June 21, 2023

Board approves 2023-2024 operating budget

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Cowley College’s Board of Trustees approved the 2023-2024 proposed operating budget of $24,521,896 during Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting in the Earle N. Wright Community Room.

Approving the proposed operating budget allows the College to begin fiscal year 2023-2024 on July 1, 2023. The 2023-2024 State Appropriation Budget will be on the August 2023 Board of Trustees Agenda. By the August 2023 Board meeting, the College will have all of the County’s estimated assessed valuation information to shore up the Operating and State Appropriation Budget. The administration will adjust the Operation’s budget accordingly.

The Trustees also discussed the upcoming groundbreaking ceremony for the new Career and Technical Education Center on Tuesday, June 27, at 10 a.m. The groundbreaking will take place at 513 W. Washington Avenue in Arkansas City.

In other matters: 

  1. Dr. Schoon provided the Board with a College update. She mentioned the Adult Education Program Commencement and the Commencement held at the Winfield Correctional Facility. She praised the instructors’ work, including that of Adult Education Program GED instructor LaVaughan Scheuerich. Cowley Summer Theatre Camp recently performed Guys and Dolls and will perform Seussical the Musical on July 14-16 in the Robert Brown Theatre. She also informed the Board that the Cowley College men’s tennis team captured its first national title since 1991 and its first-ever title at the NJCAA Division I level by dominating the field at the NJCAA Division I Men's Tennis National Championships held in McKinney, TX. The Lady Tiger tennis team also had its highest-ever finish at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament by finishing as the national runner-up. Tiger head coach Manuel Raga and assistant coach Arianna Raga attended the meeting.
  2. Jessica Lucas, government affairs liaison, provided a legislative update. For the Cowley County Trustee seats, there are three open seats and six candidates, so the top three vote-getters in November will earn seats on the Board. Candidates include: - Alan Marcotte, Winfield (incumbent) - David Stanley, Ark City (incumbent) - Kyle Carlson, Ark City - Jacinda Shaw-Kinzie, Ark City - Joe Shriver, Ark City - John Sybrant, Ark City.
  3. Debbie Phelps, executive director of institutional effectiveness (IE), provided the Board with an enrollment, recruitment, and retention update.
  4. Trustee David Stanley provided a recap of the KACC Quarterly Meeting he and Dr. Schoon recently attended.
  5. Bob McGregor provided the Board with a Trustee Finance Subcommittee update.
  6. The Board of Trustees will conduct a special work session on Thursday, July 27.
  7. Approved the Consent Agenda: The Board of Trustees approved the proposed changes to the Faculty Master Agreement submitted by the College Administration and the Cowley Education Association. Approving these changes will allow the administration and the CEA to finalize the Master Agreement for the 2023-2024 academic year.
    • Board Minutes of the May 15 meeting.
    • Approved the Financial Reports as presented.
    • Bills and Claims. Approved fiscal officers of the College to execute payment of all bills and claims as presented.
    • Administrative Reports.
    • Board Policy Approvals. (131.00) Reimbursement for Travel; (161.00) Requisition and Selection – Non-Faculty Personnel; and (260.00) Transfer Coursework.
    • Personnel Transactions. The Board was informed of the resignation of Kristie Martinez as Natural Science Department Specialist, effective June 23, and Lindsay Sanderholm as head cheer and dance coach, effective September 4.
    • The Board was informed of the employment of Mason Warren as Biology Instructor, effective August 1; Tracy Circle as administrative assistant to the vice president of finance and administration, effective July 1; Benjamin Kritsonis as assistant wrestling coach/dorm manager, effective July 5; and Damion Cleverley as custodian, effective July 5.
  8. Holly Harper, vice president of finance and administration, provided the Board with a facilities maintenance update. The remodel of the new Cowley College campus in Wichita is nearing completion, with the new location planned to open this week.
  9. Janice Stover, interim vice president of academic affairs, informed the Board that a planning retreat was held on May 31 with the Academic Affairs Council. Following the retreat, the Academic Affairs Fall Semester preparation and planning are underway.
  10. Paul Erdmann, vice president of information technology, provided an update on projects the information technology staff has worked on over the past month.
  11. Stefani Jones, director of student enrollment and success, provided an enrollment update.
  12. Debbie Phelps, executive director of institutional effectiveness (IE), informed the Board that the Kansas Board of Regents Data, Research and Planning (DRP) staff will host the annual Data Quality Conference (virtual) on June 21 with the Annual Year (AY) Collection officially opening on July 1. The Council of Institutional Researchers in Two-Year Organizations (CIRTO), a group serving institutional research offices at Kansas community and technical colleges, will hold its annual meeting on June 22. The leadership role of Community College Co-Chair will transfer from Cowley College (2021- 2022/2022-2023) to Johnson County Community College at this time; Cowley College’s IE Office will participate as a panel member during a professional development session on data literacy.
  13. Kristi Shaw, executive director of student services, provided an update on student life activities.
  14. Jeff Fluty, athletic director, praised the work done by Tiger tennis coaches Manuel Raga and Arianna Raga after guiding the men’s and women’s tennis teams to record-breaking seasons. “These two outstanding coaches represent the college exceptionally and put Cowley College in a good light,” Fluty said. “Like so many of our coaches, I am really proud of what they have done representing Cowley College athletics.” Currently, the Tiger coaching staffs are busy recruiting and hosting summer camps.
  15. Held a 20-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel regarding faculty negotiations, pursuant to the exception related to non-elected personnel.
  16. The Board approved the recommendation to utilize the Cowley CourierTraveler for publication of official notices and accepted the official meeting dates as presented. Future meeting dates are set for July 17, August 21, September 18, October 16, November 20, December 11, and in 2024, January 16, February 19, March 11, April 15, May 20, and June 17. The Board meetings will be held in the Patrick J. McAtee Dining Center through the 2023-2024 academic year, with the exception of the July 17 Board meeting being held in the Earle N. Wright Community Room and the October 16 meeting being held at the Short General Education Center at the Sumner Campus in Wellington.
  17. The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m.

Rama Peroo | Director of Institutional Communication
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
rama.peroo@cowley.edu

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