Three Rivers hears from foundation director

Three Rivers Community College trustees expressed satisfaction in learning more about the college's foundation after the third public dialogue this year between the two entities, each time featuring a different spokesperson from the not-for-profit organization.

It remains to be determined whether the sitting Three Rivers president will become a voting member of the foundation board, which was first suggested by the trustees in June as a resolution to an apparent miscommunication over student scholarship money.

Making the appointment is "not my decision," said Judy Scott, executive director of the foundation, during the Three Rivers board meeting Thursday. She said she will make sure the foundation's governing board is "aware" of the college trustees' position.

"No one at the institution ever made the request" before Dr. Devin Stephenson took the college's top position, as far as Scott could recall. She said Stephenson has been approached about attending the next foundation meeting, which will take place before the year ends.

Dr. John Cooper, who was dismissed as college president last year, was always invited to the meetings, according to Scott. She noted that the meetings are posted and open to the public.

"We have absolutely nothing to hide " she said.

Along with faculty representation, many community college foundations in Missouri have either the college president as a voting member or an ex-officio member, a college trustee, or a combination, according to a cursory review.

Prior to the April 2008 Three Rivers board election, Judy Scott noted, she served the foundation as a college administrator, foundation chair John Stanard was a longtime college board member and foundation vice-chair Joe Scott was the college lawyer.

"There was definitely close communication" with the college, she said.

Since then, Stanard was not re-elected to the college board, Joe Scott resigned as attorney and Judy Scott's part-time position went from one of Three Rivers' vice presidents to director of advancement, receiving her contract renewal on a 4-2 vote.

There has not been a decision the foundation has made on behalf of Three Rivers "in hopes it will not succeed and do well," Judy Scott said. If the trustees want something from the foundation, she continued, all they have to do is call her office.

Three Rivers board treasurer Randy Winston asked if he could see the foundation's bylaws. If it is "truly the Three Rivers Foundation, I'd like to know a little more about how it operates," he said, adding that he is still unaware of the "intricacies" and "prescribed methodology" of the setup. Judy Scott responded that she would be happy to provide any documentation.

Winston said he has heard that a foundation board member had not been invited to a meeting in three years. Every member is called and given a hard copy of the agenda, Judy Scott replied, and any claim otherwise is "absurd."

Asked how often they meet, Judy Scott said that Missouri statute requires foundations to meet at least annually, and they have met more often during capital campaigns.

Judy Scott explained that the foundation still has some of its members from when the 501(c)(3) was created in 1989. Stanard, Joe Scott and Martha Bidewell are original perpetual members, according to the certificate of incorporation previously provided to the Daily American Republic. The foundation has since appointed Don Bedell, Jay Githens, Tom Lawson and Bill Vail.

Judy Scott said she took her paid position with the foundation in 2004 and Barbara Wilcoxon was later hired to do secretarial work one day per week. The foundation is "certainly not paying me much," Judy Scott said. The combined salary of the two is $15,000, the foundation has reported.

Along with the college, the foundation is audited each year by Schmersahl Treloar & Co., based in St. Louis, and the results have been "clean," according to Judy Scott.

She said the largest single gift the foundation has received established the E.K. Porter Distance Learning Center, made possible by the $3.5 million bequest of the late Kay Porter. The foundation paid more than $200,000 for the four acres on which the building sits, and only maintains the deed for borrowing power in case the college goes under, according to Judy Scott.

She said she has worked for Three Rivers for nearly 40 years, "three months longer than Gene Bess," men's basketball coach and athletic director, and she has never understand what the issue with the foundation is, "personalities aside."

"I'll give you that," Judy Scott said. "We may have different approaches, but if you don't have that here, you're at the wrong table."

In other business, the board:

* Heard an update on the search process for a vice president of student success and chief financial officer. Kristina McDaniel, director of human resources, said so far 36 have expressed interest in the vice president position since Oct. 16, and the CFO position has just been posted on the college Web site.

* Heard Stephenson report that despite another round of budget cuts from Gov. Jay Nixon, higher education institutions have not lost any state revenue. Stephenson noted that Three Rivers still may experience a 5 - 10 percent decrease in funding next year. On top of anticipated increases in health insurance and paying out retirement incentives, the college president said, he will prepare for a $500,000 - $600,000 shortfall.

Stephenson said he plans to zero out the operating budget and "start over" in order to eliminate "pork."

* Unanimously approved changing the fee structure of the Early Childhood Learning Center by no longer offering daily and hourly rates.

Campus day care was created for students, college employees and community members, as space allows. According to information circulated by administration, the college has had to supplement the operation by more than $80,000 per year, and the potential savings could make up for most of that amount with flat rates.

The new costs will be $75 per week, $50 for three days and $30 for two days. A 10 percent discount will still be available to people with multiple children that utilize the service.

* Adopted a resolution to formally call for an election in April for the expiring terms of trustees Steve Cookson, Bill Hollida and Randy Grassham. Filing for candidacy will be open from Dec. 15 to Jan. 19.

* Accepted the resignation of Annabeth Miller, coordinator of news services, and Tina Davis, mailroom and print shop technician.