Shown in the college's solarium/student lounge area are (from left) WCC President Gordon Burns; Susan Whittington, chairwoman of the board of trustees; board member Arnold Lakey; and Chris Robinson, director of the college's Alleghany and Ashe campuses.

First meeting held at BDC complex

The Wilkes Community College Board of Trustees held its regular quarterly meeting July 10 at the new WCC Alleghany campus, located in the same building as the Blue Ridge Business Development Center (BDC) in Sparta.

The meeting marked a first for the BDC complex — it was the first official meeting held at the new location of WCC Alleghany.

Personnel

Trustee Brenda Anderson reported the personnel committee's recommendation that the college's leave policy be revised to substitute Veterans Day for New Year's Eve as a holiday, to be consistent with the state personnel act. The board approved that change to the leave-for-full-time employees policy.

Anderson announced that new personnel include Era Suzanne Younger and Deborah A. Presley, lead instructors in the child development center. Sherry Brindle has resigned as associate director of the children's center.

The board approved the administration's recommendation that the updated faculty senate constitution and bylaws — with revisions recently made by the senate and approved by the administrative council — be accepted. According to a release from WCC, the N.C. General Assembly earmarked one-half of 1 percent of instructional allocations to reward superior faculty who go above and beyond the expected levels of delivering instruction and improving educational excellence as demonstrated by student outcomes. This year, all full-time faculty, with the exception of those on performance probation, were recognized with the excellence in teaching moneys which were awarded as part of the college bonuses. Also, 80 selected part-time curriculum and continuing education faculty shared in the excellence in teaching moneys.

The board congratulated Melanie Staley, named 2003 Outstanding Staff Member of the Year, and Belinda Smithey, recipient of the 2003 Excellence in Teaching Award. Both awards were presented by the WCC Endowment Corporation.

Building & Grounds

The board approved the building and grounds committee's recommendation of MGA/Masters Gentry Architects of Asheville to oversee the Ashe County laboratory and classroom addition. State construction officials have negotiated that contract.

The board also authorized the buildings and grounds committee to advertise for and select a designer for the proposed science and technology project located on the Wilkes campus prior to the trustees' next quarterly meeting.

That meeting is slated for Oct. 9 at the Oakwoods Country Club. The board reviewed a cash flow spreadsheet of the financing requirements for phase I of the WCC Master Facilities Plan. The WCC Endowment Corporation has successfully negotiated a $1.5 million line of credit over five years to help with financing and cash management. Wilkes Community College officials take a tour of the new Alleghany campus, along with the rest of the new Blue Ridge Business Development Center (BDC) complex, just before the WCC Board of Trustees quarterly business session July 10, the first official meeting held at the new facility.

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