SWCC board of directors holds April 2026 meeting

The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors held its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., in the Administration Center board room.

The board voted to move an action item to the top of the agenda. The item included the appointment of a board member for District 6, formerly held by Zach Gunsolley of Diagonal, who resigned his position in March, citing family commitments. The board voted to approve the appointment of Taylor McClellan of Afton as the District 6 board member. He will serve until the next regular board election.

The consent agenda was approved as presented.

The board held a public hearing for the proposed FY2027 budget. There were no oral or written objections to the proposed budget.

Brandi Shay, SWCC chief financial officer, presented the board with the FY2027 certified budget. According to Shay, the proposed levy rate decreased slightly, .2 percent, from $1.07216 to $1.06918 for FY2027, with a proposed spending authority of $40.573 million. Shay also noted that valuations increased 7.8 percent, moving from $4.28 billion to $4.615. Following Shay's report, the board approved the FY2027 certified budget as presented.

Shay spoke to the board regarding the college's food service management. Shay said the college's current contract with Consolidated Management Co. expired on June 30, 2026, so in February the college completed a request for proposals, receiving bids from three vendors. After review, Shay said college administration recommends the proposal submitted by Great Western Dining Service, Inc., based in Tipton, Missouri. She said the dining proposal includes an all-you-can-eat meal plan for students living in student housing, with affordable rates for faculty, staff, and other guests. In addition, Great Western will provide affordable on-campus catering for internal and external groups, self-check-out retail options, concessions for large campus events, student activities involving food, an annual scholarship donation, and other financial incentives for the college. Shay said administration is hoping the all-you-can-eat meal option for students will be beneficial for students with food insecurity. She reminded the board that the current meal plans include a declining balance, which can be detrimental to some students.

The board authorized SWCC administration to enter into a three-year contract with Great Western beginning July 1, 2026.

Shay presented the board with proposed room and board rates for the 2026-27 academic year. Shay said college administration proposed a room rate increase of $400 per semester for all dormitories--Spartan Court, Spartan Hall, Spartan Suites, and West Hall, largely due to the change in food service provider and moving to an all-you-can-eat format. The board approved the room and board rate increases as presented.

In personnel, Kim Bishop, SWCC dean of student services, asked for approval of a contract for Ty Curry as women's basketball coach for the 2026-27 academic year. Curry is currently the interim head women's basketball coach at Richard Bland College in Prince George County, Virginia. He is originally from Colorado, and Bishop said he has an extensive coaching background. Following Bishop's presentation, the board approved Curry's contract.

During the president's report, Nathan Wolter and Corey Foltz, representing Solutions Management Group, updated the board regarding the implementation of security and access control at the college. Wolter said during the past year, considered Phase 1 of the project, the group has installed 132 new cameras and 26 door controls, as well as updated hardware, in 10 buildings on campus and at the centers.

Wolter said during Phase 2, five buildings, including the new construction of the skilled trades center, as well as the Student Center, Instructional Center, and maintenance buildings, will include approximately 49 cameras and 20 door installations. Lastly, Phase 3 will wrap up with seven areas remaining on campus. Once complete, Wolter said the cameras will all be on the same systems, and all doors will have access control, with a one-button push to lock down the campus.

Lindsay Stoaks, SWCC president, talked about the summer trustee conference scheduled for July 7-9 in Marshalltown, with Iowa Valley Community College District hosting, and encouraged board members to attend.

Bishop reminded the board of the athletics department's Four-Person Best Shot Golf Tournament, on May 15, at Crestmoor Golf Club in Creston.

During board members' reports, Dr. Tony Cass notified the board Jane Ernst, board member from Greenfield announced her retirement from the board. Ernst has been on the SWCC board since 2019. Cass presented Ernst with a plaque and thanked her for her service to the board.

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PICTURED ABOVE: (L to R) Dr. Tony Cass of Creston, SWCC board president, and Jane Ernst of Greenfield, retiring SWCC board member.