CC Regents receive OMA training

The Clarendon College Board of Regents received tailored Open Meetings Act training during a called meeting last Wednesday, June 20.

Attorney Chase M. Hales of the Sprouse Shrader Smith law firm in Amarillo conducted the training, which lasted more than 45 minutes and covered a wide range of topics on 32 PowerPoint slides with a special emphasis on issues pertinent to the college.

Hales started with the importance of agendas for public meetings being posted 72 hours before a meeting and the need for those agendas to be specific.

“The whole point is to let the public know what the meeting is about in case they have an interest in what’s being discussed,” Hales said.

The attorney also discussed such topics as public comment, the proper way to conduct a meeting, the requirements for minutes and recordkeeping, and what he termed “very narrow purpose” and “very limited scope” of meeting in executive session, noting that executive sessions are not authorized simply to prevent disclosure of unfavorable information.

“The entire purpose of the Open Meetings Act is to expose the activities of our government – warts and all,” Hales said.

The training session also covered the limited reasons for holding an emergency meeting, special issues facing committees and subcommittees, issues involving technology, conduct of board members outside of meetings, and the proper role of the board interacting with employees.

Hales warned board members that not following the Open Meetings Act can lead to civil and criminal penalties and not following the decorum in interacting with employees can lead to lawsuits alleging violations of employment laws.

In other college business, regents approved a bid on tax delinquent property at Howardwick; approved a letter of engagement with the college auditors for the year ending August 31, 2018; approved the policy manual, student handbook, personnel handbook, and catalog for the upcoming academic year; and ratified the resignation of Vice President of Academic Affairs and the employment of Donna Smith as a librarian.

In his president’s report, Dr. Robert Riza said headcount was up for the May mini session and the Summer I session. He also said the college had received its final letter from the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools/Commission on Colleges closing out its decennial review of CC with no follow up report required.

Riza also reported on his attendance, along with Regent Edwin Campbell, at the Texas Community College Trustees Association meeting earlier this month. Mr. Campbell encouraged all his fellow board members to attend the TCCTA meeting.

“I thought I knew a lot about being on this board, but I didn’t know anything,” Campbell said. “I’m taken aback at the responsibility we have as regents.”

The CC Board of Regents also met in Pampa last Thursday for their regular June meeting. There Dr. Riza recognized the contributions to CC of Gray County Judge Richard Peet upon his upcoming retirement. Judge Peet taught for the CC Pampa Center from 1979 until 1994 when he became judge. Riza called him a friend and advocate for the college.

“I enjoy education and teaching youth,” Peet said. “I think Clarendon College is a tremendous asset to Pampa, and I appreciate your efforts to continue that.”
Riza also thanked the Pampa Foundation, which has contributed almost $200,000 to support CC programs since 2016 for nursing technology and dual credit assistance for Gray County students.

The president thanked Pampa ISD Superintendent Tanya Larkin for her cooperation and the relationship the school district has with the college.