NCMC Dean Resigns; President Offered Contract Extension

North Central Missouri College will be seeking a new director of the college’s nursing program following a resignation accepted during Tuesday’s meeting of college trustees.
The resignation of Dean of Nursing and Health Science Brooke McAtee was accepted, effective Feb. 28, with Mrs. McAtee telling trustees she has accepted a position as director of nursing at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville. She told trustees that the decision, while not easy to make, will allow her to grow in her role as a leader in nursing education. She noted that the NCMC nursing program continues to be one of the best in the state, with a state board pass rate of more than 90 percent.
With Mrs. McAtee’s departure on the horizon, the board took steps to ensure the continuity of the program, naming Korynn Skipper as interim director of the practical nursing program and Kelly Claycomb as the interim director of the PN to ADN program. They will serve in those positions until a new dean is hired. Trustees were told that both faculty members meet the criteria set by the Missouri State Board of Nursing, having master’s degrees in nursing and significant experience working with the nursing program at NCMC. Both will receive 45 contact hours of release time per semester until a new dean is selected.
Trustees will also need to fill a math position, with Lola Swint submitting her notice of retirement, effective June 30. Trustees accepted her retirement with regret. She has taught at NCMC for 19 years.
Trustees approved a new position, that of North Belt Center Site Assistant. The 12-month position would report to the Dean of Extended Campus and is necessary due to the need for additional coverage and staff at the North Belt Center in Country Club (just north of St. Joseph). The person selected for the position would provide clerical functions and support daily operations of that site through coordination of office activities.
Trustees approved two payments for renovations necessary to open the NBC site, one for $30,012.50 and one for $15,006.25, for a total of $45,018.75 of the $64,995 NCMC will pay of the total renovation costs, which are estimated at $89,995. Randall Elliott, the owner of the building located at 6503 N. Belt Highway, will pay $25,000 toward the cost, leaving NCMC paying the remaining $19,976.23 in the future. The renovations include office space, ADA-compliant restrooms, classroom space and a computer lab.
In his report, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Tristan Londre said the NCMC website has information on course offerings at the North Belt site and numerous adjunct instructors were approved for employment to teach on-ground classes at the site. They include Joseph Barbosa of Savannah, history; Kristi Bailey of Savannah, business; Lisa Doyle of Cosby and Kerri Spitzer of Savannah, behavioral health support; Samantha Fidler of Guilford, English; and Teresa Swan of Agency, math.
In other business, trustees learned that the two incumbents have filed for re-election to the board, subject to the April 3 election. Rob Maloney and Don Dalrymple have both re-filed, however, with only two seats open and two persons filing, no election will be held.
Trustees also approved the Fiscal Year 2017 audit, which Chief Financial Officer Tyson Otto said contained an unmodified opinion,with no material weaknesses, meaning it was a “clean” audit.
In his report, NCMC President Dr. Lenny Klaver commented on the state budget proposed by Gov. Eric Greitens, which would cut $7.73 million from higher education. Dr. Klaver said higher education continues to “get snubbed” in the budget process. He also reported on an Appropriations Committee Survey, performance funding and noted that he has been nominated to the National Junior College Athletic Association Presidents Commission.
A report of student and residence life/activities was given by Director of Residential Life Donnie Hillerman and Residence Life Coordinators Eric Penrod and Alexis Adams. The trio told trustees that the motto of their department is “This is More Than Just a Place to Stay,” and shared the learning objectives of their program, which include engagement, social responsibility, diversity, self awareness and life skills. Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Kristen Alley praised the residence life staff and said that the student activities held on campus have an educational objective as well.
Dr. Alley gave an update on enrollment, noting that at this point, spring enrollment is up 12 percent in students and 8.5 percent in credit hours over last spring. She also told trustees that the December graduates are the first to receive diplomas that were printed in-house, something that will save money. She noted that the increase in minimum wage means less hours for work study students and said an admissions/financial aid night is planned at the North Belt site.
Both Dr. Bev Hooker, director of the Green Hills Head Start program, and Lisa Hostetler, director of the Northwest Missouri Workforce Development Board, said the recent government shut-down and any possible shut-down in the near future should have a minimal effect on their programs due to their funding cycles. Dr. Hooker also presented her monthly report to the board as well as a Notice of Award for the fourth year of a five-year project period which began Feb. 1, 2015.
The board held an executive session to discuss personnel after which board members voted to offer Dr. Klaver a one-year extension on his contract, making it effective through June 30, 2021. His compensation will be determined at the February meeting.
The next regular meeting of trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m.