Board members take oath of office, board keeps same officers for coming year
It was a busy night for the SWTJC Board of Trustees Thursday night (May 17) during their regular monthly meeting in Uvalde.
First order of business was to administer the oath of office to elected trustees, which are Maria Elena Lara, Victor Lopez, and Anita Shackleford. All board members had uncontested races.
Board members voted to keep the same officers. Rodolfo Flores, president; Dr. Harry Watkins, vice president; Dr. Antonio Rivera, secretary.
During the meeting trustees Dr. Antonio H. Rivera, Dr. Harry O. Watkins and college president Dr. Hector Gonzales received 20-year pins.
Board president Rodolfo Flores presented a posthumous 15-year service pin to Albert Alonzo who passed away in February. The service pin was accepted by Alonzo’s brother Vidal Alonzo.
Albert worked in the Student Success Department and was the TRIO lead advisor at the time of his passing.
In other business, trustees approved a multitude of action items on the night’s agenda including the financial statement as of April 30, dorm room and board rates for the 2018-2019 school year, and the 2018-2019 course catalog.
Other action items approved included updates to the student and faculty handbooks, updating legal and local policies, and the Natalia Independent School District Early College Academy memorandum of understanding for the 2018-2019 school year.
In his president’s report Dr. Hector Gonzales, college president informed the board members on numerous areas.
Gonzales stated, “We had our second annual Regional Education Forum on April 23 in Uvalde, which was a great success. “We received a lot of positive comments from our superintendents,” Gonzales added.
President Gonzales updated the board members on the status of the Garner Science Building. According to Gonzales, air condition units have been ordered, asbestos abatement has been completed, the chemical has been removed, slab construction is underway, and the college staff is working on ADA modifications to the restrooms.
Trustees also heard updates on the current status of Pathways, emergency training, and budgets.
In other matters, Dr. Mark Underwood, vice president of academic affairs gave a status update on the current search for Director of the Associate Degree Nursing Program.
“Tomorrow (Friday) we will be having interviews with several candidates,” said Underwood. “By tomorrow afternoon we should have a recommendation for Dr. Gonzales.”
The maintenance and adult education and literacy departments gave 4DX reports to the board members.