Iowa Lakes Community College

The Board Work Session was held prior to the regular monthly meeting to review the agenda for the regular meeting and briefly discuss related topics, with no decisions or actions taken. The subsequent Regular Board Meeting involved amending the agenda to defer the Foundation donation approval item to the following month's meeting. Committee appointments for various boards and committees, including Community Colleges of Iowa Board, Audit Committee, Building Committee, Farm Laboratory Committee, Financial Oversight Committee, and Presidential Evaluation Committee, were presented and approved. The Human Resources section addressed resignations, new hires, supplemental contracts, and the approval of five early retirement applications. Financial matters included the presentation and approval of the financial report and monthly bills, as well as setting the date for the public hearing for the FY 2027 Published Budget.

The proceedings included a pre-meeting work session to review the regular monthly board meeting agenda, where no action was taken. During the regular session, the agenda was approved, and the minutes of the November 18, 2025, meeting were accepted. Key actions involved accepting the results of school elections held on November 4, 2025, and administering the Oath of Office to newly elected Trustees, followed by the unanimous re-election of Arden Kinnander as Board President and Bob Jennings as Board Vice President. Appointments were confirmed for the Attorney, Secretary, and Treasurer. The appointment of committees was tabled until the January 20, 2026, meeting. The Board approved depository institutions and authorized signatories. A personnel consent agenda was approved, including one resignation, one position change, and several new hires and supplemental contracts. The Board reviewed a technology presentation on the SMG partnership, accepted three donations totaling $30,500 for various scholarship and literacy programs, approved financial reports and monthly bills, and ratified course fees for the Spring Semester. A closed session was held to discuss confidential audit information. In the oral reports section, College President Scott Stokes updated the Board on discussions regarding Perkins funding allocations, Workforce Pell federal advocacy, and upcoming governmental meetings.

The Board Work Session reviewed the agenda for the regular monthly meeting, although no decisions or actions were taken during this session. During the Regular Board Meeting, the agenda was approved. Key discussions during the regular session included the approval of personnel changes, including resignations, position changes, and new hires with specified salaries/rates, as well as the approval of supplemental contracts. The Board also accepted and approved the three-year academic calendars for 2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029. Program updates were presented on the Business Administration/Marketing Program. The Treasurer's Report and monthly bills were presented and approved for payment. Oral reports covered updates from the Community Colleges for Iowa Presidents meeting regarding topics such as the Iowa Community College Online Consortium, CNA testing transition, the Iowa DOGE Report/260E program, and Workforce Pell eligibility expansion. Trustees also reported on the Community Colleges for Iowa Board of Trustees/Presidents joint meeting, covering budget impacts, bond issues, legislative priorities, and tuition assistance concerns. Finally, comments were shared regarding experiences at the ACCT Congress.

The board meeting included discussions and actions on several key areas. Human Resources matters were addressed, including resignations, new hires, and supplemental contracts. Updates to the Quality Faculty Plan were approved. An overview of Educational Counseling services was presented, highlighting assistance to students with academic and personal challenges. The board approved entering into a 28E agreement with the Estherville, Iowa Airport Commission, to lease the FBO and employ the Airport Manager. Applications for grants from the Palo Alto County Gaming Development Corporation (PACGDC) were approved, including a mini-grant for strength training equipment and a full grant for HVAC replacement. The board approved moving forward with the Western Iowa Regents Resource Center shared services agreement. A donation to support the music program was accepted. The financial report was presented, and the payment of monthly bills was approved. Updates were provided on the Community Colleges for Iowa Presidents meeting, including discussions on the state funding formula and concurrent enrollment tuition.

The Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees convened for a work session and a regular meeting. The work session involved a review of the regular monthly board meeting agenda and brief discussions on related topics. During the regular meeting, the board approved the agenda and the minutes from the previous meeting. Personnel matters were addressed, including resignations, position changes, and new hires. New faculty members were introduced, and student leaders shared their names, hometowns, and programs of study. The board approved a donation to support the purchase of a portable ultrasound machine for the Nursing program. Financial reports and monthly bills were presented and approved. Updates were shared from the Community Colleges for Iowa Presidents and Trustees meetings, covering topics such as leadership consortium programs, the Last Dollar Scholarship program, ACCT Building renovation progress, and the possibility of community colleges offering bachelor's degrees in workforce areas.