CCCC trustees approve budget

The Cloud County Community College board of trustees approved the 2020-2021 operating budget during a special meeting on Tuesday night.
The budget calls for $19,708,975 in expenditures and transfers, with an estimated tax rate of 29.259 mills. That is a slight decrease from the actual tax rate of 29.299 mills for 2019-2020.
During its July meeting, the board of trustees approved for publication the budget proposal, that is based on a five-percent decrease in enrollment, amounting to a loss of 1,822 credit hours, and a five-percent decrease in state aid, which would be a loss of $221,720.25.
Interim president Amber Knoettgen informed the board members Tuesday night that enrollment for the 2020 fall semester is currently down, but that the college is still working on enrolling students.
Enrollment for online courses is currently up for the semester.
After shutting down on-campus classes last March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the college will begin in-person and remote classes on August 19.
There were no public comments made during the public hearing prior to the board approving the budget.
Also during the meeting, the board participated in a study session with Neosho County Community College president Dr. Brian Inbody to prepare for the accreditation visit by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) scheduled for this fall.
Inbody serves on the Institutional Actions Council. He was a peer reviewer for the HLC for over 10 years.
Formed in 1895, the HLC is one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.
HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region, which includes 19 states.
Inbody informed the board members that the peer reviewer will be there to do a job, and has a very specific list of things they need to accomplish. He provided advice on how to prepare for that visit and insight on what to expect.