Primrose elected chair of MCC board

Former Quay County manager Richard Primrose attended his first meeting Thursday as a member of the Mesalands Community College board of trustees, then he promptly was elected chair of that body.

Early in the meeting, acting chair Teresa Stephenson said the board's policies required a new election of a chair. The previous chair, Jim Streetman, resigned in March after more than 30 years on the board.

Board member Tom Sidwell nominated Stephenson as chair, and Phillip Box seconded it. Board member Jimmy Sandoval nominated Primrose, and Sidwell seconded.

Stephenson's nomination failed by a 3-1 vote, with Sidwell casting the only "yes" vote. Primrose's nomination passed by a 4-0 vote.

Primrose seemed a bit surprised by his election, noting "this is my first week" on the board of trustees.

After he and Stephenson switched chairs and nameplates, Primrose settled into the position. He occasionally asked questions of speakers, and he thanked each one after their reports.

"I appreciate y'all's confidence," Primrose said to the board later in the meeting.

Primrose, who was chosen in early April from three candidates to fill the vacant board of trustees position, was Quay County's manager for 14 years before his retirement in 2021. He also was a Tucumcari city manager.

Finances

During his president's report, Allen Moss said he would recommend the return of about $191,000 of $763,000 in state emergency funds used to complete audits, hire more business office personnel and reactivate the college's Jenzabar system.

Moss said Mesa lands received the full $2 million appropriation requested to the state to cover the rest of the financially troubled college's current fiscal year, plus some money for the next fiscal year that begins in July.

Moss said the appropriation was "significantly more" than anticipated, though he acknowledged "money is going to be tight next year."

Sidwell agreed with returning the $191,000, adding: "It would be a good gesture and show we're trying."

Chief Financial Officer Blanca Pauliukevicius said Mesalands has collected about $560,000 in drawdowns and grant reimbursements that are helping the "the bottom line."

"We're working hard to collect the money we're owed," she said.

Pauliukevicius said the business office is not making as much progress as needed to reconcile accounts, and the college will hire an accounting firm to speed that up.

She said Mesalands should meet its financial obligations through at least the first half of May. She said salary reductions and attrition are helping to cut costs.

Primrose asked Pauliukevicius for a line-item report on restricted funds, plus its expenses through Cooperative Educational Services.

Pauliukevicius also was asked whether the wind turbine generates enough electricity for all the campus. She said the turbine generates about $2,500 in power monthly, while Mesalands uses about $10,000 in electricity a month.

Other items

- In a sign of Mesalands' out-of-date finances, the board voted to remove John Groesbeck, Natalie Gillard, Amanda Hammer and Aaron Kennedy as signatories at Tucumcari Federal Savings & Loan accounts. All four no longer work at the college, and two have been gone for more than two years.

The board also voted to remove Streetman, Duane Brooks and former president Gregg Busch as signatories at New Mexico Bank & Trust accounts.

- The board approved a purchase requisition of $23,705 with CliftonLarsonAllen of Minneapolis for the FY2021 audit. (See other story in this edition about the audit report.)

- The board approved a purchase requisition of $154,279 with Jenzabar to reactivate the program.

- The board approved a budget adjustment request of $27,638 from a Carl D. Perkins grant to pay for parts and devices for the wind-energy program.

- Moss said he issued a proposed organizational chart for the college and discussed it with the executive team. He said he's soliciting opinions from staff, noting it "needs to be fluid" before it's approved.

- Moss said the college soon would issue a request for proposals for legal services. Mesalands' current attorney, Warren Frost of Logan, is looking to retire.

- Joel Kiser, chief academic officer, reported Mesalands has completed an articulation agreement with Menlo College of Atherton, California, which includes a $20,000 scholarship for students who attend there for two years.

Kiser also said he was grateful of support to the campus community during "a most unimaginable semester." He thanked everyone that enabled the college "to move forward" during the fiscal crisis.

- Josh McVey, chief communications officer, said graduation would be at 6 p.m. Friday at Rattler Gymnasium, with about 60 students participating. Carlos Marquez of Mesa Winds Pharmacy in Tucumcari will be the keynote speaker. It is the first in-person graduation since 2019.

- Julio Galindo, chief of diversity, said he's working with Bell Ranch, founded in 1824, to create an exhibit to honor its 200-year anniversary. Galindo stated in his report he will ask ranch owner John Malone and his wife to make a $2 million to $20 million gift to fund the Center for Agriculture and Food Sciences.

Galindo said the college also received a $150,000 federal grant as one of several meat schools. Mesalands also might be eligible for up to a $500,000 early childhood grant for daycare services.

- Duane Brooks, chief of staff, said staff are investigating using eCampus as a way to make the campus bookstore cost-effective and efficient. It would allow the bookstore to not require inventory.

- Janet Griffiths, faculty senate president, said four Mesalands athletes have qualified for the National College Finals Rodeo next month in Casper, Wyoming.

- The board went into an 80-minute executive session to discuss litigation, personnel or real estate. No action was taken when open session resumed.