Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Mesalands Community College board of trustees fired its president Tuesday evening and hired its vice president of academic affairs as an interim replacement.
After a closed executive session of less than 10 minutes near the start of Tuesday's meeting, the board without discussion unanimously voted to terminate John Groesbeck's contract after less than two years at the helm of the college.
Groesbeck had been placed on paid administrative leave at the end of the board's regularly scheduled March 17 meeting.
Board members did not provide a reason why Groesbeck was placed on leave, nor did they comment about the matter.
Groesbeck could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Natalie Gillard, Mesalands' vice president of academic affairs, was named interim president of the college and was given a 10% raise as compensation.
The board placed Groesbeck on paid leave last month after meeting behind closed doors with several administrators at the end of an otherwise routine meeting. Groesbeck was not allowed on campus and not allowed contact with the college's staff, faculty or the Mesalands Community College Foundation. Groesbeck also was forbidden access to his computer system at the college during the leave.
“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 the March meeting without 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 was paid $170,000 a year.