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: Roger Adams, Stacey Barnes, Cliff Brody, JoAnn Comerford, Brenda Dawe, Walter Dawe, Patrick Demers, Sasha Dorofeev, Paul Durbin, Carol Finke, Annalise Finke, Keith Gave, Cindy Gierszewski, Fred Giacobazzi, J. C. Gognier, Jerry Gonawicha, Marlene Harris, Sondra Holton, Jeremy Jones, Lois Jones, Sandra Jones, Kathy Koch, Ed Koliba, Doty Latuszek, Jean Lawrence, Jackie Liddle, Kathy Marsh, Anne Meeks, Rick Meeks, Katherine Nemeth, Jerry Nunn, Russell Omans, Susan Pinsoneault, Juliana Poletti, Tanya Puchkova, Charles Rorie, Judy Rorie, Tim Scherer, Glen Schicker, Dale Shantz, Richard Silverman, Ilene St. Onge, John Thiel, Jon Thompson, Jerry Werle, Roberta Werle
WELCOME
Members and guests were welcomed by Chair Jan Farmer. A moment of silence was observed for Jason Wright a soldier and constituent from Mio who recently died while serving in Iraq.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes of the November 20, 2003 regular board meeting were presented and approved after a motion from Roy Spangler, supported by Sally Galer.
COMMUNICATIONS
Charles Rorie, President, reminded everyone that the January 15, 2004 board meeting has been cancelled due to college closing during holiday break leading to a lack of action items. The next regularly scheduled board of trustees meeting will be February 19, 2004.
He invited the board to a convocation breakfast at 8:30 a.m. January 5, 2004. A short time of announcements will take place at 9 a.m., but the official kick-off of the winter semester will take place at the Conversation Day, a mandatory in-service for administrators, faculty and staff at the Grayling Holiday Inn on Thursday, January 8, 2004 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Board members are encouraged to attend and participate.
BUSINESS FOR BOARD ACTION
1. RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE 2003-04 WORKING BUDGET
[Edmund Koliba, Chief Business and Financial Officer, presented and explained the proposed working budget for fiscal year 2003-04.]
The following preamble and resolution were offered by Trustee Sally Galer and supported by Trustee Robert Bovee:
WHEREAS
1. The college administration had developed and the Kirtland Community College Board of Trustees has approved an activity-level preliminary budget for the 2003-04 fiscal year.
2. Since then, more accurate data has become available, especially regarding revenue projections, enrollment, and staffing requirements.
3. The college administration has now developed and is recommending a working budget for the 2003-04 fiscal year.
4. The recommended working budget incorporates the administrative re-organization shown on the attached charts.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT
The Kirtland Community College Board of Trustees adopt an activity-level budget for the 2003-04 fiscal year as presented, with the adjusted organizational structure as provided..
Roll Call Vote: Robert Bovee, Aye Jan Keith Farmer, Aye Sally Galer, Aye Carole Kuehn, Aye
Roy Spangler, Aye Patricia Webb, Aye Arlene Wilder, Abstain Resolution declared adopted.
5. RESOLUTION TO BESTOW HONORAIRE STATUS
The following preamble and resolution were offered by Trustee Sally Galer and supported by Trustee Carole Kuehn:
WHEREAS
1. Diana Lane has dedicated 19 years of service as staff at Kirtland Community College;
2. She has ably discharged her responsibilities in the operation of the College Bookstore with professionalism, kindness, and courtesy to students and staff alike;
1. During her tenure, she has ably assisted in the changeover from hand ledgers to a computerized process of inventory control;
2. She has regularly taken the initiative to arrange and present the items marketed by the bookstore in an attractive and pleasing manner;
3. She has assisted in making the Kirtland environment a cheerful and pleasant place to study and work;
4. She has supported and advanced the team concept at Kirtland;
5. She has continually demonstrated her concern and dedication for the students we serve;
6. Her concern, dedication, and skills will be greatly missed by the students we serve, her colleagues, and this board;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT
The board of trustees, in public recognition and appreciation of these years of service, does hereby bestow Honoraire Status on Diana Lane, with all the honors and privileges such status entails.
Vote: Ayes, seven Nays, zero Abstain, zero Absent, zero Resolution declared adopted.
7. RESOLUTION TO MOVE POL 5.425 GRIEVANCE POLICY REVISION TO SECOND READING
The following preamble and resolution were offered by Trustee Arlene Wilder and supported by Trustee Robert Bovee:
WHEREAS
The Kirtland Community College Board of Trustees has been presented the proposed revisions to POL 5.425 GRIEVANCE POLICY as a first reading at this meeting,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT
This proposed revision to POL 5.425 GRIEVANCE POLICY be moved to a second reading at the next scheduled meeting.
Vote: Ayes, seven Nays, zero Abstain, zero Absent, zero Resolution declared adopted.
REPORTS FOR BOARD INFORMATION
No reports for board information were offered.
OPEN DISCUSSION
Statement of Kirtland Community College Federation of Teachers concerns
Carol Finke, Federation President, presented a letter from the members of the Federation. She stated that this letter was approved by almost a unanimous vote of the faculty union. The letter expressed the following concerns about current conditions at Kirtland Community College:
1. We believe that there is a marked and purposeful lack of consultation with the faculty concerning instructional issues that directly affect teachers.
