College trustees meet

The Vernon College board of trustees held a board retreat on Wednesday, and then their regular July meeting.

In an enrollment update, trustees were told there were no students enrolled at the Vernon campus during the Summer II session, compared to 15 last year — and only 19 students were enrolled at Century City, compared to 96 last year. This was slightly offset by Internet enrollment being up to 253, compared to 226 last year. Overall enrollment was down 20 percent for Summer II. The bigger issue was that contact hours were down 36 percent in the session.  However, applications for the Fall Semester are up, but actual enrollment is down. President Dr. Dusty Johnston attributed this to more students having a “wait and see” attitude as to how the current coronavirus pandemic impacts schools.

Contract agreements for the upcoming school year with area school districts were unanimously approved. The agreements involve the college’s health occupations program that is taught in high schools in Vernon, Archer City, Burkburnett, City View, Electra, Haskell, Holiday and Iowa Park. Shana Drury added that Archer City is a new participant this year, and Electra will be going full-time, the board was informed. The agreement with Burkburnett also includes the college’s culinary program.

Trustees also approved routine updates and revisions to the 2020-2021 employee handbook, athletic policy manual, library services handbook and testing center manual.

The financial and investment reports were approved. A tax resale deed was approved to Jonathon Pichardo for $1,200.

Personnel

In personnel action,  the trustees approved the issuance of employee contracts for 2020-2021 with a 1.5 percent step increase in salary for all employees.

The retirements of Garry David, Vice President, Administrative Services, effective Jan. 29, 2021; Haven David, Director of Human Resources, effective Jan. 29, 2021; and Connie Monteith, Administrative Assistant in Continuing Education at the Century City Campus effective Aug. 31, 2020 were announced. The internal transfer of Rachel White from Recruiting Coordinator to Tutoring Center Coordinator was approved, and the resignation of Marco Torres, Recruiting Coordinator Assistant was accepted.