December 4, 2024
The National Park College Board of Trustees met in a regular session on February 28, 2024, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Trustees present were Mike Bush, Joyce Craft, Jim Hale, Rhonda Harrington, Bev Joe, Lance Porter, Forrest Spicher, Renee Westfall, and Raymond Wright.
The National Park College Board of Trustees met in a regular session on December 04, 2024, beginning at 3:35 PM. Trustees present were Mike Bush, Joyce Craft, Jim Hale, Rhonda Harrington, Lance Porter Forrest Spicher, and Raymond Wright.
Staff, faculty members, and guests present were Chuck Argo, Landon Arndt, Blake Butler, Sarah Day, Wade Derden, Kelli Embry, Kathy Flournoy, Roger Fox, Nicole Herndon, Brad Hopper, Lisa Hopper, Melissa Kennon, Brian Kroening, Jennifer Lyons, Jason Martin, Melony Martinez, Rose Milnes, Mark Oliver, Scott Post, Bill Ritter, Nathan Ritter, Stephanie Rizzo, Zane Shnaekel, Uttar Shrestha, Rich Thompson, Gary Troutman, John Tucker, Lynn Valetutti, and Megan Wheeler.
The media was notified of the meeting. Brandon Smith of The Sentinel Record was in attendance.
Chair Joyce Craft opened the meeting with a welcome at 3:35 PM.
Sarah Day took roll call. A quorum was present.
Trustee Lance Porter provided the invocation.
Sarah Day introduced the media, Gary Troutman with the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, and Doctors Jason Martin and Uttar Shrestha with the NPC Chemistry Department, who introduced NPC student, Landon Arndt, President of the NPC American Chemical Society.
Items for Action
- Trustee Bush motioned to approve the October 23, 2024, minutes as presented. Trustee Hale seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Spicher motioned to approve the October 2024 financial statements as presented by Megan Wheeler, NPC Controller, during the Finance Committee Meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
- Human Resources Director, Kathy Flournoy, presented the ratifications of personnel actions. Trustee Bush motioned to approve the ratifications as presented. Trustee Harrington seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Wright asked VP for Finance and Administration, Kelli Embry, to present Resolution 2024-C Construction of a New Welding Facility for approval. Trustee Porter motioned to approve Resolution 2024-C as presented. Trustee Bush seconded. Questions were asked and answered. The motion passed unanimously.
- Dr. Chuck Argo, VP for Academic Affairs, presented the proposed Academic Program Changes. Trustee Wright motioned to approve the academic program changes as presented. Trustee Harrington seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- President Wade Derden, asked Trustee Hale to present Resolution 2024-D Appreciation for Joyce Craft. Trustee Hale motioned to approve Resolution 2024-D as presented. Trustee Spicher seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Items for Report
- Trustee Wright stated that the Building and Campus Development Committee will meet in February 2025 to discuss the new welding facility building project. Trustee Wright asked Brad Hopper, Associate VP of Campus Operations, to provide the Building and Campus Development report. Mr. Hopper shared that the Redbud Hall project is on or ahead of schedule. Hopper stated that all maintenance operations have been moved to the new Maintenance facility, with a lot of organizing happening and additional outdoor lighting planned. Mr. Hopper said that the Student Commons has some loose/cracked blocks that a structural engineer is looking into repairing and that a fountain leak will be repaired over the winter break.
- NPC Foundation Executive Director, Nicole Herndon, provided the Foundation report. Herndon provided a PowerPoint presentation showcasing 2024 events sponsored by the Foundation.
- >Board Chair Report - Chair Craft thanked Doctors Martin and Shrestha for highlighting the NPC American Chemical Society. Craft expressed her excitement for a new state-of-the-art welding and metalworking center coming to the NPC campus. Ms. Craft shared her experience of attending the recent Celebration of Giving hosted by the NPC Foundation, thanking Nicole Herndon and her team for such an incredible event. Craft stated that the premiere of “STAY DOWN: A Championship Story” was a fantastic way to commemorate the 2023-2024 National Championship. Chair Craft asked Trustee Spicher to accept the responsibility to serve as the nominating officer for the new slate of NPC Board of Trustee officers for 2025. Trustee Spicher accepted. Craft said that a slate of officers will be finalized and presented for consideration and approval at the annual meeting in January 2025. Ms. Craft ended by reflecting on her board service since 2001 and thanked the trustees for making her last official meeting memorable and for their continued service to the College.
- President's Report - President Derden expressed gratitude to the Board for supporting the effort to pursue the HIRED Tier 2 grant for a new welding facility. Derden thanked Dr. Chuck Argo for leading the grant writing process and for the assistance given by Vice President for Workforce Bill Ritter, Director of Workforce and Continuing Education Mary Ann Thomae, Executive Director of the Foundation Nicole Herndon, and VP for Administration Kelli Embry. President Derden thanked Doctors Martin and Shrestha, and Nicole Herndon for the report presentations. Derden congratulated Melony Martinez and the marketing team for winning four gold and four silver medallions at the 2024 National Council for Marketing and Public Relations ceremony in Fort Worth earlier in the month. Derden ended by thanking both the Board for choosing to serve the campus and Chair Craft for her years of service.
There was no further business.
Trustees Spicher, Porter, Wright, Harrington, Bush, and Hale reflected on their service with Chair Craft, wishing her well in her future endeavors as she retires from the NPC Board of Trustees.
Trustee Hale motioned to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 4:26 PM.
Joyce Craft, Chair
Beverly Joe, Secretary/Treasurer