The Neosho County Community College Board of Trustees held its August 2025 Board of Trustees Meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 13, in the Student Union Boardroom on the Chanute Campus. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. and adjourned at approximately 10 a.m.
Following discussions with Ranson Financial Group, L.L.C. of Wichita, trustees approved Resolution 2025-48 to authorize the sale of lease purchase agreement certificates of participation (COP) to fund part of the Mih Family Fine Arts Center project.
The College will publicly offer the sale of approximately $3,235,000 in COPs. This total — which combined with the amount of money raised for the project, would fully fund the anticipated budget — covers money raised as pledges and will be paid down as donations are officially received. So far, the college has secured donations, grants, and pledges in excess of $4,5 million for the anticipated $6.5 million project.
“We are pleased with the resolution that we have prepared with the help of Ranson Financial Group,” said Dr. Brian Inbody, NCCC President. “This plan will allow us to fully-fund the project upfront, while granting us options to save money on interest later down the road. Although donation pledges are great, we can’t pay for construction and needed equipment with a pledge.” Bids for construction and equipment were opened on Thursday, and a contractor will be selected during a special meeting on Aug. 21 at 9 a.m.
Renovations to the Wellness Center continue to progress, with slight delays. Some interior finishes need to be refinished, and the exterior brick facia has not yet been delivered or installed. The building is expected to open in September.
Dr. Riann Mullis, NCCC Athletic Director and Title IX Coordinator, provided an Athletic Department Report to trustees.
Dr. Mullis emphasized the Athletic Department’s focus on academics first for its student- athletes. This translated to a departmental GPA of 3.29, sixth-best in the Kansas Jayhawk Conference. The volleyball (3.73), men’s soccer (3.63), softball (3.51), baseball (3.42), and women’s soccer (3.40) teams were honored as NJCAA All-Academic Teams, and total of 93 athletes were honored with NJCAA Academic All-American honors with a GPA of 3.0 or better.
Athletic achievements highlighted by Dr. Mullis included the selection of seven individuals as NJCAA All-Americans, a NJCAA Runner-Up finish by the Men’s Soccer team, NJCAA Runner-Up finish in the High Jump by Rusiate Matai, J.J. Davis (Women’s Basketball) and Elliot Chadderton’s (Men’s Soccer) selection as KJCCC Coaches of the Year, Mateighia Tanner (Softball) being named Easton / NFCA Assistant Coach of the Year, and Steve Murry (Baseball) earning the NJCAA Coaches Legacy Award.
A major goal of the department each year is to facilitate the transfer of athletes from NCCC to a four-year athletic program. A total of 60 former NCCC student-athletes are now competing at the four-year level in 2025-’26.
Dr. Mullis also emphasized the importance of community service for the department. Because most student-athletes tend to be from outside the NCCC community, the department makes a point in being involved in as many community events as possible. This led to 8,734 service hours in 2024’25, an average of 37 hours per student-athlete.
New coaches for the 2025’26 season include Kristin Chase taking the helm of the Spirit program, while Samuel Hall has been brought on as the Women’s Soccer Head Coach. Assistant coach hires include Deedra Woodbury (Volleyball), Gage Delimont (Men’s Basketball), Michael Martin (Women’s Basketball), and Hailey Spring-Clark (Spirit).
The first home events of the season are rapidly approaching. Cross Country opens the year at home on Aug. 23, Volleyball debuts at home on Aug. 27, and the Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer squads kick off the home schedule on Aug. 30. Full schedules, scores, stats, rosters, and more can be found at goneosho.com In other business, trustees: — Approved the minutes from the July 9 meeting.
— Heard a Treasurer’s report from Chief Financial Officer Sandi Solander and approved claims for disbursement for the month of July.
— Approved salary increases for TRiO Grant Employees hired after April 1, 2025: hourly employees will receive a $0.85/hour increase, salary employees will receive an increase of 3% (or $1,750 if current salary is less than $58,333).
— Approved the following hirings: Hailey Spring-Clark as Assistant Cheer and Dance Coach with a start date of August 14; Keylee Gromer as Accounts Receivable Clerk with a start date of Aug. 18; Carli Daisy as Teaching and Learning Center Specialist with a start date of Aug. 25; James Tyler DeBuke as Desktop Support Technician with a start date of Aug. 18.
— Approved the following resignations: Jillian Wilson as Talent Search Director with a last day of July 24; Mary Edwards as Simulation Clinician Instructor with a last day of Aug. 6; Melissa Swartz as Nursing Instructor with a last day of Aug. 12.
— Heard no public comment.
The next NCCC Board of Trustees meeting will be Wednesday, September 10, at 9:00 a.m. In the Student Union Boardroom on the Chanute Campus.
