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Board OKs Duree’s retirement

Duree

The Iowa Valley Community College District Board of Directors unanimously accepted Chancellor Dr. Chris Duree’s request for early retirement at its regular meeting on Wednesday.

Duree’s request was expected after he announced his intentions at a Board retreat last week. Duree has spent the last 38 years in public education, 30 of which have been in administration. He is expected to continue as chancellor until June 30, 2019.

Duree became the district’s chancellor in November 2009.

Because Duree is now officially stepping down, the board unanimously approved the hiring of Dr. Larry Ebbers to serve as a search consultant. Ebbers was not at the meeting, but last week he told the board that he expects “favorable” demand for the position, and he predicted that as many as 30 people may apply for the position.

Ebbers will form a search committee, advertise the position and hold public forums along with other proactive measures. In Ebbers’ proposed schedule, he plans to hold open forums in Iowa Falls, Marshalltown and Grinnell on Dec. 3 and 4. He also proposes that the search committee would recommend six to 10 candidates for Skype interviews by early March.

The Board agreed to pay Ebbers $7,500 plus travel expenses. The district will also pay $1,000 to Ebbers’ technical assistant Marva Ruther.

In other business

Also at Wednesday’s meeting – held on the Ellsworth campus in Iowa Falls – the Board unanimously approved the issuance of $310,000 in “certificates” to fund a jobs training program. IVCCD has partnered with R. S. Stover Company to train and educate employees.

“They’re creating 19 new jobs,” said Vice Chancellor Jacque Goodman. “This is exciting. It’s been about a year in the making. We anticipate issuing the bonds in the spring, so that process will start later in the year.”

The board also unanimously approved an agreement with Minneapolis-based FRSecure to provide information security services and consulting via the company’s FACT System for $24,795. Chief Information Officer Mike Mosher recommended FRSecure because of its track record. He added that the company will inevitably find holes in IVCCD’s system and recommend fixes.

FRSecure will also rate IVCCD’s current system multiple times with a “credit score” type system designed to show improvement.

The board will hold its next regular meeting 4 p.m. on Dec. 12 in Marshalltown.

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