Hiring of dean approved by CCCC board

The hiring of Joseph Koons as the new dean of student services was included in the consent items approved by the Cloud County Community College board of trustees during its regular meeting on Tuesday night.
Koons is currently serving as the director of the Highland Community College Wamego Center where he supervises a staff of four full-time employees and one part-time employee, as well as student workers.
A 2007 graduate of Manhattan Christian College, with a bachelor of science degree in Bible/youth ministry, Koons earned a master of arts degree in pastoral counseling from Columbia International College in Columbia, S.C., and is currently working on a doctorate of education in adult learning and leadership, community college focus, at Kansas State University.
Koons worked as the student services representative at Highland Community College from 2016-2018. He was the counseling manager for Flint Hills Job Corps in Manhattan from 2013-2016, after serving as a counselor from 2012-2013.
Also included in the consent items approved by the board was the renewal of contracts for head wrestling coach Cody Cole and assistant wrestling coach Doug Moore.
Following a review led by trustee Ellen Anderson, the board approved a policy establishing a procedure for the president's annual evaluation.
The policy states that the board will take action to renew or non-renew the president no later than the regularly scheduled May board meeting.
During her president's report, Amber Knoettgen reported to the board that the college is now accepting applications for the position of vice president for administrative services.
Knoettgen has continued to handle the duties of vice president for administrative services after being named the president.
The committee will begin reviewing applications for the position.
In reporting on the college finances, Knoettgen said that despite having a dip in enrollment, the finances look good.
Knoettgen said that the college is expecting to have around $1.2-$1.3 million in coronavirus relief funds to overcome some of the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As with the first round of the CARES Act there isn't a lot of guidance out yet,” Knoettgen said of how the funds can be used.
Cloud County Community College Foundation director Heather Gennette presented an update to the board on the agriculture facility project.
The Foundation is overseeing the funding for and construction of the agriculture facility, that will provide space for livestock and the precision ag equipment.
Once the facility is completed, the Foundation will donate it to the college.
More than $200,000 in grant funds were provided for the project, and the Foundation executive committee approved funding up to $140,000.
Ground was broken on the project in October 2019.
Gennette said that the building has been completed since April 2020.
“But there were several other things that we had to get done before we can give it to you guys,” Gennette said.
Gennette said that steps are currently being taken to alleviate an issue of moisture in the building.
Trustee Jim Koch voiced concerns with the policy of the Foundation building a facility and then donating it to the college.
“I think this should serve as a lesson for the board of trustees. We have had two projects recently, neither of which has gone very smoothly,” Koch said. “I think as we look to projects in the future we need to take time to fully study the projects and there needs to be good communication between the Foundation and the board of trustees.”