The Barton Community College Board of Trustees gathered Tuesday evening for its regular meeting and discussed one of its nine overarching goals, known as ENDs, one of which is “Regional Workforce Needs.”
This END states, “The college will address regional workforce needs,” which is supported by four indicators. The College will:
• Develop strategies to identify and address on-going needs.
• Organize area resources in addressing needs.
• Build effective partnerships in addressing workforce needs.
• Be recognized as a leader in economic development.
The main emphasis of the report was on the importance of advisory boards, which are made up of industry professionals. They play a pivotal role in the success of Barton’s workforce training programs.
The college has more than 600 partnerships with business, industry, community organizations and other educational institutions, and 20 advisory boards to guide their workforce training programs.
Agriculture Advisory Board member Stan Kaiser of Golden Belt Feeders, Criminal Justice Advisory Board member Steve Billinger of the Barton County Sheriff’s Office and Welding Advisory Board member Dave Cox of Maico Industries in Ellsworth were present to comment on the success of the boards and the partnerships they support. Many of the advisory board members also contribute to the programs through their businesses. Maico Industries, for example, recently provided steel for the welding program.
The report also included comments from Barton’s Dean of Fort Riley Technical Education and Military Outreach Training Kurt Teal. He highlighted the college’s status as an Occupational Safety and Health Administration Training Institute Education Center, the success of Barton’s hazardous materials programs, the Military Onsite Training Program and hazardous waste worker training offered to transitioning soldiers, their family members and veterans at no cost through a grant.
Meeting at a glance
Here’s a quick look at Tuesday’s Barton Community College Board of Trustees meeting:
• Officers were elected. The motion was to retain the same officers: Mike Johnson, chairman and Kansas Association of Community College Trustees delegate; Gary Burke, vice chair; Don Learned, secretary; and Mark Dean, treasurer.
• Trustees heard a Strategic Planning Report, Service Areas Report and Monitoring Report on END 5 - Regional Workforce Needs.
• The board heard a report on the 2018 EduKan (Western Kansas Community College Virtual Education Consortium) audit, which was approved. The management letter from certified public accountants Adams Brown Beran & Ball noted a material weakness: “Western Kansas Community College Virtual Education Consortium does not have proper segregation of duties necessary to establish a good system of internal control.” The auditors have recommendations to improve operational or administrative efficiencies and for improving internal control.
• The board also approved an EduKan Membership Resolution and Certificate. This amends and restates the previous interlocal agreement by and among Dodge City Community college, Barton County Community College, Pratt Community College and Seward County Community College.”
• The board met in executive session for 20 minutes, to discuss an individual employee’s performance.
