The new health skills lab at North Central Missouri College will bear the name of a long-time U.S. senator from Missouri.
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During a meeting Tuesday evening, trustees agreed to designate the health skills lab in the Dr. Albert and Vera Cross Hall as the “Senator Christopher S. Bond Allied Health Skills Lab.” NCMC President Dr. Neil Nuttall and Director of Development Steve Maxey made the recommendation for the naming in honor of Sen. Bond’s years of service and support for the college and particularly for his encouragement and endorsement of over $1.5 million in funding to the Cross Hall project. The money, they said, enabled the procurement of state-of-the-art lab equipment and furnishings. Official signage will be placed in Cross Hall and Sen. Bond will be invited to the campus to be honored at some point in the future.
The board approved the bid specifications for two buildings to be constructed on the Barton Agriculture Campus. Architects Ron Auxier and Jeremy Proctor of Ellison-Auxier Architects presented the final plans for the two buildings, a plant sciences building and a resource building. Bids had earlier been sought for the resource building, but came in higher than expected. By bidding the two buildings out at the same time, it is hoped that the project will be more attractive to bidders. Bids are due at 2 p.m., Sept. 21.
Trustees took action on several personnel items, including the hiring of Tara Noah of Overland Park, KS as a full-time institutional researcher at a salary of $38,000 on a 12-month contract. She is scheduled to begin her duties on Sept. 7. Also hired was Jenna Vandel of Trenton, who will serve as full-time advising/testing classified staff at a salary of $10.86 per hour, effective Aug. 23. Michael Dennis of Chillicothe was hired as a full-time custodian at a pay rate of $9.91 per hour, beginning Aug. 25.
The board accepted the retirement of Karen Ockenfels as student services coordinator, effective Aug. 19.
The board approved the employment of DeEtta Jones of Browning as teacher/FSA at the Gallatin Head Start Center, and accepted the retirement of Barbara Bryan, Head Start administrative assistant/training coordinator, effective June 30, 2011. Upon her retirement, Mrs. Bryan will have served NCMC/Green Hills Head Start for more than 28 years.
Enrollment numbers were discussed, with Dr. Nuttall telling the board that last year, for the first time, community college enrollment surpassed that of four-year institutions for in-state Missouri residents. In fact, he said, community college enrollment is “knocking on the door of 100,000” compared to about 95,000 for four-year colleges. At NCMC, head count grew 23.42 percent from the period between 2006 and 2009, with credit hours increasing 18.57 percent during that period. Vice President of Instruc-tion/Student Services Dr. James Gardner shared that information, as well as giving an overview of the typical NCMC student, which he said has an average age of 27, with slightly more women on campus than men. He noted there is a 24:1 student to teacher ratio and that the highest interest in attending NCMC is coming from students who are coming back to a two-year college from a four-year institution.
Maxey announced that ServeLink Home Care, Inc. and Dr. Albert D. and the late Vera Cross will be honored at the Missouri Community College Association Conven-tion being held Nov. 3-5 in St. Louis. ServeLink will be receiving one of two Distinguished Business/Industry awards, while Dr. Cross will be accepting one of two Awards of Distinction, with the other recipient being Henry W. Bloch of Kansas City. Maxey also said that the NCMC Foundation has approved Dr. Cross for honorary foundation board status after serving 12 years on the board, including two terms as chairman.
Maxey also said the foundation has agreed to pursue a $740,000 no-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a competitive federal application process with Grundy Electric as the partner in the application process. A grant writer will be employed to prepare the loan application, with a cost not to exceed $4,500. The application is due Sept. 30.
Maxey reminded board members of the groundbreaking for the Barton Farm Campus on Sept. 8 and annual college gala, set for Oct. 9.
In other business, the board set the 2010 tax levy, following a public hearing, at 40 cents on the $100 assessed valuation. The levy will generate approximately $313,234.76 in local tax revenue. They also approved the purchase of a 2010 25-passenger Ford E-450 shuttle bus from Barnes Baker Automotive at a cost of $58,185. It was the lowest of two bids received. The college’s new wellness program was also discussed.
The board held an executive session to discuss personnel, legal matters and real estate, with no announcement made.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 28.