District board to take on up to four members in spring

Along with the impending selection of a new college president, MHCC may also see the arrival of up to four new board members by July 1.

Board member Rod Monroe announced at a board meeting several months ago his intention to not run for re-election come spring, and fellow board member Brian Freeman now has also stated he will not be running for re-election.

Current board chair Dave Shields has said he is unsure whether he will run for re-election. Board member Paul Capell, currently serving as interim in the position of Ralph Yates who resigned from the board in September 2012, will also have to re-run for the position in the spring as well.

Monroe, whom serves as the Zone 4 MHCC district board member, was originally elected to the board in 2005 and is now finishing his second term. He was elected as a state senator in 2006, where he now serves and intends to continue. In addition to being a veteran member on the board, Monroe has also had three sons attend MHCC.

Even with possibly four new members, Monroe said he feels it will be business as usual with the change. “I don’t see that changing with the new people coming on,” said Monroe. ‘Overall I think that will be a positive thing.”

As for not seeking another MHCC term, Monroe said, “I decided to not run for election because I’ve been overwhelmed by my responsibilities as a state senator.”

Monroe added he will be going to Salem for five months and will miss some board meetings. “So I decided that it’s not fair to the board if I’m a member but not attending all the meetings,” he said.

Though his time on the board is coming to a close within months, Monroe says there is still a lot of work to do. “ They still have a lot of work to do in this final stretch, and specifically faculty negotiations and electing a new president.”

Freeman, former board chair and current member representing Zone 2, is now in his 12th and final year on the board.

“I’ve been on the board for 12 years and there has been a number of people that I’ve worked with and that gives me confidence that whoever replaces us will be good people,” said Freeman in regard to his decision to step down.

“I have friends who work here and still do. (MHCC is) a part of me, part of my blood,” he said.

Although Monroe and Freeman have both served multiple terms and are both leaving, Monroe said he is still confident that whomever is elected will not “miss a beat.”

With some “fresh blood” to be tossed into the fray, Freeman said this could even be a good thing, “Sometimes you exhaust all your ideas. Somebody with fresh ideas can bring something new to the board.

“I don’t think it would be good for the college if the same members remained on the board too long. Maybe 12 years is a little too long,” he laughed.

Current board chair Shields said he hasn’t “made up his mind yet” on whether he will run again.

Shields is also a former MHCC instructor and has had two sons attend the school.

“I have been associated with the college for almost 40 years,” he said.

Whether or not he remains with the board, in regard to the departure of Monroe and Freeman, Shields said, “They’re fine board members, dedicated individuals.”

“Their dedication to MHCC has been noteworthy,” he said.

With Shields possibly not returning, the board may need to select a new leader.

Asked who he thinks would fill that role nicely, Freeman said, “It’s kind of been tradition that we select the vice chair. Diane Noriega is doing that now and she is just a top quality person. She’d slip right into the position well.”

The next board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 13.