Even vice president for administrative services Bob Maxson had his doubts, but on Aug. 18 after four months of moving from one room to another during Phase I of the installation of the new four-pipe heating and air conditioning system at Cloud County Community College every classroom except the physics lab was ready for the first day of school.
Maxson told the the board of trustees last night that he was extremely proud of the faculty and staff who had to be relocated during the process. He said all 99 wells have been dug for the geothermal system, the pipes were all connected and the pump room nearly completed.
Board member Marsha Doyenne said it was amazing the things that had been accomplished on campus during the past four months.
Other good news was reported by Joel Figg, dean of admissions management, who reported that head count on campus is up 6.72 percent from last year's record high enrollment and that the number of credit hours also is up by 10.2 percent.
Included in the enrollment numbers were increases of l.5 percent in the head count at the Geary County campus and an increase of 17.3 percent in credit hours, according to Brenda Edleston, campus dean.
Maxson said that the budget was based on a six percent increase in enrollment and it appears that the numbers are realistic and achievable.
College president Danette Toone reported that bids will be opened on Sept. 10 for the non operational Nordtank wind turbine. She said that the college is expecting bids from at least two of the four companies who are capable of doing the work.
Personnel
The board approved a change in Toone's contract which extends the time frame for the reimbursement of her moving expenses from Sept. 28 until Feb. 28. The Toones are building a home and won't be moving the furniture and household goods until after the first of the year.
The appointment of Christy Dexter to the position of TriO director was approved by the board. Her 12-month salary will be $36,000 plus fringe benefits.
The board abolished the positions of instructional technology specialist and Title III project director and coordination and instructed that Gary Shaffer and Gloria Comfort be notified that their contracts would be non renewed for the 2010-2011 school year because of lack of funding. Title III is a federally funded program and Cloud County's grant was not renewed.
A full time position of online community education advisor was created by the board and Jeanette Gregory hired to fill the position at a salary of $31,000 annually plus fringe benefits. The need for a full time person to fill the position, which was created as a part-time position in the fall of 2008, was made necessary with an approximate 150 percent growth of online credits during the 2009-2010 school year alone. She now advises more than 1,200 students enrolled in online courses.
The new position of administrative assistant in business and industry also was authorized by the board. The position will be located in Geary County.
Facilities
The board accepted the low bid of $27,640 from ACM Removal of Wichita for Phase II removal of asbestos associated with the $2.9 million heating and cooling project. Bids of $37,570 from iSi Environmental of Wichita and $88,950 from F&H Abatement Services of Kechi also were received.
Salina Blueprint & Micrographic System was the low bidder with a quote of $7,320 on microfilm scanner to replace an older microfiche reader. The other bid received was $9,420 from Zytron Imaging Services of Hurst, Texas.
Approval was given for the purchase of 82 weight plates for the Fitness Center from Grip Barbell Co. of Santa Ana, Calif., for $5,953. The iron grip plates provide safe, user-friendly means for lifting and carrying and were recommended by the director of the fitness center and coaches.
A change order was approved in the amount of $2,000 for vapor barriers from West Hampton Siding. The company is installing new siding on four apartment buildings on campus.
A bid from Performance Lawns for seeding the 2,500 sq. yd. area where the wells were dug was tabled until other bids could be solicited. The Performance Lawns bid was $10,794.30 for grading, seeding, fertilizing, mowing and watering with a guarantee provided.
Approval was given for a $1,364,55 change order for a ladder extension for the pump building.