1. We believe there needs to exist an established process to examine the health and viability of current programs. If the current program review is intended for this purpose, it needs to be strictly adhered to and all decisions made regarding vocational programs must be a result of this process.
2. We are troubled by the lack of advanced notification to instructors when a particular program is undergoing scrutiny.
3. We are concerned with the lack of faculty input in decisions made at the administrative level.
4. We are concerned with low faculty morale resulting from a breach of trust, fear of reprisal, and lack of communication on the part of the administration.
We respectfully request a written response from the Board of Trustees to these concerns. Thank you.
Jan Farmer responded that there will be a written response from the board.
Continuing concerns about restructuring
Fred Giacobazzi, Instructor, English, introduced himself as a fourteen year veteran of Kirtland’s faculty. He said that the college has suffered a self-inflicted wound, confidence in the leadership of the college, including the board, has been shaken, morale among faculty and staff is low, and an atmosphere of mistrust prevails.
He said it is heartening to see recognition of the need to at least communicate with faculty in such a way as to appear at a meeting of the Instructional Council on December 5, but that he was disappointed that no new light was shed on an action which has thrown this college into upheaval. Noting that Dr. Rorie expressed a welcome desire to seek ways of restoring trust that has been lost, Giacobazzi listed six questions which need to be publicly answered by the administration and by this board:
5. When was the decision to remove Dean Silverman made, and when was that decision approved by this board?
1. What exactly is the source of the expressed distrust of Dean Silverman not to disclose confidential information?
2. Alluding to greater transgressions, why are some staff and board members resorting to what amounts to character assassination against Richard Silverman?
3. Why did the President not follow established protocols of “progressive discipline” with Dean Silverman, as has been a customary matter at the college?
4. Why has this board not officially responded to the letters and e-mails addressed to it on the matter of Dean Silverman’s removal and statements made to this boad by members of the college and the public at the November board meeting?
5. Why is now Vice President Silverman being excluded from meetings of the college administrative team, the instructional administrators group and the instructional council?
Administrative reorganization and Open Meetings Act
Roberta Werle introduced herself as a student, a taxpayer and a citizen of the district. She repeated her three questions from last month, What did you do? When did you do it? Why was Richard Silverman surprised at the actions taken? She has not received a response to her questions. She reviewed all the minutes of the board meetings of of 2003 and could not find where an administrative reorganization had been approved or discussed by the board. At tonight’s meeting, under supplement B an administrative reorganization is shown as an attachment with a resolution to adopt the 2003-04 working budget. Werle asked, what date prior to 12/01/03 was this approved? There was no discussion about it tonight, and if they adopted it without any kind of discussion, without any kind of information, she wanted to know when it was discussed, because it is a violation of the Open Meetings Act, if they did.
Werle said that within the last three years, she found eleven instances in which administrative reorganizations including new positions, grants of leave, employee classifications, reclassifications and so on, have been brought to this board for approval. Why was it not done this time? She reported that the board of trustees at Alpena Community College is being investigated for allegations of violations of the Open Meetings Act. She admonished the board that some affirmative action to discuss this reorganization at a regular meeting or one specifically called for that purposed and identified as such is necessary. Her closing statement was that the ends do not justify the means; if the method or the means are improper, then the ends are corrupted.
Bridge to two worlds
Brenda Dawe, Part-time Faculty, American Sign Language, introduced herself as another faculty member who has been at the college for 14 years and who considers herself a bridge between two worlds of the hearing and the deaf. A communication gap is the biggest obstacle between two worlds. She read from book of poetry: A Purpose, dedicated to Richard Silverman, and Looking Back, dedicated to the board of trustees and everyone else present.
Open discussion
Jan Farmer reassured everyone that this board had never thought anything was done in secrecy or subverting what was done for the good of the college. He expressed tremendous respect and confidence in Richard Silverman and has the same for Dr. Rorie and his leadership, and he expressed concern for the good of the college. Farmer acknowledged that specific and profound questions have been presented and he expressed a guarantee that each one will be answered as completely as they can, given to both faculty and to the public. It will require some time on the board’s part to do so, but it should be completed before the next board meeting. Robert Bovee spoke agreement and so did Carole Kuehn.
Sally Galer said that Jan Farmer can work through the questions with Dr. Rorie and send them to the other board members for review and additions. Legality questions will have to be addressed also. Roy Spangler said it would not be appropriate for the President to address the issues tonight nor would it be illegal to share the communication with the board members. Jan Farmer added that looking back, learning from hindsight; communication along the way is appropriate. He expressed a sincere and earnest desire to benefit the students and preserve the culture of the college. It will be healed according to the sincerity of the effort that goes into it.
Carol Finke commented that some public discussion would be appropriate so as not to look like a controlled answer. Jan Farmer responded that spontaneous discussion is not advisable at this time, due to a need to reflect upon it.
The chair opened up the floor to comments from the audience. After everyone had an opportunity to speak, he asked them to write down their questions and concerns so that the board can add them to their response. Sally Galer said that the board needs to see in writing the questions and give the chair a chance to prepare a response.
Jan Farmer closed with the statement that we have our work cut out for us, and a promised that they will do that.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the board, Chair Jan Keith Farmer declared the meeting adjourned at
8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Koch
Recording Secretary