IOWA FALLS – The Iowa Valley Community College District Board of Directors got good news when it met Nov. 12 in Iowa Falls. IVCCD Chief Financial Officer Dan Gillen gave a four-year comparison of the District’s Operating Fund and reported that the 2007-08 fiscal year ended with revenue in excess of expenditures by $233,967 from regular operations. This contribution to the District’s Fund Balance, along with a one-time positive adjustment for prepaid health insurance brings the District very close to the goal of an eight and one-half percent carryover.
Gillen credited the work of unit heads in watching the budget closely this past year. “But, just because we have one good year, it doesn’t mean we’ve turned the corner. We must still be frugal.”
Professors Michael Rottink, Anne Sherve-Ose, Stella Maynard, and the Iowa Falls Robert W. Barlow Memorial Library Director Terry Tikovitsch reviewed Ellsworth Community College’s One Book Project. They explained that more than 250 people participated in nearly 10 different activities related to reading the book, “The Last Town on Earth” by Thomas Mullen. Rottink explained that the goal was to bring the public and college communities together for education and discussion.
“This project fostered a lot of good will with the community, taking students off campus as well as bringing community members to the ECC campus,” said Rottink.
Terry Tikovitsch echoed Rottink’s enthusiasm. She said the project achieved goals beyond her expectations. The Barlow Library saw an increase in ECC student use of the facility and she saw how enriching it was for the students to work with the community as they learned together. “It was a win-win project,” said Tikovitsch. “People welcome this type of cooperative event.”
A memorandum of understanding between Marshalltown Community School District and IVCCD to provide a new cross country course on the Marshalltown Community College campus was approved. Due to the unavailability of the Iowa Veterans Home location for future cross country meets, MCSD and IVCCD have discussed use of land east and south of the current MCC student housing facilities.
The plan calls for shared expense of preparing the course with IVCCD responsible for maintenance in the future. Chancellor Tim Wynes explained that the District has the equipment and plenty of dirt to make any site changes needed.
Wynes explained the track will consist of a 12-foot wide path that goes around the southern border of the farm land and cuts through a small portion of the acreage. The northwest portion of the farm land will still be available for future community gardens and student plots while the southern 60 acres will be for a variety of uses for the MCC Entrepreneurial & Diversified Agriculture (EDA) program.
Director Ingvert Appel said one big advantage to having the course on campus was the possibility of hosting the state track meet and bringing people to MCC. Wynes said IVCCD will have three years to show the state what they can do with the course for it to be under consideration. If MCC develops a cross country program in the future, the course will scheduled in a fair and equitable manner for MCSD and MCC.
In action items, the board approved the certificate of completion of the Iowa Valley Community College Grinnell Learning Studio Addition, noting what a beautiful facility was designed by Architect John Haila. The board also approved an agreement with Iowa Public Broadcasting Board for a $1,000 Family Literacy for New Iowans Project Grant; and an agreement for building maintenance services for IVCC Grinnell by Marsden Building Maintenance.
A 28E agreement was terminated and new one established to reflect a change in the committee structure and the ownership change to IVCCD for the preservation and remodeling of The Orpheum Centre. It also incorporates new language requirements set by the State for 28E agreements. The board discussed the definition of a “director of the Orpheum Theatre facility” as included. Wynes noted this is not yet determined but could be a position that incorporates event coordination of the new MCC Student Activity Center and the Orpheum, including marketing of the facilities. Director Larry Johnson said the Orpheum project has tremendous potential to be a great asset for the community and the district. “I don’t think we should hesitate on this position,” Johnson added. Wynes said someone will need to be on board before the Orpheum opens.
The IVCCD Board approved an easement with Rock Creek Athletics, Inc., to allow IVCC Grinnell a fire egress sidewalk and to reconfigure parking spaces and provide access to a loading dock. Several 260F Iowa Job Training Contracts were approved with IVESCO LLC in Iowa Falls, Lennox Manufacturing and Ethington Heating and Cooling in Marshalltown.
The Board Personnel Committee presented a draft of a voluntary early retirement incentive plan that will be brought up as an action item in December. The board was asked to review the policy that proposes increasing the benefit of paid insurance to seven years. Johnson said he wasn’t sure this would be recommended for approval in December, but he wanted to alert eligible employees of the possibility so they have additional time to consider their plans, and give board members time to review the proposal.
The IVCCD personnel report showed the following: Dr. Christopher Duree hired as Marshalltown Community College provost; Jody Stiles hired as student services specialist for Iowa Valley Community College Grinnell, replacing Andrea Gotta who resigned; Erin Hartman hired as ECC/MCC Computer Applications/Medical Assisting faculty; Fernanda Serrano hired as MCC student housing assistant director; Tommie Craft hired as MCC men’s basketball statistician. Tawny Butcher resigned as part-time vocational trainer at the Poweshiek County Career Development Center.
The IVCCD Board of Directors meets on the second Wednesday of each month and meetings are open to the public.
