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‘Great day of discussion’ – trustees gain three new members and talk strategic goals at annual retreat
Clerk of Court Jess Hill swore in new Southeastern Community College Board of Trustees members Ricky Bullard, Chandler Worley and Danny McPherson at its regular board meeting at the Ritz Center in Tabor City on July 11. Al Leonard, not present at the meeting, will be sworn in at the September regular board meeting.
Bullard was appointed by the Columbus County Board of Commissioners, while Worley and McPherson were appointed by the N.C. House of Representatives. Leonard was appointed by the N.C. Senate.
Bullard, Worley, McPherson and Leonard replaced Randy Britt, Bobby Ezzell, Crystal Frink and Timothy Lance. Joe Hooks was reappointed as chair of the Board of Trustees, and Theresa Blanks was reappointed as vice chair.
Before the meeting, the Board of Trustees was updated on SCC’s financial and enrollment statistics for the previous fiscal year. SCC’s leadership team presented five strategic goals for the upcoming year.
“We went over our performance measures for the college which were really good,” said Dr. Chris English, SCC President. “We’re making some great gains in enrollment and through our fundraising efforts that address a healthy community.”
English said that myFutureNC, a statewide nonprofit organization focused on helping 2 million North Carolinians obtain college credentials by 2030, presented a “deep dive” on Columbus County education demographics. English explained that myFutureNC works to identify gaps in educational access in Columbus County.
“We have a population of 25- to 44-year-olds who have either no high school diploma, just a high school diploma or high school diploma with some college credit,” English said. “But none of them have any credentials behind them. That makes up roughly 65% of our demographics in Columbus County.”
With roadblocks such as childcare, transportation and providing for a family, English said that SCC was partnering with NCReconnect to help clear the path for those people to attend college.
One highlight of the board meeting was the presentation of the 25,000 square foot STEM Automotive Facility that will house the automotive and truck driver training programs. Renderings of the interior and exterior were on display, and a timeline for completion was discussed. The new facility will break ground in June 2025 with an expected completion of November 2026.
“Part of the problem is that we’re creating a whole new side of campus that doesn’t exist, so you have to run utilities, water and a road,” English said. “We’re taking farmland from being farmland to being another campus, and that takes time.”
English described the board retreat as a “great day of discussion.”