The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of trustees met electronically on Tues., Aug. 11, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting was held electronically due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The SWCC board approved the college’s Five-Year Facilities Plan following a brief presentation by Tom Lesan, SWCC vice president of economic development.
Tia Samo, SWCC chief financial officer, spoke to the board regarding a resolution related to SWCC’s participation in the Iowa Schools Joint Investment Trust (ISJIT). Samo said the ISJIT assists more than 325 school corporations to safely increase their investment income. According to Samo, since 1986, ISJIT has helped provide additional funds to increase the quality of educational services available to students across the state. Sponsored by Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB), governed by a representative board of trustees and served by a dedicated team of professionals, ISJIT offers several investment alternatives to meet participants' cash management needs. ISJIT partners with PMA Financial Network, LLC. (PMA) to offer competitive, convenient methods of investing and planning. The programs are available to ISJIT participants at no cost. Following Samo’s presentation, the board approved the ISJIT resolution.
In personnel, the board approved the resignation of Kelly Marcus, English instructor. Marcus had taught for SWCC since 2013.
The board approved the employment of Jina Checketts as a nursing instructor. Checketts has a Master of Nursing Education degree and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Brookline College in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in social work from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She has taught adjunct in SWCC’s nursing department since 2019. Prior to that, Checketts served as a registered nurse in interventional radiology for Banner Gateway/MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert, Arizona.
Lindsay Stoaks, SWCC vice president of instruction, updated the board regarding the instructional division’s fall 2020 semester plan. Stoaks said the college has worked closely with local public health officials and reviewed guidance from the Iowa Department of Education (IDE), Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Classes will begin in a face-to-face format on Aug. 19 and move to blended or virtual formats should conditions warrant.
Kim Bishop, dean of student services, then offered the board an update concerning the residence halls and athletics. Bishop said residence hall move-in will take place from Friday, Aug. 14-Sunday, Aug. 16, with multiple precautions and sanitation practices in place. The majority of fall National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) sports have been moved to spring 2021 semester. Cross country is the only sport underway during the fall semester. Bishop said a detailed return to athletics plan has been developed and the athletics department will continue to follow the guidelines provided by the NJCAA, the CDC, and the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Jerry Smith, board member from Osceola and SWCC Iowa Association of Community College Trustees (IACCT) representative, spoke briefly regarding the recent IACCT meeting he attended.
The meeting was then adjourned.
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