FORT SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
February 24, 2025
PRESENT: Ronda Bailey, John Bartelsmeyer, Jim Fewins, Bryan Holt, Chad McKinnis, and Doug Ropp
ALSO PRESENT: Sara Sutton – Interim President, Juley McDaniel – Board Clerk, faculty, staff, community
members.
Chairman Holt called the meeting to order at 10:30 am in the meeting rooms of the Cleaver-Burris-Boileau
Agriculture Building.
The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and Holt reading FSCC’s mission statement.
COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR: None
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: None
CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Bailey, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote to
approve the consent agenda. A motion was made by Bailey, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote to
amend the agenda to hold the executive sessions prior to discussion items.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made by McKinnis, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote
to adjourn to executive session for twenty minutes beginning at 10:34 am for the preliminary discussion of
acquisition of real property with no action expected to follow. The board invited Sara Sutton and Vanessa Poyner to
join.
OPEN SESSION: A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote to
return to open session at 10:54 pm.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Ropp, and carried by unanimous
vote to adjourn to executive session for thirty minutes beginning at 11:00 am to discuss personnel matters of
nonelected personnel as it relates to discussion of identifiable information of non-elected personnel with no action
expected to follow. The board invited Sara Sutton, Sonia Gugnani, and Juley McDaniel to join.
OPEN SESSION: A motion was made by Ropp, seconded by Bailey, and carried by unanimous vote to return to
open session at 11:30 pm.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
A. STARS:
• KBOR meeting update
• Discuss future relationship with the Southeast Technical Academy for Rural Students (STARS)?
• What does it look like for these programs for next year as far as location? (Paola/Fort Scott).
• Discussion of employment with FSCC employees at the STARS location.
• Drafting a response letter.
Discussion Summary:
The meeting with KBOR was last Thursday. Sara, Sonia, Rory, Missy, Ronda, and Bryan met
with April White and KBOR. STARS had sent letter requesting release from FSCC. FSCC went through large amounts of documents, emails, etc. that goes back to 2018 to the creation of STARS. Provided a lot
of evidence to KBOR pertaining to STARS. KBOR emphasized throughout the meeting they are not a
mediator in instances like this. They want to stay out of local issues like this. FSCC is still not in the black
or break-even point for the STARS location even with this being the 3rd year of operation at STARS.
FSCC is still in the red at that location at nearly $200,000, so still recouping the initial investment. That
doesn’t count any of the grant funds utilized to purchase items for the location. Ronda indicated April
White agreed with FSCC’s presentation of financials, as she had reviewed them prior to this meeting. This
was the first interaction with KBOR regarding this subject. April White had reached out to set up the
meeting after receiving the letter from STARS. April also indicated this isn’t the first time superintendents
have tried to take over an area. April is out this week, but hoping for a response next week. KBOR
received a different letter from STARS than FSCC did. Both STARS letters – to FSCC and to KBOR –
were addressed. There has been discussion that there’s been no formal contract or MOU for the STARS
location. FSCC has been trying to work through and facilitate an agreement and be a good partner. FSCC
did not sign up for paying for a building and utilities in Pleasanton since we also have a location in Paola.
STARS was generated because the local superintendents wanted something local for their students. FSCC
agreed to pay for things related to curriculum and instruction but nothing else because we already had
commitments on both sides of a Pleasanton location. The equipment at STARS is owned by a mix of
FSCC and STARS. FSCC offered an MOU that would’ve equated to about $16,000 and would’ve covered
the utilities. STARS proposed FSCC turning over all of the money and STARS returning 15% to FSCC.
FSCC can’t turn over all the funding to non-educational group to make educational decisions for us. FSCC
also added funds to pay half of the cost of a secretary for the facility. FSCC has tried to negotiate and be a
good partner. Bryan pointed out the letter to FSCC doesn’t include anything FSCC has done wrong. The
letter to KBOR indicated FSCC hasn’t been a good partner or negotiated despite multiple attempts, so the
issues come out of sustainable funding. STARS says they’re a technical school, but they don’t grant the
degrees or the certificates.
Should FSCC look at another area to facilitate this instruction? Some Bourbon County students are driving
and Miami County students driving to STARS. We need to consider how to best serve the students who
are currently being served. We would love to come to agreement with STARS to facilitate instruction in
that area. Four faculty members, a secretary, and a director at STARS plus benefits that we’re paying for.
We have facilities in Paola and we need to expand in Bourbon County. Also have a current need for a
construction trades location in Bourbon County that’s currently being taught at FSHS.
