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THE OFFICIAL MINUTES (5-5-22)

The Big Bend Community College Board of Trustees held a Regular Board meeting Thursday, May 5, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. in person and available via Zoom Webinar.

1. Call to Order
Present: Anna Franz, Gary Chandler, Amy Parris, Juanita Richards, Thomas Stredwick

Pledge of allegiance.

2. Trustee Emeritus
Motion 22-20 Trustee Juanita Richards moved to award Jon Lane Trustee Emeritus. Trustee Anna Franz seconded and the motion
passed.

Jon Lane expressed appreciation of his family’s support. He stated Big Bend changes people’s lives. He challenged trustees to continue to serve as advocates for students, continue with connections with legislators, ask questions, and have fun.

3. Mission Moments
Board Chair Thomas Stredwick reminded all of the Big Bend mission, Serve as a bridge, stand as a leader, support for success. He reported that the Business Office models integrity as evidenced by the recent clean audit. Auditors reported the business office staff were a pleasure to work with and competently conducted the business of the college.

President Thompson Tweedy introduced CBIS Director Beth Laszlo who introduced Program Assistant Cheryl Yamane. Executive Director of the Business Office Charlene Rios introduced Amanda Kim and Mackenzie Gardner who are new hires in the Business Office.

President Thompson Tweedy presented student Kristin Ortiz with the All WA Academic Team Member Award.

4. Educational Presentation
Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy provided information about the Ends Statements in preparation for the trustees’ May 10 Study Session. The Policy Governance model includes Ends Statements set by the trustees and means which is delegated to the president for operationalizing.

Ends are not about intentions, they define the benefits or results of an organization’s work. The Ends Statements, which are Mission, Student Success, Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Community Engagement, Integrity and Stewardship, and Inclusion and Climate were reviewed.

5. Consent
a) Approval of March 23, 2022, Board Meeting Minutes (A); b) Accreditation (I); c) Student Success (I); d) Assessment (I); e) Finance & Administration (I); f) Human Resources Report (I); g) Foundation Report (I).
Motion 22-21 Trustee Amy Parris moved to approve the consent agenda. Trustee Anna Franz seconded and the motion passed.

6. Remarks
None.

7. Faculty Updates
Faculty Association Officer Dr. Tyler Wallace presented faculty updates. Alfonzo Zavala--a BBCC graduate, earned the "Top Graduate Paper Award" at the "Virginia Conference on Race" for his paper titled "The 'Clinton Massacre' and its Significance in the Mississippi Plan of 1875."

Early Childhood Education is offering Spanish ECE classes out in Mattawa at Inspire Development Center to support their staff in completing their Infant/Toddler certification. They have five ECE students who are volunteering their time to assist Moses Lake School District’s Groff Elementary staff with Kindergarten Roundup on May 19th from 5- 7 PM.

Lindsay Groce shares that the CHEM 163 Annual Science Fair will be in person again this year. The 3rd quarter General Chemistry students do independent research projects and will present their poster reports at the Science Fair. Details: 2:30-4:30pm on Wednesday, June 8th in Masto and reception to follow in the STEM Center!

Workforce Education Coordinator Tom Willingham shared news on Cybersecurity. The Computer Science(CS) Department is working with Microsoft through a grant they provided to us to investigate options related to creating a Cybersecurity program at the college. In doing this work, we are looking to add some classes and certificates to our CS Systems Administration degree that will support our efforts to close the employment gap in our region and to provide students with 4-year transfer options in an effort to close the even larger employment gap statewide. We are in the development phases now and will run a pilot next year for 2-4 new courses. Part of the grant is to explore opportunities where we can have industry professionals teach the classes or offer additional classroom support and training to our current instructors. BBCC has become a member of Cybersecurity Training and Education Center (NCyTE); and, we will apply to become a Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) for Cyber Defense, which will take a couple of years.

CS is also working with Microsoft and Computing for All to develop an articulation with Quincy HS to teach 4 introductory courses over the next couple of years that will give their students the opportunity to earn credits that lead into a Systems Administration degree, Data Center Specialization, or Cyber Security Specialization, an AAS that supports them in desktop support, network administration, or other IT roles, or 4-year transfer and Manufacturing & Process Technology degree with a Mission Critical Operations emphasis.

Jen McCarthy shares that the German class has been doing excellent work this quarter - a highlight is their daily Listening Comprehension practice exercises, which are "Buchstabierenspiel" (the spelling game) and "das Datumspiel" (the date game). Everyday, she uses the German alphabet to spell German words and their translations into English for students to listen to and report on, as well as giving them dates (date, month, year) also in German for their practice. It has been going very well and the students seem to really enjoy being able to play along. Next week, week 6, is their quarterly Midterm Movie Madness! Two DVDs will be shared with the students: "Labyrinth of Lies" and "Nowhere in Africa", both of which are interesting German films about the 20th century. The first features a lawyer in Germany who uncovers huge conspiracy by German institutions as he seeks to prosecute a beloved teacher for being a cruel guard at Auschwitz. The second is about a German Jewish refugee family that moves to Kenya in the 1930s. We are going to view these movies all 4 days in person, and the films will be shared on Zoom as well.

