Summer 2019 Meeting Summary

Laverne Hays - Blackhawk Technical College

The new member orientation was attended by four newly appointed Trustees, Chuck Spoehr (FVTC), Rubie Gauthier and Dianne Lazear (NTC), and Carol De Young (WITC). Jim Beistle - one of the longest serving Trustees – and I also attended to welcome them on board, as did DBA President Carla Hedtke and Executive Director Layla Merrifield. Steve Tenpas – our Assistant Director in charge of member learning and communications – plans to hold these sessions during the January and July meetings. All Trustees are encouraged to review the materials and resources presented at the association orientation website.

Friday In-service: K-12 Partnerships
WITC College President Dr. John Will enthusiastically welcomed us, noting that his College has four main campuses plus three outreach centers within the 10,500 sq. mi area covering eleven counties that interact with three CESAs. They have no main campus but do have an administration center in Shell Lake. It takes more than three hours to commute between the furthest outlaying high schools they serve.

Jeanne Germain – Director of Career Prep & K-12 relations – led off the in-service by summarizing WITC’s customized Dual-Credit academies. In Wisconsin in 2018, there were about 45,000 K-12 students from over 400 high schools participating in over 59,000 courses, achieving 153,000 Dual/Transcripted credits. It was noted that these students – up from around 19,000 students in 2009 realized a tuition cost savings of $20,248,810. WITC hopes to provide a post-secondary education to sixty percent of their population by the year 2027, but they realize this will put greater demand on fewer teachers. Interactive participation followed with a K-12 panel consisting of WITC associate Dean Liz Pizzi, Rice Lake H.S. Principal Curt Pacholke, New Richmond H.S. Tech Ed Instructor Tom LeQue, and Siren H.S. Business Ed. Instructor Renae Peterson. Tech Colleges offer small schools a way to increase class offerings. They note a 90% parent attendance for the 5th grade (State requirement) career planning. An important concept is to offer relevant opportunities for today’s youth and to teach at the appropriate level. High Schools have their own advisory Boards for class offerings.

The in-service continued with Boardsmanship and the role of the Board Chairperson. Situations/scenarios discussed centered on board packets/agendas, budgets, closed sessions/confidentiality, non-partisanship, facilities, and what you leave for future boards. If the Chair has had previous discussion on any item on the agenda, they should preface the conversation with “I’ve had discussion …” Board members should share their perspective and not get comfortable with letting others steer the discussion. You are on the Board for a reason! The Chair may ask, “what are your thoughts on this”? Utilize a Board Calendar and review policies on a regular basis.

During discussion of Open Meetings Laws, there was a suggestion to have a link on the DBA’s website. After lunch, Layla gave a Legislative Update noting that efforts during the last 18 months have yielded $25 million for our Colleges. There is still focus on articulation agreements between UW vs Tech College credit transfers, additional need-based grants, and 2nd chance Pell grants. Dr. Susan May (FVTC) added that our successes were the result of the thoughtful, strategic approach of workgroup-legislator relationships.

CVTC President Bruce Barker gave us an overview of College Foundations using his own College as a reference and basing his very informative talk on the What, Why, Who, and How of Foundations. College Foundations are independent corporations, have their own Board of Directors and staffing, and have financial autonomy. They have an Executive Director who reports to (and is a member of) the College President and his cabinet, and their Boards generally have eleven or more members representing various sectors including Manufacturing, Agriculture, Construction, Health, and Banking. Committees include the Executive, Investment/Finance, and Gifts, and a possible subsidiary Real Estate foundation which allows for an even greater influx of expertise.

There should exist a Memorandum of Understanding between the College and the Foundation, and it should have a limit – perhaps 3 years.

Jim Zylstra – Exec. Vice President of the WTCS Board added that because of the non-profit status of Foundations, they need to be treated the same as any other donor, thus tax dollars cannot be used to support them, nor can grant money from the WTCS go to them. Any monies must be in the hands of the College before project approval.

Dr. Will provided us with a short campus tour, highlighting their Fire/Ems training. They provide State mandated training to over 100 departments (of which all but 3 are volunteer) using mobile and versatile equipment ‘classrooms’ including a fire-science lab and an ambulance which were on display.

2019 Tech and Media Awards
WITC presented their Tech Ed Champion award to Russ Davis Wholesale of Hammond, Wisconsin, recognizing them for contributions including trucks and classroom space for the CDL program. RDW is also a vital member of one of their Advisory Committees.

WITC presented their Media Award to Ryan Juntti and his cameraman Glenn Kellahan of station WDIO for their video coverage of a welding student who is hearing-impaired.

WITC also recognized Student Ambassador Logan Smith.

General Networking/Breakfast meeting
WTCS Board President Morna Foy reflected on her twenty-one years in the Technical College system and how her recent 16th state budget resulted in the largest bi-annual investment to date. Years in the making, we are now very well perceived thanks to the Colleges, our Presidents, and especially our Executive Director, Layla Merrifield, who has built very trusting relationships throughout the Capital.

WTCS Presidents Association President Jason Wood, now in his fourth year at SWTC, reported on their association’s committee work as it addresses interaction within colleges and different groups. Those committees – and their heads – include:
Bonnie Baerwald – Moraine Park – incarcerated individuals
Tracy Pierner – Blackhawk – K-12 and early college opportunities
Lori Weyers – Northcentral – expanding transferable credits to the U-W system Jack Daniels – MATC – special populations
Susan May – Fox Valley – working with the State legislature

ACCT State Coordinator Dawn Garcia reported that five of our Colleges are scheduled to give presentations at the ACCT in San Francisco October 16th – 19th, and that details are being finalized on Noah Brown’s attendance at our Fall quarterly meeting in Waukesha.

WTCS Insurance Trust Committee Chair Ron Bertieri reported that premiums are steady and that there are now nine colleges participating in the Employee Benefits Consortium – Milwaukee being the latest to join.

Director’s Meeting:
The DBA’s Financials were reviewed, and the By-Laws, Policies & Procedures committee were asked to begin a systematic review of those documents. There was discussion on the cost/value of ACCT membership, and we will try to collect and distribute the presentation schedules for the five Wisconsin Colleges who will be presenting in San Francisco in October. The annual Planning session will take place in Madison on August 23rd and 24th.