CALL TO ORDER Chair Jan Keith Farmer called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Robert Bovee, Jan Keith Farmer, Sally Galer, Carole Kuehn, Roy Spangler, Patricia Webb, Arlene Wilder
Members Absent: None
Others Present: Stacey Barnes, Jerry Boerema, Cliff Brody, Karen Brown, Gary Carton, Shirley Carton, JoAnn Comerford, Pauline Cournyer, Brenda Dawe, Walter Dawe, Angie Deary, Sasha Dorofeev, Carol Finke, Keith Gave, Maxwell Garnett, Gerald Gonivicha, Sharon Hammond, Jackie Hanifin, Cheryl Holladay, Jeremy Jones, Lois Jones, Sandra Jones, Kathy Koch, Ed Koliba, Doty Latuszek, Jean Lawrence, Jackie Liddle, Mari McKenzie, Kathy Marsh, Cathy Meadows, Anne Meeks, Rick Meeks, Katherine Nemeth, Jerry Nunn, Beth Petrick, Jason Prout, Tanya Puchkova, Tori Rattmann, Charles Rorie, Tim Scherer, Dale Shantz, Cathy Shingledecker, Robert Shingledecker, Richard Silverman, Ilene St. Onge, Margaret Tatum, Ellen Thompson, Jon Thompson, Jerry Werle, Roberta Werle, Carol Wahl, Ginna Wenger
WELCOME
Members and guests were welcomed by Chair Jan Farmer.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes of the September 18, 2003 regular board meeting were presented and approved.
PRESENTATION
Jason Prout, Instructor, Drafting and Design Technology, provided a presentation and demonstration on technology and its use in the design department. He reported on his recommendations for changes in the future of the drafting and design program including a name change to Engineering Design Technologies, and explained how it will benefit Kirtland. Transfer credit issues will be addressed along with additional classes added to the program.
COMMUNICATIONS
Charles Rorie, President, announced and invited the board of trustees to attend the annual holiday luncheon on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m in the college Café.
He suggested moving the December 18, 2003 board meeting to the Conference Center as done in the past for full enjoyment of the festive holiday atmosphere.
Rorie discussed the board's past practice of canceling the January board of trustees meeting due to the holiday break and college closing until January 5.
Jerry Boerema, Associate Dean, announced receipt of a status letter for the 2004 Competitive Grant recommending a funding level of $125,016 for Northern Michigan Corrections Training. A second letter addressed a funding recommendation of$126,702 for the Northern Michigan Law Enforcement Training. A final determination of grant awards will be made at the December 17, 203 meeting of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards in Lansing.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Edmund Koliba, Chief Business and Finance Officer, presented a financial report for the fiscal year 2002-03 ending June 30,2003 with a written narrative summarizing revenues, expenditures, transfers, and net effect on unrestricted fund.
Mari MacKenzie, Certified Public Accountant with Yeo and Yeo, presented a preliminary report of the annual audit which is still in process, explaining the delay in finalizing the audit due to changes in Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) 34-35 conversion and the need for fixed asset information. They expect to have a completed audit report by late January or early February 2004.
BUSINESS FOR BOARD ACTION
The following preamble and resolution were offered by Trustee Roy Spangler and supported by Trustee Carole Kuehn:
WHEREAS
The Kirtland Community College Board of Trustees intends to impose a Summer 2004 Property Tax Levy of all of the district's property taxes, including debt services, upon property located within the district in accordance with its continuing resolution previously adopted on December 21, 1988 and continuing from year-to-year until specifically revoked by the board of trustees.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT
1. The Kirtland Community College Board of Trustees reaffirms its intent to impose a Summer 2004 Property Tax Levy of all of the district's property taxes, including debt services, upon property located within the district in accordance with its continuing resolution previously adopted on December 21, 1988 and continuing from year-to-year until specifically revoked by the board of trustees.
Vote: Ayes, seven Nays, zero Abstain, zero Absent, zero Resolution declared adopted.
The following preamble and resolution were offered by Trustee Robert Bovee and supported by Trustee Arlene Wilder:
WHEREAS
1. The board has authorized the establishment of an M-TEC Governing Advisory Board to provide input and oversight to the M-TEC programs and services, and
2. Ongoing input from business, industry, governmental and educational partners is essential to ensure that the M-TEC programs meet the needs of the citizens within this community and its surrounding areas, and
3. In accordance with the Governing Advisory Board By-laws; Article II, section 2. The board of trustees of Kirtland Community College shall approve all appointments to the Governing Advisory Board,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT
The Board of Trustees approve the appointment of Rhonda Halm of Quicksilver Resources, Mark Kersten, Nancy Kussrow of Otsego Memorial Hospital, and Mary Sanders to the Governing Advisory Board for a term of no less than two years.
Vote: Ayes, seven Nays, zero Abstain, zero Absent, zero Resolution declared adopted.
The following preamble and resolution were offered by Trustee Robert Bovee and supported by Trustee Sally Galer:
WHEREAS
Diana Lane, Bookstore Assistant at Kirtland Community College, has submitted a letter indicating her plans to retire from the college January 1, 2004.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT
The Kirtland Community College Board of Trustees hereby move to approve the retirement of Diana Lane.
Vote: Ayes, seven Nays, zero Abstain, zero Absent, zero Resolution declared adopted.
