Barton Community College’s Board of Trustees approved several contract renewals on Wednesday, along with a contingency planning policy and a new strategic plan for the college.
Contracts were for 2015-16 head coaches, management staff and administrators:
• Head coach contract renewals were for: Aaron Avila, men’s and women’s soccer; Mike Bammes, wrestling; Marc Benjamin, softball; Brent Biggs, baseball; Craig Fletchall, men’s basketball; Douglas Kaiser, men’s and women’s golf; David Schenek, track and cross country; Amanda Schnoebelen, dance line and cheerleader; and Lyle Stickney, tennis (part-time).
• Management staff renewals were for: Terry Barrow, comptroller and budget manager; Mary Foley, executive director of workforce training and economic development; Brandon Green, OSHA program coordinator; Linda Haberman, business manager; Jane Howard; executive director of business, technology and community education; Julie Knoblich, director of human resources; Dr. Kathleen Kottas, executive director of nursing and health-care education; Terri Mebane, director of military programs; Leanne Miller, director of Fort Leavenworth learning services; Todd Moore, assistant director of athletics and sports information director; Amy Oelke, coordinator of enterprise database applications; Myrna Perkins, associate dean of student services and director of financial aid; ReGina Reynolds Casper, director of learning resources; Trevor Rolfs, director of athletics/head coach (women’s basketball); Angela Sullivan, associate dean of distance learning; and John Truitt, executive director of technical and military programs. Trustees also approved a new contract for Michelle Kaiser, assistant dean of information services.
• Administrative contracts were renewed for Dr. Richard Abel, dean of academics; Ashley Arnold, dean of military academic services; Mark Dean, dean of administration; Angela Maddy, dean of student services; William Nash, dean of Fort Riley technical education and military outreach training; Charles Perkins, dean of information services; and Elaine Simmons, dean of workforce training and community education.
There is one open administrative position, for vice president of instruction and student services. Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said the college received 17 applications for the position before the posted deadline, plus five others that arrived after the deadline. On paper, many of the applicants meet the qualifications to fill the vacancy created when Vice President Dr. Penny Quinn resigned. She has accepted a position as President at Kaskaskia College in Centralia, Ill. Her last official day at BCC is Monday, June 1, and she starts her new job on June 8.

New personnel
Three new employees are hired as a routine personnel item: Adrian Quinn will fill a vacancy on the Barton County campus as a mechanical systems technician, Jozette Litrell was hired as a secretary in the nursing department, and Koul Jackson was hired to a part-time position as an instructional specialist (Adult Basic Education and GED) at Fort Riley.

Strategic Planning
In other business, the trustees approved the new Strategic Plan, and approved a new policy, titled “Contingency Planning.”
The board will receive monthly updates on the Strategic Plan’s implementation, which starts with adopting four “Core Values” for the college:
• Drive Student Success
• Cultivate Community Engagement
• Optimize Employee Experience
• Emphasize  Institutional Effectiveness.

Contingency Planning
The Contingency Planning policy gives direction to the college president when recommendations for change are needed.
The policy states:
“In fulfilling its educational mission, Barton Community College attempts to make optimal use of its resources. Optimum utilization may call for the adjustment of operational procedures such as a reduction or discontinuance of a program or service; reallocation of resources as a result of changing educational priorities; shifting enrollment patterns; lack of funds; and/or the requirements of legally imposed mandates.
“The President will make these recommendations to the Board of Trustees based on the college’s mission of emphasizing academic, vocational-technical, and cultural enrichment learning opportunities; coupled with the need for maintaining program integrity, financial viability, and responsiveness to internal and external college constituencies.”