I.     Call to Order

1. Ms. Hargrove will give the invocation

2. Recognize guests

3. Intoduction of the men and women's basketball teams

II.    Public comments for any agenda or non-agenda item with a 3-minute limit per person

III.   Routine Matters

1. Recommended Action

   1. Approval of board minutes October 9, 2023

   2. Approval of  financial information October 2023
      

2. New Business

   1. Consideration of approval of Resolution for Pay During Closure for Inclement Weather (Dr. Beebe)

   2. Consideration of approval of Resolution: Election - Scurry County Appraisal District Board of Directors 2024-2025 (Dr. Beebe)

   3. Consideration of approval of designating the Dean of Institutional Research and Effectiveness as our Research Security Officer, and the intent to develop a policy framework if and when a research program begins (Dr. Beebe)

IV.    Information and Discussion

1. Flatland Solar Project (Ms. Claxton and Mr. Kyle McIntire) 

2. Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence (Dr. Beebe)

3. Cybersecurity training reminder

EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Board will go into executive session. The executive session will be held under the provisions of Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, including but not limited to, Section 551.071, Section 551.072, Section 551.074, Section 551.076, Section 551.082(a), and Section 551.083.

1. Consultation with Legal Counsel

2. Deliberation regarding appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of personnel

At the conclusion of the executive session, the Board will announce whether any action needs to be taken as a result of the executive session.

V.     Date of next Board meeting - December 11, 2023

The Board of Trustees of Western Texas College met in a regular board meeting at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, October 9, 2023, in the boardroom.

Present:           Mr. Eddie Peterson, Mr. Tim Riggan, Mr. Mike McWilliams, Ms. Amy Hargrove, Mr. Drew Bullard, Dr. Jay Kidd

Absent:            Mr. Jason West

Staff Present:  Dr. Barbara Beebe, Ms. Patricia Claxton, Ms. Melanie Schwertner, Mr. Shawn Fonville, Ms. Tammy Davis, Mr. Britt Canada, Mr. Ralph Ramon, Ms. Emily Powell

Others Present:

Mr. Peterson, board president, called the meeting to order and Mr. McWilliams gave the invocation.

The men/women golf teams, track and field teams, and cross-country teams were introduced.

No one from the public made any comments.

Motion by Mr. Riggan, seconded by Dr. Kidd to approve the August 14, 2023, and August 28, 2023, board minutes.  Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion by Dr. Kidd, seconded by Mr. Bullard to approve the August 2023 and September 2023 financial information.  Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion by Mr. Bullard, seconded by Dr. Kidd to approve the revisions to local policies DGBA, DIAA, DIAB, DMAA, FFDA, and FFDB. Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion by Mr. McWilliams, seconded by Ms. Hargrove to approve revisions to the composition section only in local policy FMA. Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion by Ms. Hargrove, seconded by Mr. McWilliams to approve revisions to local policy DEC. Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion by Dr. Kidd, seconded by Mr. Bullard to nominate Mr. Rod Partain to the Appraisal District Board of Directors.  Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion by Mr. Riggan, seconded by Dr. Kidd, to approve the 2024-2025 school calendar.  Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion by Mr. Bullard, seconded by Ms. Hargrove to approve the fall small class report.  Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion by Dr. Kidd, seconded by Mr. Riggan to approve the tax deeds and property cards for R11411 and R12185 for Trust Properties in the City of Snyder.  Motion carried unanimously. 

Dr. Beebe discussed the annual certification to the Coordinating Board.  Under the Texas Education Code (TEC), section 51.258, the institutions Chief Executive Officer is required to annually certify in writing to the Coordinating Board that the institution is in substantial compliance with TEC, Title 3, Subtitle A, Chapter 51, Subchapter E-2. Per THECB Rule 3.19, this certification is made annually in October of each year. 

Dr. Beebe discussed CEO report under TEC, section 51.253 (c).  Under the Texas Education Code (TEC), Section 51.253(c), the institutions Chief Executive Officer is required to submit a report at least once during the fall or spring semester to the institution’s governing body and post on the institutions internet website a report concerning the reports received by employees under the TEC, section 51.252, concerning “sexual harassment,” “sexual assault,” “dating violence,” or  “stalking” as defined in the TEC, section 51.251, and any disciplinary actions taken under TEC, section 51.255.

Dr. Beebe discussed the employee update.  Margo Mitchell submitted her resignation.  She is moving to San Angelo. We will be looking for a new director at College on the Square and a new coordinator.  Molli Fleming took a position in dual credit. 

Mr. Canada presented the SACS update.  We just submitted our 5-year report, and we should find out in December how well we did.  The 10-year report is when a SACS committee comes on campus.  The 5-year report has 22 standards we must address, and the 10-year report has 80 standards and is more extensive.  One standard deals with the board of trustees, but we will talk about that at a later date. 

Mr. Canada discussed the enrollment report.  Enrollment has been steady.  This fall it is 1,435 compared to 1,392 last fall.  Contact hours are 240,272 compared to 240,752 last fall.  Dual credit will pick back up in the spring.  Almost half of our enrollment is dual credit.  If we lose a school, they usually come back.  We have 40.2% Hispanic students which helps us get the Title V grants.  Overall, we served 1,687 students, 259,316 contact hours and 1,081 FTEs.  The Opportunity Waiver for the fall semester served 131 students for $119,962.

Mr. Fonville discussed the JET (Jobs in Education in Texas) grant.  We were awarded $350,000 for the Lineworker program. We will purchase a bucket truck, trailer, and safety equipment.  We increased the enrollment in the program to 30, so we could write the grant.  A lot of the students receive job offers after the Lineworker rodeo.  This program is listed as a high demand job.  South Plains College and Weatherford College have this program.  Odessa has it, but they have scaled back.  Ours is a one-year program plus CDL training. Our average size is 18 students, but we will run 30 for the reporting period.  We usually have to turn away around 10 students.  We couldn’t tell anyone we were awarded the grant for months. 

Ms. Claxton went over the Standard and Poors rating.  We went from a BBB+ to an AA-.  She has to do this report every 2 – 3 years. 

Roofing Project:  We still need 3 a/c units, some skylights fixed, and some water leaks.  We haven’t finalized the project. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:  The board went into executive session in accordance with section 551.071 of the Texas Government Code.   Purpose:  Consultation with legal counsel.  At the conclusion of the executive session, the board reconvened.   No action was taken. 

Date of next board meeting November 13, 2023

October 2023 

October 2023 Poise           October 2023 Colleague

Resolution for Pay During Closure for Inclement Weather

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Resolution: Election - Scurry County Appraisal District Board of Directors

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Ms. Claxton and Mr. McIntire will discuss the Flatland Solar Project.    NexEra Flatland Solar Project.

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Dr. Beebe will discuss the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

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Please complete your cybersecurity training.