Heather Johnson
MPCC
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
The Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors met for its regularly scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m. (CST) Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Room 200 of the W.W. Wood Building on the North Platte Community College North Campus, 1101 Halligan Drive, North Platte, Neb.
Board Chair Cynthia Duncan started the meeting with a roll call. In addition to Duncan, those present were MPCC President Ryan Purdy and Board members: Jo Etta Brown, Matthew Broz, Kirk Crawley, Ted Klug Jr., Kim Korgan, Ben Lashley, Ernie Mehl, Kent Miller and Tricia Schaffer. MPCC Board member Tyler Pribbeno was absent and excused.
MCC student trustee Graci Nelson and NPCC student trustee Reece Halley were also present.
2. OPEN FORUM (Comments from students, faculty, staff, public and Board)
a. Amy Taft spoke to the Board as a NPCC alum and member of the public regarding her thoughts on the recent termination of former NPCC head softball coach Janelle Higgins.
b. NPCC softball players Eden Shimaoka, April Grace, Hailey Ortiz, Nancy Martinez-Sanchez, and Amya Blake-Cosper spoke to the Board regarding their thoughts on the recent termination of former NPCC head softball coach Janelle Higgins.
c. MCC student trustee Graci Nelson updated the Board on student activities in McCook, and NPCC student trustee Reece Halley provided a recap of happenings in North Platte.
d. Board member Kent Miller told the Board about a Hershey High School student who already earned her associate degree from MPCC and has now been accepted into the Kearney Health Opportunities Program, a cooperative program between the University of Nebraska at Kearney and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
3. CONSENT ITEMS. On a single consent motion, the board approved:
a. Minutes from the Jan. 17 Board work session and regular meeting.
b. The financial report for January.
c. The resignation MPCC nurse educator Nicole Kissinger, effective May 15, 2024.
4. ACTIONS REQUIRED BY LAW
a. The Board approved the diesel program review as presented and the forwarding of the review to the Coordinating Commission for Post Secondary Education.
b. The Board approved the purchase of a V5600M CDL truck simulator and school bus module from Virage Simulation at a cost of $124,742.
c. The Board approved bills for January in the amount of $2,712,914.40.
d. The Board approved the purchase of a 2021 Freightliner M2 36-passenger black KSIR M2-400 from Davey Coach at a cost of $172,295.
e. The Board approved the purchase of three HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen 11 servers from Riverside Technologies at a cost of $67,869.50.
5. REPORTS
a. The Board heard an enrollment and retention report from Dr. Brian Obert, Dean of Student Life, and Bobbi Muehlenkamp, director of Student Success.
b. Cabinet Reports: The Board heard reports from MPCC President Ryan Purdy, Vice President of Academic Affairs and NPCC Dr. Jody Tomanek, Vice President of Student Affairs and MCC Kelly Rippen, Vice President of Administrative Services Mike Steele, Director of Institutional Effectiveness Tad Pfeifer, Director of Human Resources Rebecca Wrage, and Director of Institutional Advancement Jake Rissler.
6. CLOSED SESSION
a. The Board went into closed session at 7:55 p.m. to discuss real estate, personnel review and litigation.
b. The Board reconvened in open session at 8:26 p.m. No action was taken after reconvening in open session.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Upon hearing no further business, the Board moved to adjourn at 8:27 p.m. The next Board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. March 20 in North Platte.
FUTURE REPORTS
- March – Program Scorecard
- March – Three-year Instructional Equipment Plan
- April – Quarterly Facilities Master Plan
- April – Quarterly Financial Report
- April – Three-year Capital Improvement Plan
- May – CCPE Program Reviews
- July – Quarterly Facilities Master Plan
- July – Quarterly Financial Report
- July – Institutional Advancement and Grants
- September – Annual Report
- October – Quarterly FMP Report
- November – Auditor’s Report
- November – Retention and Enrollment
- February – Retention and Enrollment
UPCOMING MEETINGS
- Feb. 28 – Legislative Day, State Capitol, Lincoln, Neb.
- March 20 – Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Room 200, W.W. Wood Building, North Platte Community College North Campus
- April 17 – Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., McMillen Hall #213, McCook Community College
- May 22 – Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Valentine Community Campus
- July 17 – Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., McMillen Hall #213, McCook Community College
- Aug. 21 – Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Room 200, W.W. Wood Building, North Platte Community College North Campus
- Sept. 25 – Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Room 200, W.W. Wood Building, North Platte Community College North Campus
- Oct. 23 – Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., McMillen Hall #213, McCook Community College
- Nov. 20 – Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Room 200, W.W. Wood Building, North Platte Community College North Campus
- Dec. 18 – Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Room 200, W.W. Wood Building, North Platte Community College North Campus