Nine head coaching contracts were renewed Wednesday when the Barton Community College Board of Trustees met, but the contracts of two head coaches are “pending final review.”
The board discussed personnel matters behind closed doors for nearly an hour before voting on head coach contracts, administrative contracts and contracts for managerial staff. Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said there were no changes in head coaches, but the board did not approve a contract for a head baseball coach or a head track and cross country coach. Those positions are currently held by Mike Warren and Dave Schenek, respectively. Neither could be reached for comment Thursday evening. While their contracts are pending, the head softball coach position remains open until filled. The position was last held by Heather Panning.
Non-coaching personnel whose contracts were renewed Wednesday are listed online. New hires approved by the board Wednesday were Kelsi Thompson, assistant care provider; Michelle Grigsby and Donna Cape, custodians; and Kelsey Hall, BCUB academic adviser. All will work on the Barton County campus.

The board also heard a report monitoring “workforce preparedness” of Barton graduates. Employers responding to a survey rated BCC graduates as “Excellent” or “Good” in many areas of general education, technical education and professionalism. The “professionalism” category had the highest and lowest rankings, with 92 percent giving high ratings for “maintains confidentiality” and 89 percent saying graduates were “customer focused” and have work ethics such as reliability, punctuality, integrity, judgment, maturity, politeness and dependability, but only 69 percent giving them high rankings for leadership/promotion potential. Twenty percent of the 180 employers who received surveys responded.

There was also discussion about Gov. Sam Brownback’s commencement address last Friday, and how the governor was particularly impressed with Barton’s graduates from correctional facilities. Dean Elaine Simmons said the graduation of former inmates was a milestone for the college, which has worked with inmates since 2001. “You can only dream about these moments,” she said.
The college continues to have a contract with the Kansas Department of Corrections, and recently was awarded a Promoting Reentry Success through Continuity of Educational Opportunities grant.
Barton offers services to inmates at Ellsworth Correctional Facility, Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility and Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility, the 24th Judicial District and Central Kansas Community Corrections.
The college also offers training for individuals seeking careers in corrections