Fort Scott Community College Trustees take a tour of the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, which is slated to open spring, 2009. Jason Silvers/Tribune Photo

Fort Scott Community College officials want to get the public more involved in the college's future plans.

During the FSCC Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, FSCC President Clayton Tatro discussed the purpose of upcoming strategic planning sessions that college officials have scheduled next month as part of the four-day fall in-service program for faculty and staff at FSCC.

"We want to put the college into the community, and the community into the college," Tatro said.

The strategic planning sessions, which are open to the public, are scheduled to take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, and from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at FSCC, 2108 S. Horton St. The in-service program, which will also include special presentations, meetings, training sessions, and other activities, is scheduled for Aug. 12-15. Refreshments and lunch will be provided all four days of the program.

FSCC officials have invited members of the Fort Scott City Commission, the Bourbon County Commission, and the public to participate in the strategic planning sessions, FSCC Administrative Assistant Kathy McCurley said.

The strategic planning sessions will be designed to allow participants a chance to brainstorm future development ideas for the college, and to enhance interaction between FSCC and the community, officials said.

FSCC Dean of Instruction Mary Ann Leamon-Childers gave trustees a report on the fall in-service on Monday, and said that she is prepared to begin another school year at FSCC.

"I can't believe it. This year has gone by so fast," she said. "It's a special and exciting time when school gets ready to start again. We've got four full days of activities planned (for the in-service)."

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The board also conducted the following business on Monday:

* Toured the 44,000-square-foot Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center that is currently under construction on the main FSCC campus. Construction of the building, which is being completed by the Columbus-based Crossland Construction Company, is "going really well," and is ahead of schedule, Crossland representative Tim Carson said Monday at the site. College officials said they are anticipating the facility to be completed in March 2009, with a dedication ceremony for the center to take place in April or May next year.

* Accepted the resignations of assistant football coach Aaron Dobbins, Harley-Davidson Technician Training Program Director Steve Vergara, and assistant baseball coach Brad Stroud, and hired John Hill as head baseball coach; Jim Miesner as interim athletic director; and Andrae Rowe as assistant football coach.

* Accepted the low bid of $75,846 from Aetna Insurance Company for athletic insurance during the 2008-09 school year, and a $19,279 quote from Mutual of Omaha for catastrophic insurance at FSCC this year.

* Approved a membership and service agreement with the Kansas Research and Education Network, a system that provides colleges, universities, school districts and other state organizations with Internet access via a statewide network. FSCC has used KanREN as an Internet provider since 1995. The college will pay $50,970 on a quarterly basis to use the KanREN system, officials said.

* Approved a lease agreement with the Kansas Works Local Area V Workforce Investment Board for office space at the FSCC Miami County Campus in Paola.

* Approved a motion to participate in the Kansas Association of School Boards Workers Compensation Fund, Inc., for the 2008-09 school year at a cost of $63,170.

* Reviewed the college's nearly $11 million budget for the upcoming year, and scheduled a public budget hearing for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11 in the FSCC Heritage Room.

* Approved the $1.4 million June treasurer's report, and listened to various reports from FSCC administrators.

* Elected Robert Nelson as board chairman, and Jim Fewins as board vice-chairman. Trustees also appointed officials and meeting times and dates for the 2008-09 school year.