NPC Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
The National Park College Board of Trustees met in a regular session on January 22, 2025, beginning at 3:30 PM. Trustees present were Mike Bush, Jim Hale, Rhonda Harrington, Bev Joe, Joel Newburn, Lance Porter, Renee Westfall, and Raymond Wright.
Staff, faculty members, and guests present were Chuck Argo, Blake Butler, Denice Davis, Sarah Day, Wade Derden, Jessica Ellis, Kelli Embry, Kathy Flournoy, Terri Helms, Nicole Herndon, Brad Hopper, Lisa Hopper, Janice Ivers, Brian Kroening, Nathan Looper, Kurt Markish, Melony Martinez, John McMorran, Rose Milnes, Scott Post, Bill Ritter, Stephanie Rizzo, Zane Shnaekel, Kylie Smith, Darla Thurber, John Tucker, Lynn Valetutti, Amy Watson, Tim Webb, and Megan Wheeler.
The media was notified of the meeting. Brandon Smith and Thomas Buckman of The Sentinel Record were in attendance.
Chair Jim Hale opened the meeting with a welcome at 3:30 PM.
Sarah Day took roll call. A quorum was present.
Trustee Bev Joe provided the invocation.
Sarah Day introduced the media, Denice Davis, NPC Foundation Board Chair, John McMorran with Lewis Architects, and NPC Veterans Services Coordinator, Nathan Looper, who introduced NPC veteran student, Kylie Smith.
Items for Action
- Trustee Bush motioned to approve the December 4, 2024, minutes as presented. Trustee Westfall seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- (1) Megan Wheeler, NPC Controller, presented the November 2024 financial statements. Trustee Wright motioned to approve the November 2024 financial statements as presented. Trustee Joe seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. (2)Megan Wheeler, NPC Controller, presented for consideration the FY2023 Legislative Audit. Trustee Bush motioned to approve the FY2023 Legislative Audit as received in the mail from the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee. Trustee Harrington seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- VP for Finance and Administration, Kelli Embry, presented the 2025 High Priority Objectives. Trustee Joe motioned to approve the 2025 High Priority Objectives as presented. Trustee Porter seconded. Questions were asked and answered. The motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Wright presented Resolution 2025-A, Construction Manager for the College. Trustee Westfall motioned to approve Resolution 2025-A, Construction Manager for the College as presented. Trustee Harrington seconded, and 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 Porter seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Items for Report
- 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 went from being a couple of weeks ahead of schedule to ten days behind due to the holidays and the recent inclement weather. Mr. Hopper said that several structural engineers and an architect had inspected the Student Commons block damage and they now have a consensus on the repairs needed. Hopper gave an update on the completed resurfacing of the Gym floor. Mr. Hopper stated that they are working on the repair/replacement of the sewer lines in the Community and Corporate Training Center. This effort has been delayed due to medical issues of the contractor, the holidays, and the inclement weather. Finally, Hopper stated that the Maintenance Department had worked very hard scraping, shoveling, and salting the campus to facilitate a return to campus after the snowstorm. Additionally, the county road department assisted with plowing and sanding some problem drive areas. He stated that they are pricing some additional snow removal equipment to be better prepared for future snow events.
- Board Chair Report - Chair Hale said that he would like to change the format of the Chair Report. He plans to bring historic faces of Garland County Community College, Quapaw Technical Institute, National Park Community College, and National Park College to the board meetings each month. Hale explained that these would be people who found their path here and had gone on to be successful. Mr. Hale asked the trustees, employees, and NPC administration to help with this, by giving the names and contact information of anyone who meets this criteria to either himself or Nicole Herndon, NPC Foundation Executive Director. These stories of success may be found in NPC alumni, donors, former employees and trustees, and veterans. Hale shared that this new format will begin at the next board meeting.
- President's Report - President Derden welcomed new trustee, Joel Newburn, to the Board. Derden acknowledged the recent loss of NPC Respiratory Program Director, Paul Lowe. President Derden thanked Trustee Wright for his participation and leadership of the Building and Campus Development Committee, and the part he played in the selection of a contractor for the new buildings coming to NPC. Derden ended by thanking Melony Martinez, NPC Director of Marketing and Public Relations, for her twenty years of service and wishing her well as she leaves to serve the state of Arkansas in a new role as Chief of Communications for the Department of Energy and Environment.
There was no further business.
Trustee Bush expressed his desire for warmer temperatures.
Trustee Newburn thanked Dr. Derden and the Cabinet for the recent Board Orientation and the Board for welcoming him as a trustee.
Trustee Westfall motioned to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 4:08 PM.
Joyce Craft, Chair
Beverly Joe, Secretary/Treasurer