Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the college’s Administration Center for its regular board meeting.
The consent agenda was approved as presented.
Wayne Pantini, SWCC vice president of economic development, presented the board with professional service agreements with Shive Hattery Architecture Engineering Firm and Garden & Associates, LTD for the upcoming Skilled Trades Building project. Pantini noted with the receipt of the Career Academy Incentive Fund grant in the amount of $1 million, the college will be moving forward with the 14,500 square foot Skilled Trades Building next to Technical Center I and Technical Center II.
The professional services agreement with Shive Hattery Architecture Engineering Firm for $33,500 includes a pre-design assessment, programming and modeling the schematic design phase drawings, and narrative and opinion of probable cost. A professional services agreement with Garden & Associates, LTD for $74,500 includes design of a parking lot, storage yard, and drive for the building. It also includes staking and administration. The board approved the professional services agreement as presented.
Pantini then updated the board on the Instructional Center HVAC and Catwalk project. Pantini said the project includes the replacement of existing fan coil units above Instructional Center, room 180, as well as the construction of a catwalk system to allow for safer maintenance of the new units. The project includes removing the ceiling and replacing it at a lower level to accommodate for the catwalk system, as well as the installation of new LED light fixtures. As part of the project, asbestos mitigation will be conducted in the area specific to the construction. The board approved SWCC administration to spend up to $1,110,500 toward the Instructional Center HVAC and Catwalk project as presented.
Pantini presented to the board about the Iowa New Jobs Training (260E) Program. Pantini said he is working with two regional businesses on job training plans. CM Bulk Fluid, LLC of Bedford has pledged to create 10 jobs for the region, and Altec Industries, Inc. of Osceola has pledged to create 150 jobs for the region. The board approved the two new job training agreements as presented.
John Franklin, SWCC vice president of instruction, presented the board with two new transfer major options. Franklin said the transfer majors are approved by the Iowa Department of Education and each transfer major must be approved by at least one regent institution in the state. Franklin said SWCC currently offers 17 of the 28 approved transfer majors. Franklin recommended SWCC add transfer majors in fine arts and mathematics. The board approved the new transfer majors as presented.
Brandi Shay, SWCC chief financial officer, presented to the board the proposed fiscal year 2026 (FY2026) budget. Shay said the budget includes an overall levy rate increase from 1.02568 to 1.07216, a 4.53 percent increase. The majority of the increase would allow the college to cover increasing property and liability insurance premiums, as well as continuing to improve safety and security on campus. The budget also provides total spending authority of $36.230 million in FY2026. Total valuations have increased 3.7 percent. The board approved the motion to set the date for the public hearing for the FY2026 budget on April 8, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., in the board room at SWCC.
Shay then informed the board the college’s current copier lease with Access Systems will expire in April. Shay said an RFP went out to six different vendors and the college received four bids for new lease agreements. Shay said bids were evaluated on machine specifications, cost of the lease, and print quality. Shay recommended entering into a new five-year lease agreement with Access Systems. The board approved the lease agreement with Access Systems as presented.
Dr. Tony Cass, SWCC board president, informed the board they will be receiving an electronic survey to complete the CEO evaluation.
In personnel, the board approved the resignations of Dr. Michael Johnson, professional music instructor, and Ben Heath, electrical technology instructor.
During the president’s report, Kim Bishop, SWCC dean of student services, invited board members to the upcoming spring commencement ceremony, which will take place on Friday, May 9. The nursing ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. and the career and technical education and arts and sciences ceremony will be at 7 p.m. Cass noted how well it works to have both ceremonies on the same day.
Lindsay Stoaks, SWCC president, then provided the board with details for a celebration of life service for Jack Kibbe, a former state lawmaker. Stoaks said Kibbe authored the bill that created Iowa’s community colleges in 1965.
During the board members’ report, Sue Stearns of Woodburn, SWCC board member and Community Colleges for Iowa representative, informed the board about the upcoming Community Colleges for Iowa retreat April 24-25 in Des Moines.