Coordinating Board for Higher Education Meeting Minutes 11-03

Minutes of Conference Call Meeting
November 4, 2003

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education participated in a conference call meeting at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 at the Department of Higher Education in Jefferson City. Members participating were:

Sandy Kauffman, Chair
Lowell Kruse, Vice Chair
Dudley Grove, Secretary
John Bass
Diana Bourisaw
Marie Carmichael
Kathryn Swan
Mary Joan Wood

Members absent from the conference call meeting were:

Robert Langdon

Others participating were:

Quentin Wilson, Commissioner of Higher Education
Brenda Miner, Administrative Assistant to the Commissioner
Debra Cheshier, Director of Educational Policy, Planning and Improvement Center (EPPIC)
Jim Matchefts, Assistant Commissioner and General Council
Susanne Medley, Director, Communications and Customer Assistance
Robert Stein, Associate Commissioner Academic Affairs
John Wittstruck, Senior Research Associate (EPPIC)
Trudy Baker, Administrative Assistant (EPPIC)
Nickie Foster, Chair, Lake of the Ozarks Community College Steering Committee
Frank Christensen
Barbara Weyer
Scott Christensen
William Culver
Sue Thomson of the St. Louis Post Dispatch
Tim Kerin of the Associated Press-Kansas City

Chair Kauffman requested that participants identify themselves, called the meeting to order, and requested a roll call:

Senator Bass
Dr. Bourisaw
Mrs. Carmichael
Mrs. Grove
Chair Kauffman

Mr. Kruse
Mrs. Swan
Mrs. Wood

Commissioner Quentin Wilson introduced Dr. John Wittstruck who provided the following background information:

Chapter 178 of the Revised Missouri Statutes assigns the responsibility for oversight of the establishment of a new community college district to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. The proposal to establish the Lake of the Ozarks Community College was first discussed over 3 years ago. The Coordinating Board determined that the proposal met the standards described in the board's revised administrative rule which became effective on October 30, 2003.

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education is responsible for calling and conducting an election among registered voters of the proposed district on the question of establishing the new community college taxing district and the election of a Board of Trustees comprised of 6 members. Only if the proposal to establish the new community college passes, will the votes for the Board of Trustees be tallied.

Commissioner Wilson read the revision to the staff's recommendation of the Lake of the Ozarks Community College Proposal: Provided that MDHE staff receive, by 5:00 p.m. CST on November 10, 2003, fully signed letters of credit providing security in the total amount of $30,000 for the estimated costs of the election for the proposed community college district at Lake of the Ozarks,

The revision is related to the financial situation of the state at this time and concerns the following:

• Cost of the election;
• Clarify that this action is not a guarantee of state funding, should it pass;
• Discuss with the community college the utility of importing programs, distance learning and shared programs; and
• Staff will work closely with the Lake of the Ozarks Community College Steering Committee to assist them with a cost effective approach for maximum achievement.

Dr. Wittstruck stated that during conversations with Mrs. Nicki Foster, chair, Lake of the Ozarks Community College Steering Committee, and Mr. Frank Christensen, member, Lake of the Ozarks Community College Steering Committee, that the Steering Committee is most interested in developing a new kind of community college model. Mrs. Foster and Mr. Christensen were supportive of creating a model institution at the time of those discussions. This model institution would provide an opportunity to look at higher education's role in preparing the citizenry of Missouri for the competitiveness in the world through its education programs that support future workforce development.

Dollar figures were not requested, though the statutory language suggests what can be requested, it is not obliged to deliver that suggested amount. The department will be an advocate in investing in this effort.

Chair Kauffman requested that Dr. Wittstruck read the motion and called for a roll call vote.

Provided that MDHE staff receive, by 5:00 p.m. CST on November 10, 2003, fully signed letters of credit providing security in the total amount of $30,000 for the estimated costs of the election for the proposed community college district at Lake of the Ozarks, it is recommended that the Coordinating Board for Higher Education order, as authorized in section 178.800, RSMo, the submission of the following question within the public school districts of Camdenton R-III and School of the Osage R-II to vote on the question and to elect trustees at the next following annual municipal election:

Shall there be organized within the area comprising the school districts of Camdenton R-III and School of the Osage R-II, state of Missouri, a junior college district for the offering of 13th and 14th year courses, to be known as the "Junior College District of Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri," having the power to impose a property tax not to exceed the annual rate of twenty cents on the one hundred dollars assessed valuation of taxable property without voter approval and such additional taxes as may be approved by vote thereon, as prayed in petition filed with the Coordinating Board for Higher Education at Jefferson City, Missouri, on the Eighth day of September 2003?

It is further recommended that the Coordinating Board for Higher Education authorize the Commissioner of Higher Education to take all necessary action for calling the election, provided security for estimated costs as described above is received.

Mrs. Kathryn Swan moved to adopt the motion. Mrs. Dudley Grove seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously with the following roll call vote:

Senator Bass-Aye
Dr. Bourisaw-Aye
Mrs. Carmichael-Aye
Mrs. Grove-Aye
Chair Kauffman-Aye
Mr. Kruse-Aye
Mrs. Swan-Aye
Mrs. Wood-Aye

Mrs. Marie Carmichael congratulated the Lake of the Ozarks Community College Steering Committee for their many years of hard work and wished them success. Mrs. Foster thanked the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, the department, Commissioner Wilson, Mr. Wittstruck, and Mr. Matchefts.

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education will call the election among registered voters of the proposed district on the following:

• Establishment of the new community college taxing district on April 6, 2004 with a yes or no vote; and
• Election of new Board of Trustees comprised of 6 members.

Upon passage of the proposed taxing district, votes for the Board of Trustees will be counted. If the proposal is not passed they will not be counted.The county clerks of Camden, Miller, Laclede, and Morgan counties will conduct the election.

The meeting adjourned at 7:50 a.m.