The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of trustees held their regular board meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting was held electronically due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The election of board officers took place for the upcoming year. Dr. Tony Cass, of Creston, was re-elected as president of the college’s board. Cass, who has served on the SWCC board since February 2009, was the board’s vice president from 2015-17, and became board president in October 2017. Fred Shearer, of Corning, was re-elected as vice president of the college board. Shearer joined the board in 2002 and became vice president in 2017. Tia Samo was appointed board treasurer, as well as board secretary.
Samo reported to the board regarding the college’s annual audit. The college received an unmodified opinion with no internal control deficiencies and no instances of non-compliance. Following her report, board members voted to receipt and file the college’s annual audit report as presented.
In personnel, the board approved the resignation of Grant Cupp, automotive repair technology instructor, effective Dec. 11, 2020, at the conclusion of the fall 2020 semester. Cupp has been in this position with SWCC since summer 2019. The board approved the employment of Kole Vogel as Cupp’s replacement. Vogel has owned and operated an automotive repair shop, Vogel Garage, in Murray since 2015. Prior to this, he worked for Wellman Dynamics in Creston and Salford, Inc., in Osceola. He is an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified master technician.
The board approved an early retirement request from Tim Leonard, psychology instructor, effective at the end of his contract term in summer 2021. Leonard has been in the psychology department at SWCC since January 2009. He began as an adjunct instructor and moved to his full-time teaching position in August 2011.
Lindsay Stoaks, SWCC vice president of instruction, spoke to the board regarding a $164,375 Coronavirus Relief Registered Apprenticeship Incentive Program for Post-Secondary Institutions grant the college received through Iowa Workforce Development. Stoaks said with these funds in place, the college plans to launch a registered apprenticeship training program to train employees and future employees for the occupations of commercial pesticide applicators and agronomy-related CDL drivers. The first course in the program will begin Dec. 23. In addition, Stoaks told the board the college would like to purchase an agriculture sprayer simulator to assist with the hands-on training required in the coursework for the apprenticeship program. Stoaks said the simulator would be housed in the college’s newly renovated Agricultural Sciences Center.
Following Stoaks’ report, the board approved the purchase of the agriculture sprayer simulator for $105,000 from Agriland FS, Inc. The simulator will include a simulator base with motion seat, steering wheel, controls, three 32” HD television screens, virtual reality goggles, and training modules to teach users correct spraying techniques, speed, boom control, and more.
Jerry Smith, SWCC board member from Osceola and Iowa Association of Community College Trustees (IACCT) representative, gave a brief report on the most recent IACCT meeting in Des Moines. Smith said Emily Shields has been named the new IACCT director, replacing MJ Dolan.
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