Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
January 27, 2025
PRESENT: Ronda Bailey, John Bartelsmeyer, Jim Fewins, Bryan Holt, Chad McKinnis, and Doug Ropp (via
Zoom)
ALSO PRESENT: Sara Sutton – Interim President (via Zoom), Juley McDaniel – Board Clerk, faculty, staff,
community members.
Chairman Holt called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm 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
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION UPDATE: Kirk Sharp, Director of the Gordon Parks Museum,
highlighted the events of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration as well as the Gordon Parks Museum. Students
read tributes to Martin Luther King, Jr. at the recent celebration. In addition to the Lunch and Learn, a Day of
Service was held to take donations for the Beacon. The Museum is gearing up for Black History Month. A Lunch
and Learn will be held on February 12. Tribute panels will be displayed in the Ellis Fine Arts Center Lobby
throughout February to showcase lesser-known members of history. KSN’s Living Well program will highlight the
Gordon Parks Museum in February, as well. First graders from Winfield Scott recently visited the Museum, and
Eugene Ware fifth graders are planning an upcoming visit. Kirk will be presenting to PSU’s Black Student Union in
February. Other upcoming events include Gordon Parks Fashion Bootcamp, Gordon Parks Museum Fundraiser
event, and Fort Scott Now Stories Documentary and Photos. The museum is going to start expanding the Langston
Hughes and Gordon Parks traveling collection with support of Kansas Tourism. The history of the Waymen Chapel
AME Church Park Project was shared. The annual Gordon Parks Celebration will be on October 2 – 4, 2025.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
A motion was made by Fewins, seconded by Bailey, and carried by unanimous 5-0 vote to appoint Bryan
Holt as Board Chair. Holt abstained.
A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Bailey, and carried by unanimous 5-0 vote to appoint
Doug Ropp as Board Vice-Chair. Ropp abstained.
APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS, POSITIONS, AND OFFICIALS FOR 2025:
A motion was made by Fewins, seconded by Bailey, and carried by unanimous vote to approve appointments below
for 2025.
INFORMATION OFFICER Juley McDaniel
CLERK OF THE BOARD Juley McDaniel
TREASURER Melissa Scott
KPERS REPRESENTATIVE Juley McDaniel
KACCT REP AND COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS REPRESENTATIVE Chad McKinnis, Ronda Bailey
FINANCIAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE Bryan Holt, Jim Fewins
GREENBUSH REPRESENTATIVE John Bartelsmeyer
NEGOTIATIONS REPRESENTATIVE Chad McKinnis
DESIGNATED BANK FOR GENERAL FUND Landmark National Bank
DESIGNATED ATTORNEY Zackery Reynolds
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER Fort Scott Tribune6
CONSENT AGENDA:
A motion was made by Fewins, seconded by Bartelsmeyer, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the consent
agenda.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
A. TRUSTEE EMERITUS: Ronda shared the Trustee Emeritus possibility as shared by Robert Nelson. The
board agreed that if it starts there needs to be criteria and guidelines and also identify who is in charge of
keeping it up and going. Fewins questioned if any other community colleges have a similar recognition.
Board members will further research the topic and bring ideas back to the next meeting for discussion.
REPORTS:
• ADMINISTRATION – The Board reviewed and heard updates from Academic Affairs, Student Services,
Foundation, Finance and Operations, and the Interim President.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous
vote to adjourn to executive session for fifteen minutes beginning at 7:00 pm for the purpose of discussing non-
elected personnel as it relates to discussion of identifiable information of non-elected personnel with no action
expected to follow. The board invited Sonia Gugnani and Sara Sutton to join.
OPEN SESSION: A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote to
return to open session at 7:15 pm.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous
vote to adjourn to executive session for fifteen minutes beginning at 7:16 pm for the purpose of discussing non-
elected personnel as it relates to discussion of identifiable information of non-elected personnel with no action
expected to follow. The board invited Sonia Gugnani and Sara Sutton to join.
OPEN SESSION: A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote to
return to open session at 7:31 pm.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous
vote to adjourn to executive session for fifteen minutes beginning at 7:35 pm for the purpose of discussing non-
elected 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 Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote to
return to open session at 7:50 pm.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Trustees, a motion to adjourn was made at
7:50 pm by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote.
Chairman Clerk7