Southwestern’s board convenes June 9 for regular meeting

Creston- The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., in the Administration Center board room, for their regular monthly board meeting.

During consideration of the consent agenda, Dr. Tony Cass of Creston, board president, reported the appointed subcommittee had recommendations for the board of directors' vacancies created by the resignation of Amy Mobley of Mount Ayr, District 7 board member, and the retirement of Jane Ernst of Greenfield, District 1 board member. Cass said the committee selected Bonnie Larson of Diagonal as the District 7 director and Paul Nelson of Greenfield as the District 1 representative. Both of these appointees will serve until the next regular election.

The remaining consent agenda items were approved as presented.

Brandi Shay, SWCC chief financial officer, shared the college's doubtful account write-off for this fiscal year. Shay said the FY2026 amount recommended for uncollectible account write-offs was $126,898.64. She explained the total consists of 53 student account balances totaling $126,618.64 and one non-student account totaling $280. Shay said the college continues to use multiple methods to collect outstanding balances, including a collection agency and the Iowa Department of Revenue Setoff Program. The board of directors approved the doubtful account write-offs as presented.

Dr. John Franklin, SWCC vice president of instruction, presented a proposal to add a transfer major in music to the college's offerings. Franklin said the college currently offers 19 transfer majors to assist students planning to earn four-year college degrees. The music discipline framework was approved by the Iowa Department of Education in spring 2026. The proposed Associate of Arts transfer major would require 64 credits and provide an additional pathway for music students seeking transfer opportunities upon graduation from Southwestern. Following his report, the board of directors approved the additional transfer major.

Wayne Pantini, SWCC vice president of economic development, told the board a collective bargaining agreement had been reached with the college's Education Association. He said the agreement includes a 3 percent salary increase for each employee covered. Full-time contracts are based on 167 days of employment. No changes were made in the area of educational advancement. The board ratified the FY2026-28 collective bargaining agreement as presented.

In personnel, the board approved to extend the following contracts through June 30, 2027, with salary increases of 3 percent each, as presented:

• Lindsay Stoaks, president
• Dr. John Franklin, vice president of instruction
• Susannah Miller, assistant vice president of instruction
• Maureen Weaver, director of nursing

Also in personnel, the board approved the employment of Dr. Michael Johnson as a professional music instructor and Alexis Brown as an assistant softball coach for the 2026-27 academic year.

The board heard the summer 2026 enrollment report from Kim Bishop, dean of student services. Bishop said summer enrollment is at 428 students, a slight decrease from summer 2026.

Pantini provided a brief update on the college's main entrance reconstruction and the new construction of the skilled trades facility, and reviewed the installation timeline for phase two of the video surveillance and access control system.

Ryan Roberts, Community Colleges for Iowa director of government relations, offered an overview of legislative priorities and updates affecting Iowa's community colleges.

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