Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
For the first time in more than a decade, Mesalands Community College again will begin offering commercial driver’s license certification and training courses on March 1 for a variety of skill levels.
The announcement on Feb. 15 came the same day Mesalands President Gregg Busch introduced Alejandro Ojeda as the CDL program’s instructor during the board of trustees meeting.
Mesalands will offer advanced, intermediate and novice CDL courses that vary from one to four weeks. Endorsement trainings for hazardous materials or double/triple trailers will be available.
A news release by the college notes the training is being offered as the U.S. struggles with chain-supply issues and a shortage of skilled and licensed drivers. New regulations also went into effect Feb. 7 that establish standardized and minimum training requirements for entry-level commercial motor vehicles operators in interstate and intrastate commerce.
During the board’s meeting, Busch introduced Ojeda as the CDL program’s instructor. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, and raised in Lubbock, Texas, he is a U.S. Marine and former law-enforcement officer. He earned his degree at the University of Texas-El Paso.
Ojeda said he was excited to begin the CDL program.
“We’re here for the long haul — no pun intended,” he said.
Board member Jimmy Sandoval welcome the news.
“We’ve had a lot of people asking about it,” he said. “We’re glad to have it back again.”
Mary Beth Busch, executive director for the college’s Workforce Development office, said “the buzz around it is very significant.’
President Busch expressed his desire to open other Mesalands CDL training centers in New Mexico.
“It will open up a lot of doors in a lot of areas for the college in the state,” he said.
Mesalands last offered CDL courses in 2009, said Josh McVey, director of public relations.
Other business
• President Busch also introduced Shannon Fries, new director of nursing and manager of COVID-19 rapid responses at the college; and Allen Moss, new director of the small business development center.
Fries, who is licensed in nursing in multiple states including Texas, is readying the college’s nursing program to begin training students by this fall. She also coordinated a recent COVID-19 vaccination event with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Moss, a superintendent with the Houston, Missouri, school district, soon will follow his wife to Tucumcari. He said the Southwest’s arid climate is better for her health. She is an art teachers at Tucumcari High School.
• The board approved Busch’s suggestion to alter work hours for Mesalands employees during the summer. He said workers would work four 10-hour days a week, with the college closed Friday, from late May to Aug. 1. He said the new hours would save the college money on utilities and attract more potential employees. He said 83% of Mesalands employees supported the new hours.
• Board members approved a purchase requisition of $36,400 in two installments to CliftonLarsonAllen LLP of Minneapolis for its nationwide search to find a chief financial officer for the college.
• Board members approved a purchase requisition of $46,210 with Jenzabar of Boston for internet technology support.
• The board approved Busch’s membership with the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship, which comes at no cost but makes Mesalands eligible for a possible $1 million award.
• Busch said in light of declining numbers of coronavirus infections, he is lifting the requirement for N95 masks to be worn on campus instead of cloth masks and testing for those who travel out of state for more than 48 hours. He warned the standards may be tightened again if there’s another flare-up of cases.
• Busch said Mesalands will become part of the Acadeum network that will provide its coursework to students across the country. Mesalands also will have access to many courses from more than 400 schools in the network. He said not only will the arrangement increase Mesalands’ enrollment, the college will be paid a portion of the tuition if its students enroll in courses elsewhere.
• Busch said during a recent trip to Washington, he struck a deal to offer federal internship programs for U.S. representatives and senators from New Mexico. He said interns can choose whether to work for Republican or Democratic lawmakers. Busch said he also is working to establish a similar internship program with the New Mexico Legislature.
• Streetman said he was soliciting letters of interest through early this week for the open District 5 seat on the board. He said he hoped the board would appoint a new member during its March 15 meeting.
Robin Alden, a write-in candidate for the seat, apparently was elected in November, but she didn’t draw enough votes to legally qualify. She also withdrew from consideration for appointment to the seat after determining she would be unable to comply with the college’s anti-nepotism rule; she has a sister, Loni Monahan, who runs the dinosaur museum.
• Hazel Rountree, vice president of student success, said a recent mural of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. painted by an art student and instructor was nominated for a national award.
• Rountree also said the college recently accessed thousands of dollars of emergency funding for impoverished students to continue their education.
• The board went into a 90-minute closed executive session to discuss limited personnel matters, litigation and real estate. No action was taken when open session resumed.