Board of Directors July 2024 Meeting Minutes | SCC

Board of Directors July 2024 Meeting Minutes

July 25, 2024

Board Members Present:

  • Ms. Charlene Harris, Chair
  • Mr. Phillip Duncan, Vice Chair
  • Ms. Kelly Johnson, Secretary
  • Mr. Jonathan Arnett
  • Ms. Marsha Phelps
  • Mr. BJ Brown
  • Mr. Larry VanHook
  • Ms. Whitney Wilburn

Board Members Absent:

  • Mr. Gary Napier
  • Mr. Connor Denney

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Harris called the meeting of the Somerset Community College Board of Directors to order at 1:01 P.M. She welcomed everyone in attendance.

ACTION ITEM: May 09, 2024 Minutes

Ms. Johnson announced that the minutes of the May 09, 2024 meeting were included in the agenda booklet and the book was mailed to board members before the meeting.  Mr. Vanhook moved the minutes to be approved as distributed.  Mr. Arnett seconded the motion.  The minutes were unanimously approved.

ACTION ITEM: FY 2024-2025 Operating Budget Request

Chair Harris called on Ms. Jill Meece, VP of Administration, to present the FY 2024-2025 Operating Budget as presented in the booklet. Mr. Arnett made a motion to approve the budget as presented. Mr. Vanhook seconded the motion. The 2024-2025 Operating Budget was approved unanimously.

PRESIDENT’S REMARKS

Dr. Castle reminded the Board that employees received a three percent pay increase. In addition, the compression study and implantation are ongoing. Recently, pay bands were reviewed and redone. Some adjustments to employees’ salaries were made based on those updated bands. 

Dr. Castle reported that SCC had a busy summer. The College hosts the Upward Bound students from the local high schools during the summer and offers many activities. SCC offered Kids College again and it ran for two weeks. Also, the Master Musician Festival was held on campus, which brought attention to the College.

Dr. Castle provided an encouraging update on Somerset Community College’s Fall enrollment, noting a significant increase compared to the previous year. 

Dr. Castle reported that Valley Oak Center is finished and hoping to host an Open House soon and invited the Board out to see the finished product. SCC is making minor updates to buildings at both Laurel and Somerset Campuses to better serve faculty, staff, and students.

Dr. Castle reported that the System Office is reorganizing its structure and leadership. The main concern is the work being done to meet the requirements of SJR179.  The legislature mandated this work, with the flexibility to make changes as a system and better serve the Commonwealth. There is also $90M attached to the submission, and could be released once we have completed our work and provided an acceptable plan.  Overall SJR 179 had 11 action steps which were then further divided into five areas for work assignments.

CHAIR REMARKS

Chair Harris welcomed the new Board of Directors: faculty representative Dana Muse, staff representative Natalie Winstead, and student representative Connor Denney. She also recognized and expressed gratitude to former board members: faculty representative Kelly Johnson, staff representative Marsha Phelps, and student representative Patricia Burnsed.

ADJOURNMENT

Chair Harris appointed a nominating committee for next year’s officers Mr. Jonathan Arnett, Ms. Whitney Wilburn, and Mr. Larry VanHook.  The next meeting will be on October 24, 2024, and the meeting adjourned at 1:58 P.M.

Date Approved by Board of Directors: October 24, 2024