Creston—The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 8:30 a.m., in the college’s Administration Center, for their regular board meeting.
During the consideration of consent agenda items, the board approved annual dues for the Higher Learning Commission.
Wayne Pantini, vice president of economic development, spoke to the board about one of the priority projects in the college’s Master Facilities Plan – the construction of an athletic facility that would include a weight room and space for a future wrestling program. Pantini said after speaking with SICOG about potential grants for the facility, it was recommended to explore the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program, which would include the creation of a safe room in the facility.
“We don’t currently have a safe room on campus, and so as we look at this potential funding source, that would provide a nice addition to our campus for safety and security,” Pantini said.
The board approved moving forward with SICOG to pursue the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program grant, which included $13,750 in local funding to leverage $41,250 in federal and state funds for a total of $55,000. The board also approved Lindsay Stoaks, president, as the authorized representative for the grant.
Kim Bishop, dean of student services, reminded the board of the FY2026-29 Strategic Plan, which was presented at the June board meeting. Bishop said a committee has spent the past year working on the plan to move the college forward for the next four years. Five key initiatives emerged, with actionable plans for each. “We feel the final plan provides a simplified approach to fulfilling the college’s mission, vision, and core values, while continuing to keep a clear focus on student learning and success,” Bishop said. The board approved the FY2026-29 Strategic Plan as presented.
Dr. John Franklin, vice president of instruction, presented to the board a proposal to renew the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) nursing software program. Franklin said SWCC’s nursing program has been utilizing the software since 2018, gradually replacing textbooks through the use of modules from the software. Franklin said the nursing program plans to use ATI’s Complete Partnership package for the 2025-26 academic year. The total cost of the program is $208,704, and will further reduce the need for traditional textbooks, while also giving the program an additional 600 simulations it can use. The board approved the renewal of the ATI software as presented.
In personnel, the board approved the employment of Travis Schultz as a welding technology instructor for the 2025-26 academic year. Schultz most recently worked as a welder for Altec in Osceola. Prior to that, he was a welder/fabricator for Scheer Steel in St. Charles. He will begin as welding instructor in August.
During the president’s report, Devon Tyler-Leith of Tyler Insurance Services, Inc., presented the board with changes to the college’s insurance policies for the upcoming year. Tyler-Leith said due to inflation and the increase in severe weather events across the country, insurance costs have gone up.
Pantini provided the board with an update on construction projects across campus. Pantini said the HVAC and Catwalk project in Instructional Center, Room 180, is progressing well and is still scheduled to be completed by Aug. 12. He also said the first phase of new wayfinding signage has been installed on the east end of campus along Green Valley Road, with three new signs that are illuminated at night. Pantini also told the board the first class for the new CDL program has officially started.
Stoaks informed the board that Clarke County Development Corporation, along with SWCC, is holding a grand opening for the recently constructed ORBIT Center in Osceola at 3:30 p.m. on July 29. Stoaks invited board members to attend the grand opening.
Stoaks also recognized Dr. Barb Brown, business instructor, who was present at the meeting as faculty representative.
Stoaks said that she, along with board members Carol Saxton and Sue Stearns, would be attending the Summer Trustees Conference for Community Colleges for Iowa July 9-10 at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. Stoaks said takeaways from the conference will be shared with the board during the August meeting.
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