June 16, 2009

Lanning completes term as member of Board of Trustees

After 12 years and three terms as a member of the Cowley College Board of Trustees, LaDonna Lanning attended her final meeting Monday night in the McAtee Dining Center.

During her time as a Board member, Lanning represented the college on the KACCT (Kansas Association of Community College Trustees), ACCT (Association of Community College Trustees), and the college’s Endowment and Humanities Board.

She will continue serving on the college’s Endowment and Humanities Board, but felt it was the right time to step down from her role as a Board of Trustees member.

“It is time to let somebody else step in,” Lanning said. “The people at Cowley are very important to me and have always been my biggest concern. As a tax payer I recognize how the budget can affect others.”

During her 12 years on the Board, Lanning has watched the college grow immensely. The Arkansas City campus has added two dormitories, the Webb-Brown Academic Center, the track/soccer facility, and several renovation projects. While, new centers have opened in Wichita, Mulvane, and Winfield.

“We have accomplished an incredible amount and taken on some wonderful issues,” Lanning said. “I have enjoyed the experience, it’s something where we have had some ups and downs but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

On behalf of the Board members, Board Chair Donna Avery presented Lanning with a gift to recognize the contributions she has made to the college’s Board of Trustees.

“We have had some great discussions over the last couple of years, you worked hard and we appreciate that,” Avery said. “We know you will continue to do well for the college.”

Filling the vacated spot on the Board of Trustees will be former Board member Dennis K. Shurtz, who served as a member of the Board from 1991 to 1999 and was Board Chair once during his pair of four-year terms.

Also during Monday’s meeting, the Board approved salary increases for classified staff and administrators at Cowley College.

Classified staff and administrators will receive a 1 percent increase in salary or hourly wage effective July 1 and Aug. 1, respectively. In addition, Cowley College president Dr. Patrick J. McAtee proposed a one-time payment of 2% of the 2008-09 respective annualized pay rates for each full-time employee employed prior to April 1, 2009 to be disbursed in September 2009.

There will be no increase to the monthly fringe benefit contribution of $500. It was also approved that all classified positions be funded for the 2009-10 fiscal year, and any position that comes open during the fiscal year due to retirements, resignations, or other means be thoroughly evaluated before being filled.
The Board also approved the recommendation of funding all classified positions for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

In other matters, the Board:

1. Viewed a letter from the Kansas Health Foundation informing the college of a Recognition Grant to fund the PAWS-itive Promotions project. The Kansas Health Foundation agreed to provide $12,000 to help fund the project.
   
2. Approved the proposed Fee Agreement in reference to the Vocational Education Funding Litigation contingent upon two changes. Cowley College president Dr. Patrick J. McAtee, Mark Paton, and David Andreas attended a meeting on June 1 at Pratt Community College to discuss the litigation.
   
3. The next regular meeting for the Board of Trustees will be the organizational meeting for 2009-2010. Chairman, Donna Avery, appointed Ron Godsey and Lee Gregg, Jr. as the nominating committee to present a report and recommendation at the regular July Board meeting.
   
4. Approved MTL Construction Services of Arkansas City be contracted at a price of $15,000 to complete restoration, cleaning, and sealing of limestone architectural accent stripes to the Brown Center. The limestone will also be pressure washed with clear water to remove mildew, and any necessary mortar repairs will be completed and sealed with H&C SL-40 Silane Water Repellant.
   
5. Approved Mahaney Roofing of Wichita be contracted at a price of $54,570 to remove the current roof materials at the Wellness Center and add 2” high density wood fiber roof insulation, install Carlisle TPO roofing (same material as Brown Center and Central Avenue Dormitory), Flash walls and parapet as required. Also install new drip edging.
   
6. Submitted for first reading the Access to College Facilities Policy. Tony Crouch, executive vice president of business services, recommended four items be included in the policy before final approval is made at the July Board meeting.
   
7. Approved the agreement from South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center to provide transportation to be used by SCKRMC in the event of a mass casualty or a disaster that required the hospital to evacuate.
   
8. Reviewed a list of new courses that were approved. The courses are: Guitar Ensemble I; Guitar Ensemble II; Guitar Ensemble III; Guitar Ensemble IV; Drum Line Ensemble I; Drum Line Ensemble II; Drum Line Ensemble III; Drum Line Ensemble IV; Dramatic Literature; Critical Care Emergency Medical Transport; Peer Education Certification; and Career Discovery.
   
9. Viewed a summer enrollment report that indicates as of June 9, full-time equivalency was 669, which is up from 638 at this time last year. The fall enrollment report indicates as of June 9, full-time equivalency was 1,258, which is slightly down from this time last year.
   
10. Approved the Administrative contracts of Dr. Patrick J. McAtee, Tony Crouch, Slade Griffiths, Sue Saia, Charles McKown and Tom Saia for one year.
    
11. Approved compensation for faculty members teaching summer 2009 for the first four-week and eight-week sessions.
    
12. Approved the employment of Sunni Sheets as full-time graphic design instructor, effective Aug. 1; approved the hiring of Anthony Shavies as assistant men’s basketball coach, effective June 1.
    
13. Accepted a letter of resignation from Sarah Doyle as assistant track and field coach, effective June 30.
    
14. Held a 30-minute executive session for preliminary discussions relating to real property, personnel matters of non-elected personnel, and consultation with the governing body’s attorney.