Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Mesalands Community College board of trustees placed the appointment of an interim president on its regular meeting agenda for Tuesday, according to a fax sent by the college Friday afternoon.
That means the current president, John Groesbeck, may be fired. Groesbeck was placed on paid administrative leave for unspecified reasons during the board’s last meeting March 17.
The agenda also states an executive session will be held at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting, which is an unusual occurrence. Most closed sessions at previous meetings occurred near the end of the session.
The board placed Groesbeck on leave last month after meeting behind closed doors with several administrators at the end of an otherwise routine meeting. Groesbeck is not allowed on campus and not allowed any contact with the college's staff, faculty or the Mesalands Community College Foundation. Groesbeck also is forbidden access to his computer system at the college.
“He can only access his office to get personal items, and there must be two college representatives with him,” the administrative-leave motion approved by the board last month stated.
Groesbeck quickly left at the conclusion of March's meeting without comment.
Board of trustees Chairman Jim Streetman declined to comment directly on the matter after the board adjourned. The college’s public relations director, Josh McVey, stated in an email days later: “This is a personnel issue, and there will be no further comment.”
Groesbeck was hired as Mesalands president in July 2018 after the retirement of Thomas Newsom. The board gave Groesbeck a two-year contract extension in June. He is paid $170,000 a year.