Agendas & Meetings

NPC Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting

December 2, 2020

The National Park College Board of Trustees met in regular session on December 2, 2020. The Finance Committee began at 3:15 p.m. followed by the regular meeting at 3:30 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was help in a hybrid format via Zoom with some attendees in person. Trustees present for the Finance Committee meeting were Mike Bush, Joyce Craft, Gail Ezelle, Jim Hale, Don Harris, Bev Joe, Forrest Spicher, and Raymond Wright. Trustees present for the regular meeting were Larry Bailey, Mike Bush, Joyce Craft, Gail Ezelle, Jim Hale, Don Harris, Bev Joe, Forrest Spicher, and Raymond Wright.

Staff and faculty members present were Jerry Thomas, Donna Kay, Nathan Ritter, Ashley Clayborn, Leslie Braniger, John Hogan, Blake Butler, Lisa Hopper, Melony Martinez, Kelli Embry, Wade Derden, Darla Thurber, Nicole Herndon, Steve Trusty, Bruce Hankins, Janice Ivers, Brad Hopper, Brian Kroening, Gwendolyn Carter, Jason Martin, Toni Knupps, Roger Fox, Julie Larue, Darlene Gentles, Chris Coble, Jill Houlihan, Lindsey Vondenstein, Sheryl Strother, Mike Wiles, Whendi Armstrong, Anne Benoit, John Tucker, Terri Helms, Dale Powell, Tennille Johnson, Tim Ward, Robert Feighl, Kat McCorkle, Caysie Martin, Lynn Valetutti, Matthias Elder, Donna Nevill, Amy Fincham, Lacie McCready, Jessie Ellis, Susan Millerd, Scott Post, Susan Gather-Maddox, Jennifer Evans, Janet Brewer, Gayla Mattoon, Nathan Looper, Te’Airra Blanchard, Bill Allison.

The media was notified of the meeting. John Anderson from the Sentinel Record was present alongside a newspaper photographer.

Chair Forrest Spicher welcomed everyone to the November National Park College Board meeting. He noted that we have five of the Trustees present and four attending virtually.

Jim Hale presented the invocation.

Nathan Looper, Veteran Affairs Coordinator, thanked the Board for the opportunity to highlight the Veteran Affairs Center. Looper shared that the VA Center has served over 145 students, 105 of those Veteran students. The school has received over $100,000 in tuition payments via VA assistant. Looper introduced one of his students Spencer Kilgore, who spoke about his personal experiences as a Veteran student at National Park College.

Kelli Embry, Vice President for Operations, introduced Bill Allison, who began as the Vice President for Workforce on December 1, 2020. Allison will arrive on campus January 4, 2021 but continues to work virtually. Allison expressed his excitement and gratitude for the institution and the National Park College community.

Julie LaRue, Interim Director of Human Resources, introduced Te’Airra Blanchard as the new Human Resources Generalist. Blanchard expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to work with the College and the Human Resources department.

Items for Action

1. Mike Bush made a motion to approve the October 28 Meeting minutes approved with correction (change "Life" to "Applied" in Action Item D. program changes [two instances]). Jim Hale seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
2. Steve Trusty, Vice President for Finance and Administration, presented September 2020 financial reports for approval. Don Harris moved to accept the financial reports as presented. Mike Bush seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
3. Nicole Herndon, Executive Director of the National Park College Foundation, presented the new naming opportunity, the Ray and Willodene Donathan Pavilion. Gail Ezelle moved to accept the naming as presented. Dona Harris seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
4. Julie LaRue, Interim Director of Human Resources, presented the deletion of policy 4.410, which the Board merged this policy with its definition of retirement in September. Joyce Craft made a motion to approve the deletion as Beverly Joe seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
5. Julie LaRue, Interim Director of Human Resources, presented the ratifications of personnel Mike Bush made a motion to approve the ratifications as presented. Don Harris seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
6. John Hogan presented a special resolution to bestow an honorary degree to Trustee Don Harris. Trustee Jim Hale gave the opening remarks of the presentation of the honorary degree to Trustee Harris, recognizing his many years of service to the College. Trustee Harris gave remarks of appreciation for the Board members, his wife, and the National Park College community. Harris reflected on his own experiences in education. Chair Spicher and several Trustees offered remarks of appreciation for Harris’s service. Jim Hale made a motion to approve the honorary degree and resolution of appreciation as presented. Mike Bush seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Items for Report

1. Board Chair Report – Chair Spicher commented on Trustee Harris and Steve Trusty’s time with National Park College.
2. Campus Update - Brad Hopper, Director of Physical Plant and Maintenance, reported that the team is working on normal business and took time to personally thank
3. President’s Report – John Hogan reviewed all of the items discussed with specific attention to Bill Allison, the Donathan Family naming opportunity, and the prospect of an in-person reception in the future to honor Trustee Harris and his family.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m

Forrest Spicher, Chair
Joyce Craft, Secretary/Treasurer