The following preamble and resolution were offered by Trustee Arlene Wilder and supported by Trustee Sally Galer:
WHEREAS
1. The current Master Agreement under Article IV, Paragraph M, Titled "Retirement Incentive Plan" specifies a November 1 deadline to file a notice of intent to retire, and
2. Decisions regarding the future of the Manufacturing Processes Technology program were made after November 1, 2003,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT
1. The Kirtland Community College Board of Trustees grants Leonard Miller, Instructor of Manufacturing Processes Technology, an extension of the deadline to file a notice of intent to retire from November 1, 2003 to January 15, 2004, and
2. The board and Federation agree that this action is not intended as a precedent or as a change in the language and intent of Article IV, Paragraph M of the current Master Agreement.
Vote: Ayes, seven Nays, zero Abstain, zero Absent, zero Resolution declared adopted.
The following preamble and resolution were offered by Trustee Arlene Wilder and supported by Trustee Robert Bovee:
WHEREAS
Nancy I. Pamerleau, Instructor, Speech and Interpersonal Communication and Chair of the Speech Department at Kirtland Community College, has submitted a letter indicating her plans to retire from the college effective June 30, 2004.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT
The Kirtland Community College Board of Trustees hereby move to approve the retirement of Nancy Pamerleau.
Vote: Ayes, seven Nays, zero Abstain, zero Absent, zero Resolution declared adopted.
REPORTS FOR BOARD INFORMATION
Richard Silverman, Vice President for Research and Program Evaluation, and Gary Carton, Director, Theatre Arts Department, presented a year-end report for 2002-03 explaining that the need to book performers a year in advance requires early planning well in advance of the 2004-05 preliminary budget recommendations to the board of trustees. Carton explained that the average cost per patron is $6.21 which is very economical compared with other venues around the state. The board expressed approval for continued support of the programming.
Katherine Nemeth, Provost, provided the most recent M-TEC governing advisory board meeting packet, and explained an agreement with the West Branch Workforce Training Taskforce which covers Ogemaw, Iosco, and Arenac counties. This is a group of government, business and industry partners.
Nemeth reported that the M-TEC's administering of the adult education GED program, subsidized by Gaylord public schools is going to be continued due to a carry-over from last year although new budget allocations were not approved.
She gave an open invitation to the M-TEC/University Center holiday party from 4 to 6 p.m. on December 18.
Tim Scherer, Director of Institutional Services, gave an update on the activities of the Physical and Financial Resources committee with a worksheet showing current projects underway and needed projects rated in a schedule by priority. He explained that they are not yet prepared to go forward with a funding proposal because of pending issues with the college's well system.
Doty Latuszek, Associate Dean, explained that with manufacturing in decline state-wide, training programs are struggling with how to keep them going. Kirtland enrollments in the manufacturing processes technologies program have been declining for 5.5 years with eleven unduplicated students currently in the program. The recommendation is to keep the program, but maintain it by changing from the traditional method to FLEX delivery; and to utilize part-time instruction. The changes would save around $40,000 to the budget.
Richard Silverman reported that the basketball season has begun. The women's team played a tournament in Toronto and won all their games making them the champions of the Big East Tournament. Their current record is 3 wins and one loss. The men's team defeated Lake Michigan College and Cuyahoga Community College of Cleveland, Ohio, both larger colleges than Kirtland and currently hold a win-loss record of 4-0.
OPEN DISCUSSION
The New Reorganization Plan at the College
Jon Thompson, Instructor, English, addressed the board citing his history as a strong Kirtland Community College supporter as an instructor, taxpayer and voter. He said his mother, his brother, his wife and his son have all taken classes at Kirtland. His purpose was to voice his respect and support of the college under the leadership of Richard Silverman. He reported that he represents others and presented a signed petition with over 175 signatures requesting the board to retain Silverman on the college administrative team.
Anne Meeks, Part-time Faculty, English, read her written thoughts in support of the vision, integrity and leadership of Richard Silverman as an administrator and representative of Kirtland Community College and the community for 34 years. She asked the board to carefully reconsider their decision to relieve Silverman of his instructional leadership at the college.
Tanya Puchkova, Part-time Faculty, Russian, and MGAC Director of International Programs, spoke on behalf of faculty members who she said are extremely concerned about the action moving Richard Silverman from Dean of Instruction to Vice President of Research and Program Development. She said that Silverman has been the bridge between administration and instruction that has made the college what it is today and this action represents a major change in the policy of this college. She urged the board to reconsider their decision.
Roberta Werle, student and concerned citizen, addressed the board referring to her letter to the editor in the Roscommon newspaper. She said that there is a suggestion around that students are not concerned with administrative changes. She said it is important for students to be aware of administrative changes because it shows them how educated and reasonable people handle disagreements and that there are certain ways of resolving differences of opinion. She said that dissension is quite important and cited the auditor's mention of ENRON as an example. She said that ENRON was brought down by the person who dissented and was not listened to.
Werle said that the decision to remove Richard Silverman from his previous position to a new position was reported as a business decision, but this particular business, Kirtland Community College, is not someone's private shoe company. It is a public business and decisions ought to be made publicly to reflect the judgment of the people they are serving.
She questioned whether the decision was approved by this board and whether it was done according to the board's bylaws. She stated that autocracy is no longer the norm, anyone who thinks so is misinformed, and she asked the board to revisit the decision publicly so the public can be informed.
Robert Bovee moved to adjourn the meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Jan Keith Farmer declared, with no further business to come before the board, the meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Koch
Recording Secretary