Ex-Three Rivers president got high pay while faculty salaries remained minimal

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The former president of Three Rivers Community College, Dr. John Cooper, was widely regarded as being conservative with the day-to-day operations of the college, but critics viewed that type of leadership from him as a contradiction.

While faculty salaries at Three Rivers are among the lowest in Missouri, Cooper took home a paycheck higher than the president at most surrounding secondary schools with similar enrollments, according to recent figures provided by the board of trustees.

A professor with no experience and a master's degree at Three Rivers currently starts out at $29,224, which is about $2,000 less than the pay rate for a new teacher with a master's at Poplar Bluff High School.

Meanwhile Cooper's ending salary was about $150,000, according to the human resources department of Three Rivers.

That total includes a pay raise of more than $7,000 since the previous board last approved the contract on Sept. 21, 2006.

In addition, Cooper's contract allowed him "unrestricted use of a late model full-size automobile with gasoline, insurance and maintenance provided by the district." The latest company vehicle purchased for the president was a 2008 Buick LaCrosse.

"A car for personal use with paid gas is something that is done for CEOs at Fortune 500 companies," said board member Randy Winston, noting that the contract predates his seat on the board. "In Dr. Cooper's defense, as long as he was employed at the college, he was given this right."

Upon Joe Rozman's recent acceptance of the position as interim president of Three Rivers, he was given a raise of $2,000 per month over his current salary, along with access to the company vehicle under the restriction that it is used for "reasonable business-related travel."

"[Cooper] still has the college car but it is his intent to turn it back in," said Rozman.

As a result of Cooper's dismissal earlier this month, the former president of more than a decade was put on 30 days' paid administrative leave, which ends July 3.

The next president hired will have the same limitations with the company car that the president before Cooper had, according to the board. Dr. Stephen Poort was permitted to drive a college-provided vehicle no more than two years old for professional purposes only, as stated in his final contract, which had his ending salary listed at about $95,000.

James Grassham, one of the current trustees who served on the board during Poort's time, said: "I've complained about getting a handle on spending for a long time but nobody seemed interested."

"As a board you hate to micromanage things, but we must get it spelled out appropriately so the taxpaying public would approve," said board chairman Steve Cookson.

Board treasurer Wilbur Thornton added: "We're finding out about a lot of stuff the old board did that we have to correct."

Evidence of major problems at the community college was confirmed at last week's board meeting. College officials announced that Three Rivers has been cited for the second time by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools for lacking a coherent integrated plan for the college and the education services it provides.

Furthermore, the Missouri State Auditor is currently investigating the financial records at Three Rivers allegedly due to a citizen petition.

Aside from figuring out how best to address these concerns so the college is re-accredited in a decade, the trustees agreed that they must promptly raise the morale of employees. Some employees were reportedly considering joining a union because of alleged poor working conditions under the former direction of the college.

While the budget for the coming fiscal year is finalized over the next couple of months, the trustees are working with administration to raise the base salary of the faculty and staff at the college, according to board secretary Marion Tibbs, who also serves as chairman of the college's salary, benefit and welfare committee.

Since Thornton and Winston were elected over the incumbents by almost a two-to-one vote in April, some of the promises the trustees made during their campaign have been fulfilled in one way or another.

Shortly after the election L. Joe Scott resigned as college attorney.

Then Cooper, who planned to retire in August 2009, was fired "with cause," according to the minutes from the executive session on June 3. Citing legal reasons, the board declined to explain why the unanimous decision was reached, but Cooper's contract stated that reasons for termination could include "insubordination, abuse of power, or any other conduct which gives the appearance of an impropriety."

Last week the board dropped the lawsuit with Southeast Missouri State University over a rental dispute from 2005.