MAC trustees discuss new center
The upcoming ribbon cutting and grand opening of MAC’s Industry and Technology Center was the main topic of discussion at this month’s board of trustees meeting. A special ceremony is planned for 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, on the Park Hills campus. (Kevin Jenkins)
Industry and Technology Center to open with fanfare next Thursday on the Park Hills campus
Kevin R. Jenkins, kjenkins@dailyjournalonline.com
The main topic of discussion at the Aug. 10 meeting of the Mineral Area College Board of Trustees was the upcoming ribbon cutting and grand opening of the school’s Industry and Technology Center planned for Thursday, Aug. 24, on the Park Hills campus.
According to MAC president Dr. Joe Gilgour, the ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the 89,500-square-foot building’s front entrance, with tours to follow immediately afterward.
“The ribbon cutting is being held in conjunction with the Park Hills-Leadington, Farmington Regional, Desloge and Bonne Terre chambers of commerce,” he said. “We want everyone to know that this event is open to the entire community. We’re even planning to have food trucks onsite for those who’d like to grab some lunch.”
Gilgour also informed the trustees that state Rep. Mike Henderson, R-Desloge, who also serves as Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem, will speak at the grand opening, and he’s expecting several other local state representatives to be in attendance at the ceremony as well.
He noted that many state leaders, including Gov. Mike Parson, are expecting the Industry and Technology Center will help MAC meet the demands of area employers and provide post-secondary students with opportunities to receive specialized technical skills training close to home.
Other items covered at the meeting included:
Dr. Joe Gilgour, Mineral Area College president, has plans to cut the ribbon next Thursday on the new building that was many months in the making. (File Photo)
- Approval of this year’s proposed tax rate following a hearing held prior to the public portion of the meeting. According to Gilgour, the tax rate will remain the same as last year. “There was no change recommended to the current tax rate of 46.08 cents per $100 assessed valuation,” Gilgour said. “It was decreased a couple of years ago, and it hasn’t been raised since then.”
- Gilgour announced that the school plans to open a new satellite location in Jackson. He said, “We’ll be operating out of their high school in probably spring. We have one more approval to get through the accreditation body in Chicago, but that shouldn’t be a big deal. The state has approved it, so we should be offering some evening classes there in the spring of 2024.
- Jim Gerwitz, MAC athletic director, announced that MAC’s indoor men’s track team had the best GPA of any team in the NJCAA. In addition, it was learned that several other athletic teams at the school received academic awards.
- In new business, the trustees approved the reemployment of Federal (Title III) Grant Employees for Federal FY2024, a contract renewal with Jenzabar for software, artificial turf for the baseball field’s home plate area, and a proposed revision to the school’s Academic Integrity policies.
- New employees introduced at the meeting were Angela Moses, Simulation Lab supervisor; Jacquelyn Szalmasagi, Practical Nursing instructor; Lisa Moses, associate director of Allied Health; Colton Adkisson, history instructor; Vicki Brinkley, Early Learning Academy administrative assistant; Casey Blumenstock, Law Enforcement Academy administrative assistant; Kayla Johnson, Digital Media specialist; Lily Pirtle, TRIO Talent Search administrative assistant; Greg Heiar, men’s basketball head coach; Jordan Thompson, JV baseball coach; Jamie Pickel, assistant soccer coach and CJ Wright, College Park coordinator and softball head coach.
The next meeting date for the board of trustees is Sept. 14 in the VanHerck Board Room.
