CCCC trustees approve master contract

The Cloud County Community College board of trustees approved the master contract for fiscal year 2020-2021 during its regular meeting on Tuesday night.
Included in the consent items approved by the trustees during the meeting were the hiring of Valerie G. Whitley as coordinator of institutional research and Cynthia Lamberty as director of assessment, institutional effectiveness and planning. Both hirings are effective January 1.
A United States Navy veteran, Whitley received a master of education degree from Ashland University with a focus in educational technology. She previously worked as an IT adjunct instructor at Alamance Community College, an IT specialist for the North Carolina Air National Guard and an instructional designer for Pledmont Community College.
Lamberty, who currently serves as a science instructor, faculty advisor and coordinator of assessment and general education at the Cloud County Community College Geary County campus, earned a master of science degree from Emporia State University.
Neil Phillips, Jared, Gilmore & Phillips, PA, presented the 2019-2020 audit report to the board.
Phillips reported that it was a clean audit.
College president Amber Knoettgen, during her report, informed the board that the fall semester has officially ended.
Cloud County students did not return to campus following Thanksgiving break, and finished the semester remotely in an effort to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
“This is a challenging time for not just us, the college, but for our nation, given COVID-19. So congratulations to our students, faculty and staff on the end of the semester,” Knoettgen said.
Knoettgen reported to the board that there were a total of 52 positive COVID-19 cases among the college students and staff during first semester. There are two cases currently active.
“I don't know if you can be proud of that number, but I am very satisfied with that number. Again, that is a tribute to the faculty, the staff and the students,” Knoettgen said.
In reporting on athletics, Knoettgen said that the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference voted to not allow fans at any competition through February 5.
Knoettgen said that she voted to allow fans at the competitions.
“Not just for those playing, but for those students on campus. That is a big part of student engagement. That is a big part of the college experience,” Knoettgen said.
The decision to not allow fans will be re-evaluated by the conference during a meeting on February 5.
The Cloud County men's and women's basketball teams and volleyball team are scheduled to begin competition in January.
Following the regular meeting, the board conducted its annual organizational meeting.
Jesse Pounds was re-elected as board chairman.
The other officers elected included Ellen Anderson, vice-chairman; Samantha Pounds, board clerk/secretary; and Knoettgen, board treasurer.
The other designations and appoints approved by the board include:
Ferrell Law Firm, designated law firm; Central National Bank, designated depository; Anderson, delegate to the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees; Greg Askren, representative to the Kansas Association of School Boards government relations network; Pounds, representative to the CloudCorp board of director; Jim Koch, CCCC Foundation representative; Koch, Anderson and Richard Hubert, audit/finance committee; Anderson and Patricia Mcfarlane, nominating/president's evaluation committee; Askren and Hubert, benefits committee; Anderson, Koch and Askren (alternate) negotiating team.
The board approved setting the regular monthly meetings for the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. in Room 257 of the President's Addition, except for the months of November and December. Those meetings will be on November 16 and December 14.