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Vaara Chosen as Off Campus Director
Ironwood,  January 27, 2010

The Gogebic Community College Board of Trustees met in regular session last night. The annual contract with the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District (GOISD) was approved for high school occupational classes held on campus. The contract continues the excellent working relationship between the GOISD and the college. Currently, along with office space rental, the college and GOISD collaborate on programs in Building Trades, Computer Aided Design, Computer Repair, and Graphic Arts. The contract for this fiscal year is $19,440. The contract pricing is determined by several factors included student count and changes in the Consumer Price Index.
GCC President Jim Lorenson brought the Board up-to-date on legislation (or lack thereof) coming out of Lansing.

There still has not been any budget moves with respect to the state’s community colleges. Jim hopes that the further they go into the fiscal year, the better it could be for the group.

The outlook for next year is cloudy at best. The rumors are erratic with estimated budget cuts ranging anywhere from 7% to 20%.
Erik Guenard discussed the finances at November’s Month end. Erik told the Board that the College was Financially sound and that they are weathering the current Lansing fiscal crisis do to the conservative fiscal policy of the Board.

Mr. John D. Vaara, Hancock, has been hired to fill the half-time vacancy for the Off-Campus Program Coordinator. The position has been held by Tom Poisson, of Ontonagon, for a number of years. Poisson retired at the end of December. Vaara, an Ironwood native and GCC alumni, received a BS and Master of Arts from Northern Michigan University. He has been an educator since 1973, and recently retired as the Superintendent of Schools for Hancock Public Schools.
Among other duties, Mr. Vaara will be in charge of the GCC Houghton Campus. Houghton facility is currently a two classroom facility at the Michigan Works offices. It is a unique undertaking that has been very successful.

Residence hall rates for the next academic year were also approved, according to the pro forma that was developed when the building was first designed. The three percent increase in housing rates per year was designated to balance increased fixed costs of operation. Rates will be $3,890 per year.

The bid for the casework for the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry for this year’s speculation home for the Building Trades/Construction Technology Program was awarded to the Sawdust Bin of Ironwood. Also, proposals are being sought for the construction of a residential home for the 2010-2011 Building Trades/Construction Technology Program.