May 19, 2009

Board approves resurfacing of track at Sports Complex

For eight seasons the Cowley College track and field teams have been showcasing their abilities at the Tiger Track and Field Complex, located at 230 Pierce St. on the south side of Arkansas City. With the exposure to the sun over that period of time the track is in need of resurfacing. The college’s Board of Trustees approved a proposal for the resurfacing of the track during the regular monthly meeting Monday night in the McAtee Dining Center.

Beynon Sports Surfaces in Wichita will be in charge of the project, which will be scheduled during the summer so as to not interfere with use of the facility. Beynon Sports is the successor company to Southwest Recreational, who installed the surface at construction, and is the only company consistently operating in the mid-western section of the country.

The Tiger track teams have enjoyed tremendous success on their home track as the men’s team has captured six of the last eight outdoor conference titles, while the women’s team has won four conference titles during that same time span.

Cowley head track and field coach Mark Phillips was thrilled to hear the work will be done to the track.

“This is a vote of confidence from Dr. Pat (McAtee) and Tom (Saia) to keep that facility where it is,” Phillips said. “Without this being done I am not sure how many more years we would be able to keep having the kind of meets we have here.”

The track, which is one of only four in the state of Kansas that can host a region type meet, was one of the things that attracted Phillips to the school.

“The coaches and teams that come here know what a great track it is and this will add eight to 10 years of life in the track,” Phillips said. “It is part of what sells kids to come here.”

In other matters, the Board:

1. Heard that Donna Avery, Ron Godsey, and Dr. McAtee will be attending the KACCT/COP Annual Summer Retreat on June 19-20 at Seward County Community College.
   
2. Reviewed new courses that were approved. The courses are, Introduction to Forensic Chemistry, Infant and Toddler Care, and Basic Yoga.
   
3. Heard a proposal was sent to the Higher Learning Commission requesting the ability to offer full online degrees. A response should be received in three months.
   
4. Learned the 2008-09 performance agreement was successfully presented and accepted by the Kansas Board of Regents Academic Affairs committee on April 15 with a recommendation of 100 percent funding. That committee recommended that some colleges receive only 60-80 percent funding (for new funds).
   
5. Reviewed changes within academic affairs due to recent departures, without hiring new personnel and increasing cost.
   
6. Viewed a summer enrollment report that indicates as of May 10, full-time equivalency was 559, which is down only seven FTE from this time last year. The fall enrollment report indicates as of May 10, full-time equivalency was 802, which is slightly down from this time last year.
   
7. Approved club sponsorship payments to seven clubs for a total of $5,600.
   
8. Approved the request from certain faculty members that have completed their contractual obligations at the end of the school year, to have advanced payment of their salaries for June and July.
   
9. Accepted a letter of resignation from Molly Biggs as Mulvane Center part-time receptionist, effective April 22; accepted a letter of resignation from Joshua Berry as assistant men’s basketball coach, effective April 24; accepted a letter of resignation from Syd Alexander as bus driver/groundskeeper, effective July 7; accepted a letter of resignation from Steve Butler as music instructor effective at the end of the semester.
   
10. Held a 30-minute executive session for preliminary discussions relating to acquisition of real property, personnel matters of non-elected personnel, professional negotiations, and consultation with the governing body’s attorney.
    
11. Approved the agreement between the Board of Trustees and the Cowley County Community College Education Association as the representative of the Professional Employees.