Contract extension for interim president good for college stability

As many returning students know, the departure of former MHCC President John Sygielski led to the appointment of Michael Hay as interim president, with the intention of the district board to find a new president for the 2012-2013 academic year.
This appears to have changed, but strangely for the college, in a seemingly positive way.
At the board meeting Wednesday night, board member Brian Freeman announced the intention of the board to extend Hay’s interim period to two years. Anyone watching the contract negotiations last year can testify that the administration was not known for taking immediate action, and chose not to select a new president right away. This recent action could be seen as continued inaction.
However, Hay seems to be doing a good job so far as the interim president and seems to be well supported at the college. In fact, many students do not know that Hay is only the interim president and not permanent college president.
During a board retreat at McMenamin’s Edgefield Sept. 17, board member Rod Monroe made the suggestion for Hay to remain interim president for the next two years. Dianne Noriega, also on the board, agreed with the suggestion and requested a discussion of the pros and cons as well, adding that keeping Hay as the interim president “will help orient new board members and provide a bit of stability for the institution in terms of leadership continuity.”
The interim period would be set to end in July 2013.
Freeman and fellow board member Ralph Yates took time Wednesday to express their support for Hay and congratulate him on the job he has done thus far. As it stands after the meeting and discussions at the retreat, board members Monroe, Freeman, Yates, Noriega, Dave Shields and Maggie Nelson appear to support extending Hay’s appointment. Board member Bob Coen said he “doesn’t feel like he knows enough yet to make a decision on this.”
The board members in favor of extending the interim period cite the need for the board to create specific criteria for the presidency as well as the need to maintain “college stability.”
The Advocate believes this is a step in the right direction.
We believe this not necessarily because Hay is a profound president, but because with all the changes impacting the school (three new board members, consequences of contract negotiations, etc.), it is advisable for the board to take its time to select a person who truly can fill the needs of the school rather than hastily make a decision before MHCC has both feet on the ground.
While not all of MHCC’s problems have been fixed (which is understandable for even the most skilled persons, faced with this a daunting task), the school has yet to collapse under Hay. He has had to deal with the aftermath of the hostile faculty contract talks and a continuing budget crisis, all with a calm and collected composure, and has created some school stability.
For anyone who experienced last year’s chaos and uncertainty, that calmness and stability is much appreciated.

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