Presidential Report October 15, 2002
First, I am pleased to report that the Board approved the staff's recommendation to continue the four-day work week during the summer of 2003. The survey results were very positive toward continuing the four-day experience. With more advance planning, it should be smoother this year. Please share any suggestions that you have with your supervisor as we begin planning for next summer.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Courtney Miller for her 300th victory this past season. She is being recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association with the Easton Victory Club award at their December 5 meeting in St. Petersburg.
Congratulations to Dr. Stephen Caldwell Wright. Two of his poems will appear in BEYOND THE FRONTIER: AFRICAN-AMERICAN POETRY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY being published this year.
Congratulations to Steve Shideler, program manager for respiratory therapy, for winning a grant from Respiratory 2002, a respiratory care company based in St. Paul, Minnesota. The grant pays for Steve's attendance at a seminar in Reno, Nevada, and provides a donation of respiratory equipment that will be used in the classroom setting.
Lee Moore, a former SCC Trustee, will be honored on November 7 by Junior Achievement at their annual dinner. Lee has been an exceptional donor to SCC funding both nursing scholarships and the renovation of our nursing classroom area. Please let Linda know if you would like to attend the dinner.
Thanks
Dr. Charles English for attending the joint Council of Presidents/Trustees meeting in Orlando on September 26. Thanks, also, for representing the Board at the luncheon held on October 3 featuring Terry Owen from Florida Hospital Altamonte.
Candidate Forum
We will be hosting approximately 10 candidates in our first Candidate Forum on Wednesday, October 16, 6- 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Auditorium. This is open to all our entire community. I hope to see you there! Our own Verdell Pugh will be representing candidate Jennifer Carroll.
Board Retreat
Please check your calendars and see if December 2 or 3 works for our Board retreat. Staff is currently in the process of having several internal workshops in preparation for the Board Retreat. Executive Staff held a workshop last week and approximately 50 college staff will be in attendance tomorrow at Canterbury for the next one. We plan to have at least one more internal session during November in preparation for the Board's Retreat in December.
Resolutions
Syd McKenzie, attorney for the Florida Board of Education, has issued a legal opinion that Trustees may take a position on the constitutional amendments that will appear on the ballot in the November 2002 election. If the Board is interested in taking a public stance, I would like Paul Hull to explain the amendments so that we can discuss what posture the Board would like to take.
New Hire
I am pleased to report that we have hired a Comptroller, Lynn Powers, who will begin at the end of October. She was formerly with Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville and will be a welcome addition to the team. Also, as you know, Paul Hull will be leaving us at the end of the month. I would like to publicly thank Paul for all of his hard work on our behalf and let him know that we will continue to seek his advice even as he assumes the position of VP for Government Relations for the American Cancer Society.
Graduation Speaker
Gail Bonjione, a 1968 graduate, first cheerleader and second SGA President at SCC, has accepted our invitation to be the speaker at Graduation on December 13. You may remember that Gail was the Teacher of the Year for Seminole County last year and teaches at Seminole High School.
SACS Outing
The initial draft of the SACS document is completed and, in celebration, Universal Studios hosted the committee chairs and others at an afternoon at Islands of Adventure followed by a reception and dinner. Our thanks go to all of those who have worked so hard on this process and to Jan Stratton at Universal Studios for hosting the College.
