NPC awarded funds to purchase equipment and expand programming

The board approved 15 members to be on the Presidential Search Committee, which will be tasked with selecting a new college president following the resignation of Chato Hazelbaker. The board decided to table the motion of setting the Presidential Compensation Range pending more information on comparable college district ranges. Board Member Kristine Laughter noted that maybe the board should consider increasing the range in an effort to retain whoever is hired for the position. “We continue to offer a low salary package to the president and we’re losing presidents, very good presidents. I’m curious if that’s something we can look at and consider.”

The board then went into two separate executive sessions, one of which was to discuss Hazelbaker’s review and exit interview. No action was taken.

The second executive session was to discuss the Interim President Dr. Michael Solomonson’s contract, which was ratified once the board was back in regular session. Solomonson is also Northland Pioneer College’s (NPC) Vice President for Learning & Student Services as well as the Title IX Coordinator.

Prior to the regular meeting, the board held public hearings for 2024-25 Truth in Taxation (TNT) and the 2024-25 proposed budget. The TNT notice was published both in the May 1 and 15 editions of The Tribune, in which it explained the proposed increase in primary property taxes of $1.7707, or an annual cost of $177.07 on a $100,000 home, an increase of $7.08. This would generate a total tax levy of $18.3 million.

The total of all funds for FY 2024 is over $51.8 million and just over $56.7 million for FY 2025. College staff anticipate the expenditure limit will be breached in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, but carryforward balances will be used to cover any overage. The current available carryforward amount is $32 million.

The public hearings were followed by a special meeting, in which the council approved the 2024-25 primary property tax rate and levy, as well as the 2024-25 budget. The 2025-27 proposed capital budget which is $17.9 million was also approved.

In the regular meeting, Dr. Gary Reyes was presented with Faculty Emeritus status. Reyes, who had recently retired from the Psychology department at the college, worked at NPC for 24 years.

Jillian Henry, who just received her second associates of science degree from NPC, presented to the board during the Student Government Association report (SGA). Henry took part in student government, the college’s Eagle Club and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She was moved to tears as she thanked the board and college for all they’ve done for her and announced her plans to attend Arizona State University (ASU) in the fall of 2024.

NPC’s Friends & Family (NPC F&F) Director Betsy Wilson presented the organization’s semiannual scholarship analysis report. “I’ll just say that I continue to be encouraged by the overall quality of the applications that we receive and discouraged by the number of students who procrastinate.” Of the 61 applications received for the Fall 2024 semester, 54 qualified and 26 of them came in within the last two hours of the six-week application period, according to Wilson.

Wilson also gave an update on the 2025-2030 strategic plan, followed by an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation update by Project Manager Colleen Marsh. A report on the Office of Institutional Effectiveness was also presented.

Hazelbaker provided a white paper pertaining to adding a student trustee to the governing board, which was requested in the February, 2024 meeting. “The easiest legal option would be to appoint a student trustee who’s not voting,” he explained, stating it would prevent the need for breaking up the five districts that the board members represent. Hazelbaker also provided a summary of current events.

In both the consent agenda and new business, the board:

* Approved 2024-27 TALON Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA) and Dual Enrollment IGAs in separate motions between the College District and Kayenta Unified School District No. 27, Holbrook Unified School District No. 3 (HUSD), Whiteriver Unified School District No. 20, St. Johns Unified School District No. 1, Heber-Overgaard Unified School District No. 6, Hopi Junior/Senior High School, Snowflake Unified School District No. 5, Show Low Unified School District No. 10 and Sanders Unified School District No. 18.

* Approved a 2024-27 IGA between the College District and Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT).

* Approved a resolution to Navajo County Election Services to conduct a special election to be held Nov. 5, 2024. The election is needed in order to fill the unexpired term for District No. 2 board representative for a four-year term commencing Jan. 1, 2025 and expiring on Dec. 31, 2028; and to fill the term for District No. 3 board representative for a six-year term commencing Jan. 1, 2025 and expiring on Dec. 31, 2030.

* Approved the purchase of three Amatrol HVAC trainers at a total cost of $74,393. Funds are budgeted from the Industrial and Technology Trades/Energy and Industrial Technician 2024 budget.

* Approved a lease renewal with the City of St. Johns for the term of July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2028. This pertains to the property situated at 955 North 13th W., presently housing the NPC welding and cosmetology programs in St. Johns. The lease entails a monthly fee of $3,400 spanning from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2028, totaling $40,800 annually and $163,200 over the duration of the four-year contract.

* Approved Chair Everett Robinson and Board Members Derrick Leslie, Rosie Sekayumptewa and Kristine Laughter to travel for the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) annual Leadership Congress in Seattle, Wash. The approximate cost to send a participant will be $3,500 and is available in the 2024-25 budget.

* Approved Board Member Rosie to travel for the Governance Leadership Institute in Jackson, Miss. The approximate cost to send a participant will be $3,000 and money is available in the 2024-25 budget.