Fort Scott Community College trustees hear about grants

It's grant season, according to Fort Scott Community College president Clayton Tatro, and that definitely seems to be the case.

At the FSCC Board of Trustees monthly meeting on Monday night, Tatro updated trustees on the recent and upcoming grants he has applied for on behalf of the college.

"We're excited and we're doing well," Tatro said.

FSCC was recently approved for a $78,872 Perkins Leadership Activities grant and the board voted to accept the grant last night. The grant is earmarked for instruction equipment, installation of the equipment, vendor training and related travel expenses for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning program valued at $150,000.

Tatro said it will be the first infusion of new technology for that program.

A condition of the grant says FSCC must develop an "industry-based Industrial Maintenance Technician program" and submit the program for approval within the next two years. The money also has to be spent by June 30. If a program is not successfully started within the time frame allowed, the college would be required to pay the money back.

Tatro said it would be possible to have the program "up and running" in a year. Pittsburg State University officials have already committed to help start the program, he added.

Trustee Jim Fewins said past programs -- that have failed and are no longer offered -- have cost more to start.

"It's one of the least expensive programs we've started and brought to the board," Fewins said.

Tatro is also applying for a $1.5 million grant that would be spread over two years. Deadline for that is tomorrow.

By Wednesday, FSCC officials plan to submit an application for a five-year $2.5 million Title III Department of Education grant.

A much larger grant, the Trade, Adjustments and Assistance grant for an industrial maintenance program would make "FSCC the lead institution" and result in anywhere from $8 to $12 million in funds.

"Now that's dropping the frying pan into the fire," Tatro said. "Here we go. It's grant season."

The board also:

* Approved the consent agenda which included the following employment matters: Hiring Nolanda Crain as the Miami County office assistant/custodian; the appointment of Katie Reihmann as the women's head basketball coach; and the separation of Tawny Pool as webmaster. Look for a full story on the new head coach in a future edition of the Tribune.

* Approved the disposal of excess equipment including a 1995 Mitsubishi mini-truck and a John Deere 6 x 4 Gator. Proceeds from the items sold will be applied to the purchase of a mid-size lawn tractor.

* Approved an addition to the vacation leave policy for faculty and staff. The addition states that "no vacation leave is earned during a month when the employee is on 'leave without pay' anytime during that same month."

* Approved the instructional calendar for the 2012-2013 school year. The calendar is identical to the calendars from the past two years and is now in line with PSU's calendar, FSCC officials said.

* Recognized FSCC Construction Trades Program Director Chris Sterrett for being named as the 2012 Kansas Skills USA College/ Postsecondary Administrator of the Year. Sterrett was not at the board meeting, but will be traveling to Wichita on April 25 to be recognized during open session at the Wichita Area Technical College/ National Aviation Training Center campus.

* Acknowledged the month of April as National Community College Month.

* Discussed upcoming dates for FSCC events:

*April 24: Women's Appreciation Luncheon at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center;

* April 26: FSCC Jazz Band Concert at the Family Fine Arts Center;

* April 28: The Fourth Annual Community Appreciation Day on the FSCC campus;

* And April 28: "Casino Night" Scholarship Auction at the Liberty Theatre.