Board stands by vote on closing

Monroe Co. CC satellite site to be idle 2 months

The Whitman Center, the Monroe County Community College satellite campus in Bedford Township, is to close in June and July in a budget-cutting move that is estimated to save $40,000 to $50,000.

TEMPERANCE -- Despite pleas from some Bedford Township residents, Monroe County Community College will stay with its plan to close the Whitman Center in June and July of next year.

The decision made in June by the college's trustees was revisited at last week's board meeting.

About 12 people, including members of a group that calls itself Citizens for the Whitman Center, voiced concerns about the future of the satellite campus during the board meeting.

No action was taken by the board to revisit the decision, said Joe Ver- kennes, college spokesman.

However, the trustees agreed to establish a committee of citizens and college representatives to work on a strategic plan for the Whitman Center to identify goals and a fund-raising plan for the campus.

"The trustees listened to what they had to say. We want to work with these folks in Bedford Township to come up with a vision for the Whitman Center," Mr. Verkennes said.

At the meeting, the trustees accepted the resignation of Sandy Kosmyna, Whitman Center director, who stepped down in July.

Mr. Verkennes said a decision has not been made on hiring a replacement for her and administrators and deans from the main campus will rotate to handle her responsibilities, which include counseling of students.

"That is a really good thing that will allow our folks who schedule classes on main campus and who are in charge of curriculum to see what is really needed at the Whitman Center," Mr. Verkennes said.

During the board meeting, Mr. Verkennes, who is director of marketing, Randy Daniels, vice president of student and information services, and Grace Yackee, vice president of instruction, explained to the board about enrollment trends, marketing, and curriculum involving the community college.

The two-month closure was among cuts suggested by the administration in May as it prepared to present the budget to the board for approval by the end of June. Closing the center two months would save $20,000 to $25,000 each month.

-- Mark Reiter