By Tom Loeffler
GCC Board Member
BUDGET HEARING CAUSES
SPARKS
The Gila Community College (GCC) budget hearing for citizens
caused some disagreement with both the board and among themselves. The meeting
began by asking if any citizens wished to speak before the board took up the
budget for FY 2014. Mr. Armstrong from Payson asked to speak to the
board.
Armstrong began by pointing out that he discovered several
errors in the published budget and it was a lazy way to lay it out. The way a
budget should be presented is so the general public can understand all elements
of the budget and what items make up the overall cost of the almost $6.5 million budget for 2014. According to the Arizona open meeting law, the Board
cannot discuss what is brought up during the Call to the Public. This is the
period in the meeting when the public can address the Board on any topic.
During Armstrong’s presentation, board member Robert Ashford
spoke up and reminded President Larry Stephenson that the three minute time
limit was up some time ago. President Stephenson responded by saying this was a
special budget hearing and the only purpose of the meeting was to allow the
public to voice their views. Since there was only two individuals speaking on
the topic he would allow Armstrong a longer period of time. Armstrong then cut
his comments short and reminded all that he was not finished with the budget
problem.
A motion to adjourn was made shortly thereafter and later,
during the Special Meeting to approve the budget, the
Board voted five to zero to approve the $6.5 million amount
as published.
MOVING ACCREDITATION FORWARD
As Gila Community College begins its first steps toward the
school’s accreditation and becoming separated from Eastern Arizona College
(EAC), President Larry Stephenson handed out board assignments at the June 13 Board
meeting. This will be a two to three year effort to accomplish this first step.
If successful with this first step, the college will be able to accredit our
own courses.
President Stephenson assigned each member of the Board a two
month task. When all the assignments are complete and approved by the Board,
the college can apply to the Higher Learning Commission to begin the process of
accreditation. Items include, among others: development of a Business Plan,
Mission Statement, Incorporation Document and audits and budgets. Since the
college does not have a CEO, Tom Loeffler was tasked with writing a job
description for that position.
In other business the Board approved a RFP for a Lobbyist
firm. The Board wanted to change the time line of this type contract to begin
on July 1 in the future instead of January 1. The Board will hear
proposals for such at a later date.
About three years ago, then President Ashford eliminated all of GCC’s current policies. Since that time the Board has been operating
without any of its own policies. The Board has now begun to correct that
situation by approving the first two new GCC policies other than the existing
financial policies. Each month Loeffler will present two policies for
approval.
Secretary Sam Moorhead was scheduled to present the results
of a tuition survey but instead he wanted to place it on the next agenda.
Moorhead wanted the Board to vote on a new tuition schedule that he developed
without first reviewing the survey results.
President Stephenson questioned the
process saying why would we vote on a new tuition schedule before we know the
survey results. Stephenson said we should approach this in
a business fashion and wanted to see the results before placing a vote on the
agenda. Moorhead insisted it be placed on the agenda and Ashford said it was
tyranny not to do so.
At that point Loeffler pointed out that when Ashford was
president he would consistently not place items on the agenda. At that point the discussion stopped and no decision was
made.
The Board went on to approve several contracts with high
schools to provide for dual enrollment and then adjourned.
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