College moving forward in addressing athletic debt FSCC Endowment Board Member Goldston disagrees with fix

A request to raise tuition fees at Fort Scott Community College has raised questions about accountability.

During the April 20 Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees meeting, Richard Goldston, a member of the FSCC Endowment Board, spoke to the trustees and FSCC Interim President Dick Hedges during the public comment section of the meeting.

According to Goldston, the football and men's basketball teams have not been paying the out-of-state tuition fees, as is required by all athletic programs at the college.

Goldston said it was his understanding that the FSCC Board of Trustees was made aware of a debt caused by the athletic department and the board was charged with finding a solution to this issue.

"We had an audit in February," Hedges told the Tribune. "The auditor suggested we start paying down that debt. He suggested a clear plan to clear up this issue."

The total debt over nine years and multiple coaches is $282,000, Hedges said.

"Every program we have goes out and raises money," Hedges said. "Coaches organize work teams to go places. Basketball players go to the speedway in Kansas...(and they) are selling coupon books. Volleyball girls always do a pretty good job running the concession stands in Royals Stadium. They do a day, we get a percentage of the money...to help pay for out-of-state people."

Part of a coach's job is to raise funds, Hedges said.

"The fundraising isn't the fun thing we do here," he said. "Over the past nine years, that debt has been allowed to accrue."

Hedges' solution

Hedges said he brought in a second auditor after the first auditor's report.

"They are in agreement (to) develop a plan for the college that eliminates the issue," Hedges said. "It won't be done overnight."

Hedges said he spoke with Bailey Lyons, FSCC's director of development, about the issue.

"Bailey made a suggestion that could help," Hedges said. "She put together a plan with (FSCC Athletic Director) J.D. (Ettore).

"That plan raised concerns (with the endowment board, of which Goldston is a part), so we said, 'No, we're not doing that.'"

Hedges said he called in the football coach, Curtis Horton, to ask of his plans to help rectify the debt.

"I said to him, 'I need a plan laid out. What are you going to do to get your money,'" Hedges said. "He hasn't given me his list of proposed projects. I know football sells posters. That's part of their fundraising effort.

"We need a plan. It's painful, and an embarrassment.

"My comments to Mr. Goldston, 'You can be upset, but I'm addressing it.'"

From now on, the college will require all teams to be current before signing any out-of-state athletes over their limits, Hedges said.

"There is a February deadline with that," Hedges said. "Some signing dates coincide with that. The current football coach understands that. He has to do some changes. Coach Curtis Horton has a plan.

"It's like I was sitting down with you and you are behind on your house payments. I would say I need a clear picture of what you are going to do. We are going to work with you to get things cleared up.

"It won't be tomorrow or next week. There will be a plan. The college views the changes as the path back to responsible fiscal management. I think the community expects that of us. I'm disappointed it happened."

Student fees/tuition increase

Hedges' plan of action to help deal with the debt issue was to ask the board to increase tuition and fees by $5, saying virtually every other community college in the state is also increasing fees and tuition for their students.

The board approved the tuition increase, with one no vote by John Kerr.

John Bartelsmeyer, Liz Meyer, Robert Nelson and Jim Sather voted yes.

According to Mindy Russell, FSCC director of business operations, the tuition was increased $2 and the fees per credit hour were increased by $3 for 2015-16.

Goldston said he doesn't agree with that plan.

"They (the football and basketball coaches) haven't been accountable paying for their out-of-state scholarships by (FSCC Athletic Director) J.D. Ettore," Goldston said after the meeting. "It is the policy of the school. They have a budget for in-state players. Those are covered, but out-of-state players, they are responsible to fundraise the money to pay for those scholarships. Baseball, women's softball, women's basketball, they have fundraised and paid for their players. But football and men's basketball haven't been forced to do it," he said.

"What Dick Hedges' proposal is, he wants to ask future kids to pay for those coaches who did not raise the money to pay their debt," Goldston said. "This makes no sense."

Where will student fees/tuition go?

Goldston said he is also dissatisfied that there was not a breakdown of where the increase in student fees and tuition will go.

Hedges told the Tribune there has been a big turnover in personnel at the college since August.

"I sat down and ran the numbers," Hedges said. "There have been 40 different people since August 2014, out of 160 people who work here. Karla Farmer (former dean of finance and operations) left. Janel Scales (who replaced Farmer) left (February 2015). We still have no one in this position. That's a key role."

Carolyn Sinn, interim business manager, has been on sick leave and just returned April 28, Hedges said.

"I have promised Mr. Goldston he will get a written review of what we are going to do," Hedges said.

"There are 60 to 100 accounts (in FSCC's budget)," Hedges said. "I would say to put part of the increase in the dorm fund. We haven't lined that out yet. Carolyn just came back today."

Goldston said the issue is a lack of management and oversight, and as a result, he said the debt has grown from $100,000 to $340,000.

Ettore pointed out that, "This debt started 10 years ago. We have a plan that was discussed at the meeting," to resolve the issue, he said.

Hedges' synopsis

"The board's only employee is me," Hedges said. "What am I charged with? Running the place. If I run it wrong, then send me away. They have already been through that catharsis once and now we are trying to heal and clean things up.

"Things got loose out here and you've got to try to pull it together. If you lose the head you have people step up and do, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I keep saying to staff, 'Let's get over being mad at Clayton.' We've got to take the next step. That is where I think we are trying to go."