At its regular August meeting Thursday, the Weatherford College Board of Trustees heard reports on ongoing facilities and infrastructure projects under way this summer, and geared up for a special called meeting next week when trustees will be asked to formally approve the 2010-11 budget and tax rate.

The trustees discussed the preliminary 2010 ad valorem tax rate as presented in a report by Vice President of Financial Affairs Andra Cantrell. Based on the latest figures from the Parker County Central Tax Authority, Cantrell recommended a tax rate of 10.492 cents per $100 valuation, the same rate as approved for 2009. Trustees unanimously approved the proposed rate and are scheduled to adopt the rate formally at a special meeting scheduled for August 19.

If the proposed rate is approved, 2010 will be the College’s seventh consecutive year without a tax increase.

“The proposed tax rate will not generate the same amount of money for the college in 2010 that the same rate generated in 2009,” Cantrell said.

“That would have required a rate of 10.73 cents. To avoid a tax rate increase, we may need to use $160,000 of our reserve funds to balance the budget in 2010.”

Cantrell cautioned the Board that expected cuts in state appropriations could negatively impact the budget in the near future, as the Governor’s Office is asking all agencies to submit plans to cut budgets for the next two years.

Additionally, in response to a prior request from Board Chair Frank Martin, WC President Dr. Kevin Eaton gave a report regarding WC’s facilities and properties, including specific short-term and long-term recommendations from the President’s Cabinet. The recommendations included plans for the Weatherford Campus, the Education Center at Mineral Wells, WC’s property in Aledo, the Carter Property south of Interstate 20, the College Farm off Highway 180, and the soon-to-be constructed Wise County Campus. Martin thanked Eaton for the report, and said the Board would evaluate the Cabinet’s recommendations for each property with decisions on several properties in the near future.

In his President’s Report, Eaton gave an enrollment update; as of August 11, total enrollment for the fall 2010 semester was 10.5 percent ahead of the same time last year.  Eaton projected approximately 5,600 students college-wide by the time classes begin August 30. He also presented reports on G.E.D. testing and course completion rates for all WC instructors.

In his monthly recognitions, Eaton thanked Bubba Swearingin, Ronald Cason, Scotty Teague and Gary Wells from the WC Truck Driving Academy for their tireless work in delivering water for the City of Weatherford during the recent water outage. These individuals spent three solid days hauling potable water between Stephenville and Weatherford to support Weatherford Regional Medical Center, the Parker County Jail and other facilities in need of water.

Eaton also recognized the Institutional Advancement Office and the more than 200 volunteers that worked the Peach Pedal Bike Ride, basketball player Trisha Tuck for being named to the Distinguished Academic All-American team, and the Resource Development and Student Support Services Offices for obtaining another $1.27 million grant to continue SSS services at WC.  He also welcomed Chris Nelson, WC’s new athletic trainer.

Additionally, the Board approved changes to local policy regarding the accrual of vacation, allowing employees to carry over the equivalent of 15 unused vacation days per year, rather than only 10 days, and allowing grant-funded employees to carry over unused vacation days under the same guidelines. The Board tabled a policy revision regarding leaves and absences until members could research the issue further.

Senior Vice President of Instruction Dr. Don Tomas presented several proposed new faculty members:  Tola Plusnick, associate degree nursing; Tiffany Nieman, psychology; Teresa Valle, geology instructor; James Wood, mathematics; Michael Webb, substance abuse counseling; Dr. Catherine Johnson, government (Wise County); and Dottie Cupp, kinesiology instructor and softball coach. The Board approved the individuals as presented.

The Board also heard an infrastructure report from Cantrell, which indicated that ADA upgrades are near completion on the Weatherford Campus.  In addition, representatives from TD Industries and Veldero made a presentation on the Demand Response Project, whereby WC might benefit financially by participating in a program to ensure the viability of the state’s electricity grid.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the WC Board of Trustees is September 9 at 2 p.m. in the Allene Strain Community Room.