Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Mesalands Community College board of trustees apparently had a lot to discuss Wednesday during a two-hour, behind-closed-doors special meeting — including replacing one of its recently deceased colleagues.
Trustee Craig Currell died July 25 after an extended illness. Board Chairman Jim Streetman acknowledged after the meeting replacing him was one of the topics of discussion Wednesday and would be during future meetings.
The official meeting agenda included discussion of limited personnel matters and litigation for the closed session. The latter included a whistleblower lawsuit filed last month by former Mesalands president John Groesbeck after his firing in April.
Streetman briefly mentioned to fellow board member Liz Estrada before the meeting the lawsuit would be among the topics of closed discussion.
The board took no action during Wednesday’s special meeting. Board member Jimmy Sandoval also attended; board member Teresa Stephenson was absent.
In his eight-page lawsuit, Groesbeck stated he confronted the college’s foundation members, many whom are on the board of trustees, at a board meeting March 3 about allegations of improper distribution of federal grant funds, fraudulent property leases and improper appropriation of money to the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum. He also alleged overpayments to some faculty members.
Two weeks later, Groesbeck was placed on indefinite paid administrative leave after a closed session during a board of trustees meeting. He was fired without explanation during the trustees’ next meeting in April.
On a related matter, Streetman said after Wednesday’s meeting the board likely would discuss at future meetings the formation of a search committee to find a new president of the college.
Natalie Gillard, vice president of academic affairs, is serving as interim president — the second time in less than a decade she has done so.
Regarding Currell, Streetman said the board likely would look over resumes of interested candidates and then appoint a replacement.
The person chosen to fill Currell’s seat would have to run in November 2021 to serve the final four years of Currell’s term, Streetman said.
Currell won re-election for the six-year term last November.