MCC board chairman resigns

The chairman of the Mesalands Community College board of trustees stepped down today after serving for 31 years as a member.

Jim Streetman stated in his March 1 resignation letter to acting Mesalands President Allen Moss that he was retiring and that he also was resigning from the college’s foundation, effective immediately.

“I have determined that as a result of the current financial challenges facing Mesalands it is in the Colleges (sic) best interest to have new leadership on the board,” he wrote.

Streetman stated he served on the board when the college was initially called Tucumcari Area Vocational School and “have always done what is best for Mesalands.”

He also asked anyone from the college or board to contact him if he could be of assistance.

Streetman and the board had been criticized by the college's executive staff and other employees for a lack of oversight over the college's finances.

In the last month, Mesalands officials took several no-confidence votes against its current president, Gregory Busch, after they learned the college was in dire financial condition. Busch took a medical leave of absence after the votes, citing complications from COVID-19 and Parkinson's disease.

The Mesalands board since has adopted a solvency plan that cuts many employees' pay, eliminates low-enrollment programs and makes other cost-cutting moves.

Moss said earlier this week Mesalands has requested $2 million in emergency state funds to get through the end of the fiscal year in June and leave a "minimal" cash cushion for the start of the next fiscal year.

We’ll have more in the next edition of the Quay County Sun.