Ag Instructor Aaron Mahoney has shared a presentation of the weeds identification (AGR 211) course.

Fran Palkovic shared a PowerPoint of students’ spring art!

8. ASB
ASB President Colton Reynolds discussed Student Recognition Night, over 120 people attended. Students are appreciating in-person events. Board Chair Thomas Stredwick expressed his appreciation of the student activities department. Reynolds shared key takeaways from their recent convention attendance including promoting positive change with intention and being more than party planners.

9. President’s Update
Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy reported human resources has been very busy with multiple personnel searches underway. The current employee turnover rate is 4.79%.

Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy share about lifting the student vaccine mandate during the campus community forums last week. Lifting the mandate removes enrollment barriers for students and lessens the workload for student services staff. COVID-19 is moving toward an endemic. The K-12 approach and State Dept of Health’s recommendation helped inform her decision effective fall quarter. The COVID-19 infection rates will be monitored closely to determine masking requirements. 

Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy reported the winter and spring enrollment counts were significantly reduced from this time last year and two years ago pre-COVID. ctcLink implementation is going well. The Pillar Leads and their staff have added layers of learning and work to complete the migration during COVID-19, development of the strategic plan and a presidential transition. All faculty and staff will attend the in-service tomorrow and pillar leads will have time to collaborate.

Projects providing more direct services in Mattawa and Othello are ongoing. President Thompson Tweedy thanked Trustee Amy Parris for her efforts connecting Big Bend services in Othello. Big Bend is offering classes in their K-12 space, at the Port of Mattawa, and Douglas Fruits in Mattawa.

The May 12 Job and Career Fair and Big Bend Preview Day are recruiting efforts. Many employees are volunteering to support both events. President Thompson Tweedy thanked Interim BEdA Director Jody Bortz, assistant Barbara Collins and Director of Title V Grants Tammy Napiontek.

At 2:37 p.m., Board Chair Thomas Stredwick announced that the Board would adjourn to executive session for approximately 15 minutes to discuss items provided for in RCW 42.30.110 (1): (g) to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment or to review the performance of a public employee. The Executive Session was extended by five minutes. A five-minute break was taken immediately following the Executive Session. The meeting reconvened at 3:02 p.m. with no action taken.

10. Strategic Plan
Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy shared the progression of the strategic plan; it will come before the board for approval at the next board meeting June 9. She gave a high-level summary and shared the strategic priorities. Dr. Tyler Wallace read the mission, vision, and guiding principles in Spanish. Many new activities in the strategic plan are grant funded. Title V Grant produces institutional change. During the development of the strategic plan the committee reviewed all the current activities to ensure they were included in the plan and to reduce the number of new initiatives introduced.
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11. Trustees Progress Toward Goals
Board Chair Stredwick explained this standing agenda item is set to provide time for the trustees to review progress toward their three goals:

  1. Develop and implement an improved system for monitoring Board effectiveness by establishing an annual checklist for monitoring the overall performance of Big Bend Community College and providing training and other educational opportunities for Trustees.

Board Chair Thomas Stredwick shared about implementing a dash board to have a simplified snapshot. 

2. Advance equity, diversity, and inclusion by establishing policies and institutional goals supporting operational equity, diversity, and inclusion programs.

Comments on DEI goal, lots of options for this at the ACT Conference. Anna will contact other college trustees who have attended DEI educational opportunities.

3. Ensure effective onboarding and support of new trustees.
New trustees Gary Chandler and Amy Parris reported they feel supported.

12. Preview Board Study Session
The trustees reviewed the May 10 study session agenda. The board will enjoy Taco Tuesday with ASB for lunch!

13. Assessment of Board Activity
Trustee Thomas Stredwick attended the SAO exit conference and preparation meeting with President Thompson Tweedy (E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6). He also attended the Samaritan Healthcare’s Bourbon and Bowties event (E-4). Lastly, he checked in with former Trustee Jon Lane about the Emeritus nomination (E-1, E-4, E-5, E-6).

Trustee Amy Parris reported that she supported bringing Big Bend services to Othello by meeting with the Columbia Basin Health Association. She also met with students to organize a group to attend the Job and Career Fair. Trustee Parris also attended the Promising Practices webinar via Zoom.

Trustee Anna Franz attended Cellarbration and the wrestling banquet. She also completed the ACT award nominations.

Trustee Juanita Richards met with President Thompson Tweedy, attended a Foundation meeting and reviewed financial statements. She also attended Cellarbration, and the wrestling banquet.

15. Next Regularly Scheduled Board Meeting
The next board meeting is scheduled on May 10 (study session) and June 9, 2022 (regular meeting).

16. Miscellaneous
Trustee Juanita Richards asked for the student events to be added to the Big Bend calendar on the website.

Trustee Gary Chandler reported he is the Workforce Board Vice President and they have talked about community colleges and OSPI to work on Running Start in CTE programs.

The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m