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BCC Trustees approve bowling
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The Barton Community College Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to add men’s and women’s bowling to its athletic programs in the 2019-2020 academic year.

The proposal was first presented at a board study session earlier this month. The next step is to submit an application to the NJCAA and to begin the search for a coach.

Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said program expenses are estimated at $173,010 and revenue could be $212,115 if the college recruits a full roster of 12 men and 12 women bowlers. He noted that when the college added a swimming program it did not fill up the first year, so it operated at a loss. However, that program is growing and in the second year the revenue to closer to what was forecast. He said there’s a good chance bowling will be successful.

The owner of Walnut Bowl is supportive and has negotiated a fee to make that facility available, Heilman said. The competitive calendar would include monthly competition from mid-October through mid-April.

Trustees voiced their enthusiasm, with Gary Burke noting Great Bend High School already has a strong bowling program. “I think it’s a good program to add.”

Trustee Don Learned said Western Athletic Conference coaches are excited because high school bowlers will be able to continue in the sport without going to a more expensive four-year college. “There will be a pool of people interested in coming,” he said.


Shafer Gallery report

David Barnes, director of the Shafer Art Gallery, showed trustees two brochures created to thank and major donors.

Earlier this year, CUNA Mutual Retirement Solutions sponsored the Art and Science Encounter Series. This allowed the gallery to show the exhibit “Beauty and the Beetle” and to offer a family program of art, science and fun.

One of the most popular activities was rolling a large ball to mimic the competition of dung beetles. He said one child claimed he loved, “getting to play with a giant ball of poop!”

The second brochure describes how the Glen and Elaine Mull Classroom Outreach funds an “Outreach Art Cart” that takes the Shafer Art Gallery into area schools. The gift has been used to purchase art supplies and subsidize fees of visiting artists. Art Cart Outreach occurred at 12 venues last year and engaged with over 1,200 students, Barnes reported.


Personnel

In other business, new personnel were approved: Dave Brown, campus safety officer; Kayli Lohrmeyer, lead care provider, and Madison Schneider, part-time assistant care provider, both at the Childhood Development Center; and Michael Bartolina, assistant track and field coach, all at the Barton County campus; and Paige Tinsman, part-time academic adviser at the Ft. Riley Campus.


Meeting at a glance

Here’s a quick look at Tuesday’s Barton Community College Board of Trustees meeting.

• Shafer Art Gallery Director David Barnes gave a report that included brochures created to thank CUNA Mutual Retirement Solutions and the Mull Family for supporting programs at the gallery.

• Staff gave reports on strategic planning and on the college’s directive to teach essential skills. This included a report from a student, Angela Gray.

• Five new employees were hired.