IOWA FALLS - The Iowa Valley Community College District Board of Directors approved the sabbatical leave request from Chancellor Tim Wynes at its meeting Wednesday at Ellsworth Community College's new agricultural center.
Details of the leave indicate Wynes will continue to receive his $158,000 annual salary and some benefits including health insurance and his annuity to work on his doctoral dissertation. The leave could last until June 30, 2010.
No discussion on the sabbatical leave took place during the meeting by the board.
Wynes was not at the meeting even though he was listed to comment on several agenda items. Board President Conrad Dejardin said he did not know where Wynes was and Board Secretary Barb Jennings said she was not notified Wynes would not be in attendance.
After the meeting, Dejardin did not comment further on the leave other than saying it's a sabbatical leave and "it is what it is."
Dejardin did not say whether he expected Wynes to return to the college after the leave or answer a question why public funds were going to be paid to Wynes while he is not working.
Sabbatical leaves for presidents or chancellors at community colleges are not common and calls made across the state in recent days to other community colleges could not indicate it has ever happened.
The board held four closed session meetings to evaluate an employee's status in recent weeks. No name was released of the employee being evaluated. Wynes did introduce a lawyer to the board prior to one session and was the only college employee to attend any of the sessions.
Dejardin said the board will meet Tuesday to talk about the possibility of naming an acting chancellor for the college district.
He said the three current district employees being considered for acting chancellor are IVCCD Chief Academic Officer Chris Russell, Marshalltown Community College Provost Chris Duree and ECC Provost Mollie Teckenburg.
A call made to Wynes' cell phone was not immediately returned Wednesday night.
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Contact Andrew Potter at 641-753-6611 or apotter@timesrepublican.com