The STARS letter is effective 6/30. HLC as the accreditor cares that students who start a program are
offered an opportunity to complete the program in some way. Uniontown students currently driving to
STARS. If we can’t come to an agreement, we need to consider next steps on how to serve those students
so they have an opportunity to finish.
Welding is offered in all 4 counties. That’s the type of thing that is saturating the market, and acting
cannibalistic to our own credit hours.
The Linn County News article gives the impression the partnership is over. KBOR meeting didn’t give that
indication. STARS can choose to move on if they choose to, but they don’t have the authority to grant
degrees and certificates. FSCC currently fulfills the duty of serving students in service area, so would not
look at granting ability to another institution to operate there.
STARS initially requested official response from FSCC within 5 days. FSCC sent a response saying the
board needed to meet to discuss, but STARS continued to pursue addressing with KBOR. A response from
KBOR will allow FSCC to provide an official response to STARS.
It’s not feasible to have a tech center in each area.10

Cannot award degrees/certificates for things taught by faculty who aren’t ours.
STARS does great things, but we’re also seeing reduction in enrollment at other locations. We have to
have programmatic control, and consider the whole story (our other locations offering the same thing in the
areas.
When options are available for the board to consider, Sara will bring forward so things can progress.
We will send a letter that indicates the Board has met and is awaiting KBOR’s response.
B. CTEC:
• Review of the CTEC non-renewal letter.
• Discussion of employment with FSCC employees at the CTEC location.
• Discuss the next steps of the transition process.
• Drafting a response letter.
Discussion Summary:
Letter dated 2/17 of CTEC’s intent to not renew with FSCC as of 6/30. Board has a copy of that letter.
When Sara came into current role, she was aware there was potential relationship patching to be done at the
CTEC location. She started going to CTEC’s monthly board meetings. Dan Boley came into director of
CTEC in July. Rory had acted as interim part of previous year. Bryan and Chad have engaged into some
conversation with CTEC as well. It was brought to CTEC board meeting that they may be going with
another educational entity in the summer. CTEC is not in FSCC’s service area. For FSCC to operate in
Crawford County, PSU must grant permission each semester. John said it’s continued to get more difficult
over time to deal with.
It’s really up to PSU to determine if FSCC can operate in their service area.
Ronda questioned what lack of program growth was. Both parties have lacked in strategic vision and
conversation about what the goals and objectives are.
FSCC did not receive a letter similar to what STARS sent. There have been multiple conversations, but no
official document. At the last CTEC board meeting, CTEC said they wanted PSU to come in and KBOR
would push things through for funding and program approval.
SB155 funds (high school generated funding for CTE courses) is granted to community colleges and
technical schools. CTEC would either need a community college or tech school come in or have legislation
change to capture the funding.
Lack of program growth – Did FSCC know the expectations for program growth? CTEC board has
discussed programs they’d like, but FSCC would like to be part of those conversations.
Bryan expressed disappointed because he knows Sara, Sonia, and Rory really leaned into resolving the
issues created by history, but don’t think they had an opportunity to really make things work. Both CTEC11 and STARS have been doing great things. Clearly some problems FSCC has contributed to, but current
admin team and new board didn’t get a fair opportunity to make it work. It takes time to turn around 3
years of problems. FSCC would like to make it work if we could.
FSCC received a letter from CTEC proposing a letter of intent to work with STARS to facilitate curriculum
and instruction. Jay told Ronda STARS would like to be like CTEC and work with CTEC in 2023.
Frustrating to hear CTEC working with an entity within our service area to work with a group outside our
service area. Discussions about CTEC and STARS pushing together because it’s a better sell to make it a
regional shift.
Communicating with employees on how the employees are affected. Trying to do best to make sure we can
still facilitate employment, but if we can’t, what does that look like as an employee of FSCC.
Biggest difference between CTEC and STARS situations is that CTEC is in our service area.
Sara recommends writing response letter to CTEC on working with their board to properly unravel and do
what’s in the best interest of our students and employees. Lot of people counting on it being handled
civilly and professionally. Want to meet with their board.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous
vote to adjourn to executive session for twenty minutes beginning at 12:25 pm to discuss personnel matters of
nonelected personnel as it relates to discussion of identifiable information of non-elected personnel with no action
expected to follow.
OPEN SESSION: A motion was made by Ropp, seconded by Bailey, and carried by unanimous vote to return to
open session at 12:45 pm.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Trustees, a motion to adjourn was made at
12:45 pm by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Ropp, and carried by unanimous vote.
Chairman Clerk12