Stephanie Belmas

The meeting commenced with the approval of the minutes from the January 7, 2026 session. Key discussions included reports from the Board Chair, Student Liaison, and Student Senate regarding campus utilization, club activities, and elections. Academic Affairs provided an update on collective efforts to improve student experience. An Enrollment Update, a Budget Update for Fiscal Year 2027 detailing process, timeline, tax levy, state aids, tuition/fees, and expenditures, and an Organizational Impact and Culture Update were presented. The college shared six strategies under Vision 2030 to enhance student completion rates, focusing on placement, academic planning, adult basic education, early intervention, first-year math/English enrollment, and early momentum. Action was taken to approve the new Arborist Apprenticeship Program, which addresses a workforce shortage by embedding apprenticeships within the existing Tree Care Technical Program. A comprehensive Consent Agenda covering financial reports, supplier payments, contracts, RFPs/RFBs/sole sources, investment reports, and personnel actions (employment, resignations, retirements) was also approved.

The meeting agenda includes routine business matters such as the approval of prior meeting minutes, and new business items covering public comments and communications, including reports from the Board Chair, Student Liaison, Student Senate, and President. Action items involve consideration of proposed FY2025-26 Capital Remodel Projects, a Consent Agenda covering financial reports (General fund as of January 31, 2026), supplier payments, contracts, and employment transactions (hiring, resignation, separation, and retirement), and approval for a new Arborist Apprenticeship Program. The supporting documents detail international travel authorizations, specific capital project proposals (Fort Atkinson Storage Building), comprehensive January 2026 General Fund financial reports, a list of supplier payments for the period of January 16, 2026, through February 15, 2026, details on 38.14 contracts for January 2026, and personnel actions.

The agenda for the upcoming meeting includes routine business such as the approval of January 7, 2026, meeting minutes and public comments. New business items cover reports from the Board Chair, Student Liaison, and Student Senate President, followed by college/campus announcements including updates on Academic Affairs, Enrollment, Budget, Organizational Impact and Culture, and International Travel. Action items feature approval for a new Arborist Apprenticeship Program and a consent agenda covering financial reports (General Fund, Supplier Payments, Contracts for Services), RFP/RFB/Sole Sources requests, and personnel actions (employment, resignations, separations, retirements). Financial discussions also included the acceptance of the June 30, 2025 Single Audit report and authorization for capital projects borrowing via General Obligation Promissory Notes.

The meeting included several key discussions and actions. Under New Business, reports were given by the Board Chair, Student Liaison, and Student Senate, noting growth in Senate membership and upcoming external meetings. College announcements highlighted the sustainability features of the Trux North building and favorable public opinion surveys regarding technical colleges. The President reported on the college's focus on credential completion data analysis. Action items involved the acceptance of the June 30, 2025 Single Audit report, which noted a significant deficiency in internal control over compliance related to NSLDS enrollment reporting, though no questioned costs were identified. The Board also approved proposed FY2025-2026 remodel projects for the Truax Campus restrooms and classrooms, authorized staff to proceed with drawings and bids, and authorized the issuance of Not to Exceed $5,000,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2025-26F for new construction and equipment/technology acquisition. Finally, the Consent Agenda items, including financial reports and employment matters, were approved.

The meeting included routine business such as the approval of the November 5, 2025, minutes and a report that there were no public comments. New business featured reports from the Board Chair, Student Liaison, and Student Senate regarding finals preparation, cultural events, legislative engagement, and scheduling for spring tabling events. College updates covered personnel changes, the grand opening of the Truax North facility, the ongoing WolfPack Rising Student Information System project slated for Fall 2027, and the partial opening of the Early Learning Campus at Goodman South. Administrative reports detailed recent office events and upcoming international travel. The President reported on Monitoring Report -- Vision 2030 Commitment 6, including plans to introduce metrics on student completion and transfer rates, supported by a future scorecard development. Action items included the acceptance of the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report with an unmodified clean audit opinion (excluding the single audit component due to compliance supplement delays) and the approval of budget modifications for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. The Consent Agenda covered items including the Code of Ethics, monthly financial reports, service contracts, large purchases, supplier payments, and personnel matters.