floor in the Student Center. Prior to the board unanimously approving the request for a public hearing, Tom Lesan, SWCC vice president of economic development, explained to the board there is damage to the gym floor that is not repairable. Lesan said the floor was last replaced in 2008 due to flood damage and the replacement floor has not held up well. According to Lesan, the south side of the floor is warped and the southwest corner has a large crack. Lesan said there is also a spongy area under the east basket. Following Lesan’s comments, the board voted to hold the public hearing on May 9, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. in the board room at Southwestern Community College.
In personnel, the board approved early retirement requests from Ed Trullinger, chemistry instructor; Susan White, nursing chair; and Sandy Webb, registrar/administrative secretary. Trullinger, of Afton, has been a chemistry instructor with the college since 2004. White started with the college as an adjunct instructor for the nursing program in 1981. In 1988, she moved to the position of full-time nursing instructor. It was 2002 when she took on the role of chairperson of nursing education. Webb started at SWCC as a secretary for the student services department in 1974. In 1994, she moved to an administrative secretary position and later assumed the duties of registrar.
Lesan then spoke to the board about the upcoming Six Cent Equipment Levy for the college that will be on the ballot in September 2017. The Six Cent Equipment Levy was originally passed in 2007. The funds generated from the levy may only be used for the purchase of instructional equipment. Lesan said the levy would once again be for a 10-year period and will generate approximately $182,000 annually. Following Lesan’s explanation, the board voted to include the continuation of the levy on the regular school board ballot in September 2017.
During the president’s report, Dr. Barb Crittenden reminded the board of two upcoming events: spring commencement is Friday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m., in the Student Center gymnasium and the athletic department’s annual golf fundraiser is May 27 at Crestmoor in Creston.
Following Crittenden’s announcements, the board congratulated the men’s basketball team on winning the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DII National Championship in Danville, IL, in March. Spartan Head Coach Todd Lorensen, Assistant Coach Scott Davis, Assistant Coach Rand Hazelton, and members of the men’s basketball team were on-hand for the recognition. In addition, Lorensen was congratulated on being named the Junior College Coach of the Year by The Hoop Group.
Jerry Smith, SWCC board member from Osceola and Iowa Association for Community College Trustee’s (IACCT) representative, told the board he was not able to attend the last IACCT meeting, but he did remind the board of the IACCT Conference, July 19-21, in Davenport.
The board held a Collective Bargaining Strategy Session following adjournment of the meeting.
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