ARCHBOLD, OHIO –The Northwest State Community College Board of Trustees held a board retreat and regular meeting today. In the regular meeting, the board voted unanimously to reject the Fact Finder’s Report issued by the State Employment Relations Board related to establishing a new three year staff contract. The Fact Finder’s Report would have provided a 2% per year salary increase over the 3 year contract and reinstate the step program that added an average additional 2.5% per year that had been suspended during the previous contract (4.5% average total increase). The Fact Finder’s Report also left the health insurance program unchanged from the previous contract.
“The board was disappointed that the SERB Fact Finder made no adjustment to the contract for many changes that have occurred in health care over the last six years.
As costs have increased the College has worked to find a way to make health care both beneficial to the employee and affordable to the institution. The College had proposed that union members be offered the opportunity to have a choice between a High Deductible Insurance Plan and the traditional plan they currently have in place,” stated Sue Derck, NSCC Board Chair. “It is the responsibility of the Board to ensure that the institution contains costs and keeps tuition affordable for our students.”
In further action, the board approved the articles and bylaws to create the Northern Ohio Community College District Council of Governments with Terra State Community College. Dr. Thomas Stuckey, President of NSCC was approved as the Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Jerome Webster, President of TSCC was approved as the Chief Operating Officer for the Council. This new model is an effort to share administrative services between the institutions to reduce costs.
During the morning retreat, the Board reviewed the 2012-15 Strategic Plan and discussed plans and goals for the 2016-2020 Strategic Plan for the College. The strategic planning process is a campus wide effort that has included representatives from administration, faculty, staff and students providing input and direction supporting the mission, vision, values and goals for the College.
According to Dr. Stuckey, “A good strategic plan will anticipate the future needs of our students and region while at the same time ensuring that the College operates efficiently and within the guidelines set forth by the State of Ohio and the Higher Learning Commission. Northwest State is committed to being an integral part of providing high quality education and training that meets the educational goals of students and provides a trained workforce prepared to support the businesses in our region.”
In other board action:
•Approved the retirements of Gretchen Boose, David Heer, and Nancy Dunson
•Approved the resignation of Kristen Hughes, Roger Spears and Tom Javarinis
•Promoted James Hoops to Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Sarah Stubblefield to iSTAR Project Manager and Michael Jacobs to Career and Activities Coordinator
•Approved employment of Ann Fether to Financial Aid Assistant
•Approved miscellaneous employment contracts
•Approved Financial Report of October 31, 2015
•Approved the appointment of Sandra Barber as alternate delegate to the Ohio Association of Community Colleges
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