May 20, 2025
May Board Meeting Highlights
The Board of Trustees gathered for their May 19th meeting in the President鈥檚 Dining Room inside the McAtee Dining Center on the Ark City Main Campus. Trustee Dr.Alan Marcotte provided the invocation, and Chair Bob McGregor recited the College Mission Statement.
Under Awards and Reports, Cowley President Dr. Michelle Schoon provided a recap of the 102nd Commencement exercises of Cowley College.
Schoon shared that an Adult Education grant proposal was accepted by the state and the Director of Adult Education. Saying she and Kami Moore traveled to Topeka for a meeting with the board of regent鈥檚 staff to discuss the program funding. Cowley College will now be a sponsoring organization for the Community Children鈥檚 Choir. On April 23rd and 24th Cowley hosted the annual Sumner Robotics Competition at the Sumner Campus.
In addition, Schoon highlighted the retirement reception hosted by Cowley for Darrell Quick (12 years building and grounds) and Deanna Harp (27 years financial aid). During that reception Roxanna James, Director of IMPACT, received the 2025 Ben LeCair Staff Excellence Award.
Schoon also noted that enrollment for Summer and Fall semesters are currently open and both sessions are trending ahead of the last year enrollment numbers.
The Board welcomed Debi Clark of the Cowley County Big Brothers Big Sisters organization to recognize Cowley students who have made a difference in the lives of local children. Clark named McKenna Read, Gracia Barnett, Heidi Howcraft, Dylan Miller, and Jonica Cruz. Cruz spoke to the Trustees saying, 鈥淚 think my little sister and I were matched very well鈥�.
Government Affairs Liaison Jessica Lucas discussed legislative updates regarding the recently approved Blue Ribbon Committee for Higher Education. Lucas also discussed recent legislative seat openings including the governorship.
Under Administrative Reports, Cowley coaches postseason honors were given to Donnie Jackson (Kansas Coaches Basketball Association (KBCA) Coach of the Year), Jenny Hoyt (KJCCC Division II Softball Coach of the Year), and Glenwood Edwards ( KJCCC Assistant Women鈥檚 Track Coach of the Year).
No Public Comments.
Under Standing Committee Reports, Trustee Stanley provided a recap of the recent Trustee Academic Subcommittee meeting, where members discussed course procedure updates to Childcare Practicum I & II and Business and Social Science.
Trustee Shriver provided a recap of the May 12, 2025, Trustee Finance Subcommittee meeting, where members discussed a gym sewer line repair for $179,895.00 to be paid from the Capital Maintenance Budget (approved 8-0) , the repairing and repaving of the Hafner Parking Lot for $29,292.00 (approved 8-0), the purchase of new WiFi equipment for all campus locations for $58,677.00 to be covered using cybersecurity grant funds and the IT operating budget (approved 8-0), the purchase of the KBPort software with installation and training for $31,357.00 to be covered using KBOR Capital Outlay Tech Ed grant funds (approved 8-0), to purchase the 2024 Ford Transit from Stuteville Ford for $48,250.00 to be covered using the transportation budget (approved 8-0), and to purchase the 2023 Dodge Durango Pursuit AWD from Kansas Highway Patrol for $38,825.00 to be covered using Security Department budget and Contingency (approved 8-0). Procurements totalling $386,296.00 were unanimously approved.
Trustee Bazil provided a recap of the May 14th, 2025, Trustee Policy Subcommittee meeting, where policies 154.00 鈥� Mail Services (Revised) and 462.00 鈥� Assessment and Placement Criteria (Revised) were presented for a first reading. A formal review will be requested at the June Board meeting.
Trustee White provided a recap of the May 12th, 2025, Trustee Sumner County Sales Tax Subcommittee meeting, where members requested review and approval of the November 2025 election ballot question. Verbiage was approved 8-0.
The Board held a 20-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel, regarding administration interim appointment, pursuant to the exception related to non-elected personnel. No action followed the executive session.
The Board moved to approve the Consent Agenda, including the Minutes from the April 21st, 2025 regular meeting, Financial Reports, Bills and Claims, and Personnel Transactions by a vote of 6-2.
The Board held a pair of executive sessions totaling 25-minutes to discuss non-elected personnel, regarding an administrator exit interview and the President鈥檚 annual evaluation pursuant to the exception related to non-elected personnel. No action followed the executive sessions.
Under Other Business, College Attorney J.T. Seitz informed the Board of the recently passed HB 2134, which goes into effect on July 1, 2025.
With no other business to discuss, Chair McGregor declared the meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m..
For more details, see the agenda.
Hunter Ferguson | Integrated Communications Specialist
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
hunter.ferguson@cowley.edu