NCMC Trustees Approve Purchases, Hear Tuition Waiver Report

Trustees at North Central Missouri College approved the purchase of numerous items during a meeting held Tuesday evening that also included a report on tuition waivers.
Trustees approved the purchase of a SimMan Manikin and accessories from Laerdal Medical Corporation of Wappingers, NY for a total purchase price of $102,201.88. NCMC Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness Dr. Jamie Hooyman said the SimMan and other similar manikins are being used more and more as it becomes difficult to place students in clinical situations. The life-like manikins have been used for the past several years and NCMC and Laerdal is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the SimMan 3G. The funding for the equipment will come from the 2014-2015 Enhancement Grant, with NCMC paying 25 percent of the cost.
Other items purchased during the meeting included:
• a three-year contract with Morenet at an annual cost of $30,283.64 for an additional internet circuit located at the Barton Farm Campus. The circuit will supply the main campus, as well as the Barton Campus, with approximately one-half of the required bandwidth.
• HP BL460C blade servers from CDWG of Vernon Hills, IL., at a total cost of $21,253.60. The purchase was made through a state contract from NJPA-Missouri HIED contract. The servers will replace older servers as part of the ongoing effort to renew the college’s technology. The funding will come from the IT budget.
• HP SAN disks and enclosure from Corbel Solutions of Seattle, WA at a cost of $47,716, which was the lowest of five received. The disks will replace older drives purchased approximately six years ago and will be paid for through the IT Services budget.
• 75 Apple iPad Air 2 and cases from Apple at a cost of $49,000 for the business technology department. Apple requires that all educational institutions purchase direct, making it a sole source purchase which will be paid for through the Enhancement Grant.
• computer equipment from OM Office Supply of Mechanicsburg, PA at a cost of $94,403, which was the lowest of five bids received. The equipment will replace existing equipment and will be funded by the Enhancement Grant.
• a three-year contract for Blackboard for the Blackboard Learn Program, the college’s Learning Management System. The contract also included options such as full support for mobile devices and content management. “Train the Trainer”-type training has also been included in the first year’s contract. The cost for the first year will be $31,644 ($25,044 for Blackboard and $6,000 for training), while the second year cost is $25,795 and the third-year cost is $26,586. Dr. Hooyman said that initially, three faculty members and one member of the IT staff will be trained. They will then train others in the use of the system.
Dr. Hooyman gave a report on employee tuition waivers. The final numbers for the 2013-2014 fiscal year showed a total of $40,031 in waivers, which includes NCMC employees, $11,330; Trenton R-9, $752; Head Start/WIB, $2,392; NCMC Dual Credit, $12,504; and Trenton R-9 Dual Credit, $6,109.50.
The amount awarded to date is $11,140.50, which includes NCMC employees, $2,570; Trenton R-9, $0; Head Start/WIB, $109; NCMC Dual Credit, $4,950; and Trenton R-9 Dual Credit, $3,240.
The board approved the transfer of Shaun Stull, who has served as network administrator at NCMC for the last seven years, to the position of senior database administrator at a salary of $42,176, effective Nov. 1. He has agreed to a two-year contract during which time he will complete installing and configuring Windows Certification 70-410 and querying Microsoft SQL Server Certification 70-461, with a $1,000 salary increase upon each completion. No additional cost of living or step increases will apply during the contract period.
Also hired was Fallon Howe of Wheeling, who will serve as an adjunct instructor for English I, English II and Speech, which she will teach at the Linn County Area Career and Technical Center in Brookfield, beginning with the spring semester. Krista Wernimont was hired to serve as a Head Start home visitor in Daviess and Grundy counties, and the board approved the transfer of Susan Ellis from hone visitor to Trenton Center Teacher/FSA. The retirement of Sharon Spainhour, who has served with the Head Start Program since 1998 was also approved, effective Sept. 30. She had been a family engagement specialist for Head Start.
In other business, trustees approved a list of surplus items from the Green Hills Head Start program, which is administered through the college, with those items to be sold at an advertised garage sale this fall at the Head Start office. Trustees also heard the first reading of a board policy involving vaccinations and were given a copy of the revised faculty policy manual, which is slated for approval at the November meeting.
In administrative reports, NCMC Dr. Neil Nuttall talked with trustees about the upcoming Missouri Community College Association Conference set for Nov. 5-7 in Branson. He noted that Linda Brown will receive the Senior Service Award at that conference. He also talked about changes sought in Key Performance Indicators for community colleges and the noted the possibility of the governor designating funds for capital improvements, of which $1.6 million would likely come to NCMC. Those funds, he said, would be earmarked for the Geyer Hall Renovation Project and added to funds from the Bosley Estate, would just about pay for that renovation.
Dr. Hooyman distributed new NCMC “Fact Sheets” and announced that Associate Director of Admissions Karla McCollum has been notified she has received the Professional Service Award at the Missouri Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers Conference. CFO/Director of Operations Tyson Otto reported on the remodeling of the men’s restroom at the Ketcham Community Center, a project that was paid for through the NCMC Foundation using proceeds from the Holiday Hoops basketball tournament.
In her report, Director of Development Teresa Cross said the Gifts in Action Campaign has brought in $33,396 in donations and pledges in 2014, bringing the total for that campaign to $345,329. She discussed the numerous scholarships that have been awarded recently and gave a report on the recent gala, as well as the Holiday Hoops, which will begin Dec. 18. She reminded the board of the foundation’s quarterly meeting, which will be held at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 20 and about the estate planning seminar, set for 6 p.m. on Nov. 24. She also said planning is under way for a trip to Europe in May 2016.
The board held an executive session to discuss personnel, real estate and legal matters, with no announcement made.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25.