OC board renews contracts
- Naming David Turner board president, Ray Ann Zant vice president and Tara Deaver secretary.
- Upholding the Personnel Policy Committee’s decision not to renew the contract of Diesel Technology Director James “Buddy” McCutcheon.
- Selling property for $3,000, less than market value.
- Naming Johnson, Miller and Co. independent auditor.
The Odessa College Board of Trustees voted to renew the contracts of President Gregory Williams and four other administrators at their Tuesday meeting.
Along with Williams, who has been president since 2006, the board approved the contracts of Chief of Staff Tanya Hughes and vice presidents David Bauske (student services), Virginia Chisum (business affairs) and Ken Tunstall (instruction). Salaries for the administrators will be determined at a later date.
Williams thanked the board for renewing his contract after an hour and 20 minute closed session.
“Our goal is to continue to serve you in a way that you will be pleased and the community will be pleased,” he said.
Williams also read letters from several students praising the work of OC teachers. As each teacher’s name was read, the teacher would stand up to be acknowledged.
“This is why we do this and this is critical,” Williams said. “I don’t know if people realize the importance that these folks have in the community.”
Williams told the board that last week’s National Junior College Athletic Association golf championship, which OC hosted at Odessa Country Club’s Links Course, brought in between $500,000 and $1 million to the area economy, according to the Odessa Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The board also heard a presentation from architect Larry Johnson, whose firm is working on designs for new buildings as part of a $68.5 million bond package approved in November. Johnson said JSA Architects will have a matrix prepared by July 15 that will show a cost per square foot for planned buildings, allowing the board to see where priorities should be in designing the facilities.
Johnson said that construction costs have risen slightly in recent months, but not enough that it should have a major impact on construction.
“We’re ready to go,” Johnson said. “We’re excited about the prospect of actually doing architecture and not planning how much everything takes to put together.”
Board Member Ralph McCain said he was pleased with Johnson’s plans to design buildings with features unique to Odessa that will provide shade from the West Texas sun.
“What that says to the community is, ‘This is your college,’ ” he said.
