At their January meeting on Thursday, the Seminole State College Board of Regents approved a resolution to maintain local board governance for the College and reviewed the terms of President Lana Reynolds’ employment.
During the President’s Report, Reynolds informed the Board about recent activities and events at the College. The President also provided Board members with a 2018 Year-in-Review document which is available to the public online at: www.sscok.edu/2018yearrregents.pdf
Under the first item of business, the Board approved a resolution to maintain local board governance of the College. Local board control was originally sanctioned by the Oklahoma Legislature following the College’s separation from Seminole High School in 1969.
Recommendations by the 2017 Task Force on Higher Education included restructuring governance of the State’s six rural community colleges – eliminating the local Board of Regents. Reynolds told the Board that there has been continued interest in, and support of, retaining local Board control of the College by a number of area civic leaders and community groups. She said that Board Chair Marci Donaho asked that a resolution of support be considered by the SSC Board prior to similar resolutions being considered by other community organizations.
Donaho said, “This resolution is a public statement that we believe our current system of governance should remain in place.”
Under the second item on the agenda, the Board retired into executive session to discuss the terms of employment for President Reynolds’ 2019 contract. Reynolds was hired in July, 2017, but in accordance with Board policy the President’s contract should be reviewed for extension each January. After returning to open session, the Board made a motion to extend Reynolds’ three-year contract for another year with the same terms. They also approved performance-based bonuses for the President’s achievement of goals.
Board members present at the meeting were: Donaho, Curtis Morgan, Paige Sherry, Kim Hyden and Bryan Cain.
The next meeting of the SSC Board of Regents is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019.