Board Minutes - September 8, 2025 - Western Iowa Tech Community College

Date: September 8, 2025
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: WITCC Denison Campus, 11 N 35th Street, Denison, Iowa - Room G3
Agenda

WITCC Mission

We elevate our diverse learners and strengthen our communities through inclusive and innovative education.

Board Members

Brenda Wright, Board Secretary

Administration

Terry Murrell, College President | Troy Jasman, VP of Finance and Administrative Services | Erin Volk, Vice President of Learning | Frank Arpan, Vice President of Student Success | Darin Moeller, Executive Dean of Instruction | Jackie Plendl, Dean of Human Resources | Tawnya Beermann, Dean of Students | Christina Brandon, Dean of Outreach and Information Technology | Revathi Vongsiprasom, Dean of Opportunity and Engagement

Presenters

Sandy Velasquez, Director of Denison Campus and Southern Service Area

Items

Meeting called to order by Linnea Fletcher at 4:00 pm.

Brenda Wright took a Roll Call of Directors

Linnea Fletcher opened the Public Hearing for the 2025 WITCC Building A Generator Project. Notice was published in the Sioux City Journal on July 26, 2025. No comments were brought forward. The Public Hearing was then closed.

Linnea Fletcher asked for any Oral Communications to be brought before the board. The following people spoke about the recently approved board policy change to the Voluntary Early Retirement. Wendy Ohl, Joni Miller, Jill Moravek, Lana Brown, Jessica Thompson, Sima Dabir, Lily Castro, and Kristy Bowman.

Linnea Fletcher asked the board to review the Written Communication from the Diocesan Ministries.

Linnea asked the board for a motion for the Consent Items and Jeremy Ogle made a motion to approve and it was seconded by Tricia Sutherland. All were in favor and the motion carried.

Terry Murrell presented a proposal to name the new Denison Career Academy Building as the Rick and Marla Franck Career Academy. Russ spoke regarding Rick Franck's many years of service on the board and the accomplishments made while working in IACCT (now called Community Colleges for Iowa. Erin Muck made a motion to approve and it was seconded by Jeremy Ogle. All were in favor and the motion carried.

Erin Volk welcomed everyone to the new Denison Career Academy. She introduced Sandy Velasquez to present the Denison and Southern Service Area Update. Sandy highlighted several program areas on the Denison campus.

Christina Brandon presented the WITCC Scholarship Schedule for 2026 - 2027. Christina explained the program and some of the requirements. Russell Wray made a motion to approve and it was seconded by Hanna Reinders. All were in favor and the motion carried.

Jackie Plendl and Erin Volk presented four Board Policy Updates for a 1st Reading. There will be a second reading at a future meeting.

Darin Moeller introduced Carmen Wilson to present the 260E Preliminary Agreement for VT Industries. Brad Griffin made a motion to approve the agreement and Tricia Sutherland seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried.

Darin Moeller and Carmen also presented the 260E Preliminary Agreement for L&L Builders. Jeremy Ogle made a motion to approve and it was seconded by Erin Muck. All were in favor and the motion carried.

Troy Jasman presented the FY26 Open Purchase Orders. These numbers are very similar to what was done last year. Russell Wray made a motion to approve and it was seconded by Brad Griffin. All were in favor and the motion carried.

Troy Jasman also presented the ISCAP Solvency Ratio. Iowa School Cash Anticipation Program. 16.05. it is higher recommended but we are still in line with what the auditors suggested last year.

Troy Jasman then presented a Ruegger Lease Extension. The City of Sioux City has agreed the extension of the lease until 2035. Erin Muck made a motion to approve and it was seconded by Jeremy Ogle. All were in favor and the motion carried.

Troy Jasman also presented the WITCC Cherokee Campus Chiller Replacement Project for the Substantial Completion of the project. We can now utilize the space and the warranty begins August 15. Tricia made a motion to approve and it was seconded by Hanna Reinders. All were in favor and the motion carried.

Terry Murrell thanked the many staff and faculty that attended the board meeting today in his President Report. He thanks them for making their voices heard and explained that the Board is interested in some of the issues presented to them. Terry then talked about our Enrollment numbers. Although we are still reviewing the final numbers, we are not down as much as we thought we may be. All of the details will be presented at the next meeting.

Tricia Sutherland made a motion to go into Executive Session pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1 )(a) to discuss strategy with legal counsel on present/pending litigation where disclosure would be likely to prejudice or cause disadvantage to the college. After a discussion, Brad Griffin made a motion to come out of Executive Session and Jeremy Ogle seconded. All were in favor and the motion carried.

Jeremy Ogle made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Erin Muck seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried.

The next regular scheduled board meeting will be Monday, October 13, 2025, at 4:00 pm on the Sioux City campus in the Boardroom.