The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors held its regular board meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., in the Administration Center board room.
During the meeting, the board held its election of officers for the coming year. Dr. Tony Cass of Creston, who has served on the board since February 2009, was re-elected as board president. Cass served as vice president from 2015-17 and became president in October 2017. Fred Shearer of Corning, board member since 2002, was re-elected vice president. Shearer has served as vice president since 2017. Carmalee Woods, SWCC assistant to the president and coordinator of special projects, was appointed as board secretary, and Brandi Shay, SWCC chief financial officer, was appointed as board treasurer.
A public hearing was held on the adoption of plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimate of total costs for the SWCC trades building project, to be constructed on the east side of the SWCC Technical Center I. Woods said no written or oral objections were received for or against the skilled trades project.
Wayne Pantini, SWCC vice president of economic development, said construction costs are estimated at $5.3 million, including a 7 percent contingency, built into the project. In addition, there will be roughly $683,000 in soft costs, bringing the total project cost of the facility to a little more than $6 million.
Pantini said the project will go out for bids on Dec. 17, 2025, and bids will be opened on Jan. 28, 2026, to be ready for consideration at the Feb. 10 regular board meeting. Construction is slated to begin in March or April 2026. The trades facility will house career and technical education programs, such as carpentry and building trades, electrical technology, as well as the college’s emergency management services program.
The board approved the resolution for the SWCC trades building project as presented.
Dr. John Franklin, SWCC vice president of instruction, told the board Clarke Community School requested a review of the agreement between the school district, the city of Osceola, and SWCC for the construction of a home by the Clarke carpentry and building trades career academy. Franklin described this as a routine review of the partnership and said all parties want to continue building homes in the Osceola community. Following Franklin’s comments, the SWCC board approved the college to move forward with the informed consent conflict waiver form.
Joe Sparks of Denman CPA, LLC, presented the college’s annual audit report. He said the college received an unmodified opinion with no material weaknesses or noncompliance. The audit showed the college’s net position increased approximately 8.5 percent, or $2.3 million, from the June 30, 2024, balance. Following the report, board members voted to receipt and file the college’s annual audit report as presented.
In personnel, the board approved the resignation of Brianna Maitlen, head volleyball coach, effective March 2, 2026, and the hiring of Mark Evans as assistant track and field coach for the remainder of the 2025-26 academic year.
Maitlen has served as the program's head coach since February 2024.
Evans served as an assistant coach from 2013-16 and has returned on a volunteer basis in recent years. According to Kim Bishop, dean of student services, he will take on a more formal role this spring, alongside Scott Vicker, director of cross-country/track and field.