A couple of years ago, I heard a story on NPR’s “Fresh Air” about how a Brooklyn community college had increased passage rates significantly by instituting a program called “Success Coaches.” An advisor was assigned to follow individual students through … Continue reading
Former McHenry County Board President Ron Parrish is quite pleased with what administrators offered up Thursday night to solve the science and health science facility deficiency. “Wonderful,” was his first comment after the presentation by newly-installed President Clint Gabbard. “This is … Continue reading
I continue to be frustrated at the minimalist approach to the Open Meetings Act that McHenry County College is taking. There is a Board meeting next Thursday night at 6:30. Actually, there are three Board meetings that night. Agendas were … Continue reading
Dr. Tony Miksa, McHenry County College’s Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs recommended a $5 per credit hour tuition hike, plus a new $10 infrastructure fee for next year’s students. Currently, students are charged $101 for tuition, plus a $9 … Continue reading
The entire contract for Clinton E. Gabbard can be found here. Here is the latest article I wrote on outgoing Vicky Smith’s compensation: MCC President Vicky Smith’s Contract Calls for Salary of $211,000 thru June, Then, CPI + 3% Now … Continue reading
Since McHenry County College was scheduled to hear the recommendation of its finance guy Bob Tentua last night, I thought I’d spread some warm fuzzies about my and other taxpayers’ appreciation that the Board had kept last year’s tax burden … Continue reading
That’s what some staff members call McHenry County College President Vicky Smith. Some offices have been painted twice since she arrived, but not her own suite. Smith brought up the topic at the Board’s last meeting, but it was pretty … Continue reading
I attended the meeting of the McHenry County College Board tonight because of the following agenda item: ACCEPT AND APPROVE DR. SMITH’S NOTICE OF INTENT TO RETIRE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015, AND GRANT DR. SMITH A POST RETIREMENT STIPEND … Continue reading
Next Thursday’s McHenry County College Board meeting will consider giving outgoing President Vicky Smith a “post-retirement stipend.” It is nowhere near as large as the Golden Parachute that ex-President Walt Packard was granted, but it did surprise me. Here’s what … Continue reading
At the end of March, the McHenry County League of Women Voters held a candidates’ night for McHenry County College Trustee aspirants. At the meeting, one, Karen Tirio, said Concerning tuition increases, Tirio said her attendance at meetings gave her … Continue reading
At last night’s Committee of the Whole meeting of the McHenry County College Board, President Vicky Smith announced her retirement as of the start of 2016. The tide began to turn for Smith two years ago when the outgoing board … Continue reading
There are three items of significance on Tuesday night’s 6:30 meeting of the McHenry County College Board: PUBLIC COMMENTS Three (3) Minutes Per Person or Less PRESIDENT’S REPORT CLOSED SESSION A. 120/2(C) Exception #1, Personnel (President’s Evaluation) Previous boards have … Continue reading
On the Committee of the Whole agenda for McHenry County College next Tuesday is the following: Illinois Community College Council of Presidents White Paper on Applied Baccalaureate at the Community College: Dr. Vicky Smith (20 minutes) Being a junior college … Continue reading
Well before President Barack Obama’s announcement that relations with Cuba were being warmed, the Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Board sent the following email to presidents of her member colleges: From: Karen Anderson [mailto:Karen.H.Anderson@illinois.gov] Sent: Tuesday, October 21, … Continue reading
Printing cost $975. The postage cost was 49 cents each, totaling $257.25, if they all were mailed. The staff stuffed and addressed the cards in-house. The non-staff cost of $1,232.25 came from the budget of President Vicky Smith’s “Office Supplies” … Continue reading
One of the community influentials who reads McHenry County Blog sent the following Thanksgiving Day greeting that he received from McHenry County College President Vicky Smith: Here’s the inside of the card: Here’s how much the postage was: The message … Continue reading
After a long and secret retreat, the McHenry County College selected the architectural firm of Demonica Kempter Architects (DKA). (Fortunately, I brought three newspapers and a new science fiction novel to read while waiting in the hall.) The firm was … Continue reading
There was no official vote taken, but preferences were expressed after three Architectural Services-Space Utilization applicants made their pitches to the McHenry County College Board Thursday night. The three finalists were Holabird & Root Wight & Company Demonica Kemper Architects … Continue reading
McHenry County College is going back to the drawing board. Readers will remember that McHenry County College put together a $640 million (about $1 billion with interest), forty-year expansion plan, the first phase of which was a 120,000 square foot … Continue reading
Never let it be said that the McHenry County College administration makes it easy to write an article based on its documents. In the bid specifications for Selection Criteria A selection committee, made up of two (2) Trustee members, President, … Continue reading
