MAC Board certifies election results
PARK HILLS — In the first meeting since the election earlier this month, the Mineral Area College Board of Trustees swore in newly-elected members and reorganized Thursday afternoon. The group also certified election results of a no-tax-increase bond issue approved by voters.
Board President Dr. James Bullis administered the oath of office to returning board members Dr. Don VanHerck and Harvey Faircloth. The two men were unopposed in the April election, allowing the college to save the cost of placing the matter on the ballot.
As a last matter during Thursday’s monthly meeting, Bullis was given a gift from the other board members marking his last 12 months as president of the organization. For the coming year businessman Gary Romine will serve as president, Faircloth as vice-president, Trustee Scott Sitzes as secretary, and Trustee Sally Parker-Nash as treasurer.
One of the last items of business handled by Bullis as president was the certification of the election results regarding the $8 million bond issue. He thanked the college administration, staff, students, Mineral Area College Foundation, the media and district patrons for any support and promotion of the bond issue. Voters passed the issue by a margin of 5,045 to 1,598.
An issue the newly reorganized board will need to take up in coming months will be the work of looking at redistricting. Every decade following the release of census numbers, the college administration is given the task to make any necessary adjustments to the district boundaries within the area MAC serves. Each district is represented by a board trustee, and the goal is to keep the districts relatively equal in population density.
Members received the latest update on enrollment during the meeting. Dean Jean Merrill-Doss reported there are 851 students enrolled to date for the upcoming summer semester, compared to 800 enrolled during the 2010 summer semester. The year 2010 had an all-time high to that point of 2,026 enrolled for the fall semester. Already some 957 students have enrolled for the Fall 2011 semester.
One means of paying for activities at the college is an annual MAC Foundation golf tournament. It was reported that a date of May 11 has been set for the next golf tourney. Last year’s tournament raised approximately $15,000. A “three for one” state matching grant turned that fundraising amount into just more than $60,000 for the college.
Board members heard several reports regarding department activities and results of assorted student competitions. They also learned of an upcoming student nurses association blood drive set for April 28.
The board of trustees will meet next on May 12 at 2 p.m.
Doug Smith is a reporter for the Daily Journal. You can reach him at 573-756-8927, or at dsmith@dailyjournalonline.com.
