T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS The 2018-19 Iowa Valley Community College District Board holds Wednesday's meeting after re-electing last year's board leadership. From left: board member Deb Crosser, board member Delbert Kellogg, Chancellor Chris Duree, board President Larry Johnson, board secretary Barb Jennings, board Vice President Paul Pohlson, board member Deborah Jones, board member Joanna Hofer and board member Chris Brodin.

The 2018-19 Iowa Valley Community College District Board of Trustees voted to continue with its current leadership at Wednesday evening’s meeting.

That means Board President Larry Johnson and Vice President Paul Pohlson will stay in place this year. Also re-appointed were board secretary Barb Jennings and board treasurer Kathy Pink.

Additionally, the board unanimously approved three jobs training agreements at a total cost of $60,000. Those agreements were with Latimer Associates Inc., JBS Swift and Co., and D and B Agro Systems Ltd.

The board saw a presentation about the Marshalltown Community College Honors Program. Science faculty member Danielle Kness was joined by honors program students Emily Vest and Danica Wilson to discuss the expectations and benefits of the program.

Iowa Valley Chancellor Chris Duree said the future of a possible $33 million bond referendum will be one of several topics discussed at the Nov. 7 board retreat at the Iowa Valley Continuing Education building.

That bond issue question was planned to be approved by the board and sent to the public for final approval this year, but Duree announced in August that the issue would be put on hold due to complications from the July 19 tornado.

The bond was set to address multiple infrastructure needs, as well as student resident spaces at Ellsworth Community College.

Duree also said district officials spoke with Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa House Speaker Linda Upmeyer and other state leaders about increasing the power of local community college boards to levy taxes. He said that effort would be in response to lack of money available from state aid to the community colleges.

The next Iowa Valley Community College District meeting is set for 4 p.m. Nov. 17 at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls.

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Contact Adam Sodders at (641) 753-6611 or asodders@timesrepublican.com