T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY Iowa Valley Business and Community Solutions Business Outreach Coordinator Val Ruff, left, presented to the board of directors on three job training agreements with area companies while board member Chris Brodin, right, listened during Wednesday night’s monthly meeting.

The Iowa Valley Community College District (IVCCD) Board of Directors moved through a host of agenda items relatively quickly during Wednesday afternoon’s monthly meeting, unanimously approving several job training agreements for the upcoming school year and discussing the process of replacing departing President Kristie Fisher.

During the regular action portion of the meeting, Iowa Valley Business and Community Solutions

Business Outreach Coordinator Val Ruff presented three job training agreements for the board’s approval, including two with Marshalltown businesses: Mechdyne in the amount of $49,594 and Alkegen (formerly known as Lydall) in the amount of $28,462.

Ruff offered some background on Mechdyne, a global virtual reality company with over 300 employees, and expressed her excitement to be working with them again.

“They’ve worked with us in the past, but it’s been a while. So we’re excited to have the opportunity to work with them on some leadership opportunities. They take leadership to a very high level,” she said.

Another agreement with Barnhart Electric in Iowa Falls in the amount of $9,332 was also approved.

After signing off on the job training agreements, the board also discussed and ultimately approved a quote and scope of work contract with Mechdyne for audio and video upgrades in the 600 hallway classrooms at MCC (608, 610, 612 and 614). Both Fisher and IVCCD Chief Information Officer Mike Mosher reported that the current technology in those rooms is outdated, and although Mosher admitted “sticker shock” at the price of $169,801, he noted that it broke down to about $4,000 per room per year for equipment that will last a decade.

The board ultimately voted unanimously to approve the quote.

Now that the news of Fisher’s plans to become the next president at Kirkwood Community College have been announced, the board discussed the bittersweet task of hiring her replacement. Fisher is tentatively slated to stay at Iowa Valley until the fall and said she still had “a lot of work to do yet in the next few months.”

Board President Larry Johnson said Directors Cindy Hofer and Director Deborah Jones would serve as the co-chairs for the hiring process alongside Dr. Larry Ebbers, who will be contracted to lead a search after the board approved such a move during the meeting.

During her report, Fisher, who has spent most of her life in the Cedar Rapids area, reflected on the transition and spoke highly of Iowa Valley.

“I’m excited to be going back home, but I’m sad to be leaving Iowa Valley,” she said. “It’s a great place.”

After the regular meeting had concluded, the board held a retreat with a dinner and then discussion on bond and facilities projects, an update on the compensation and benefits study, and a self-evaluation before a closed session for Fisher’s performance evaluation.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the consent agenda as listed.

• Approved course fee increases for the upcoming academic year.

• Approved the redistricting plan for board members, which will result in two current directors residing in the same district and the need to elect a new director in the upcoming election.

• Approved a five-year agreement between the MCC athletic department and BSN Sports for Nike uniforms, apparel and footwear.

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Contact Robert Maharry at

641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.