CC employees to see raises in new budget

Most Clarendon College employees will receive a raise following action taken by the Board of Regents at its regular meeting last Thursday, July 16.

Regents approved approximately $114,500 in total raises, funded by a $7 per hour increase in tuition the board approved in February, according to President Tex Buckhaults.

Under the pay increase plan, college employees making less than $14.50 per hour will receive a one dollar per hour increase. Employees making above that will receive a three percent increase. Employees who have just been recently hired or who have recently received a raise as a result of a promotion or title change will not see an increase under the plan, according to the president.

In other college business, the board accepted the resignation of Regent Lon Adams, which also created a vacancy in the position of vice chairman of the board. Board members moved to name Regent Edwin Campbell to serve as vice chairman.

Campbell reminded the board that Regent Jerry Woodard had previously had to step down as chairman due to a conflict of interest, referring to a January 2018 letter from the Southern Association of Colleges & Universities – Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC), which found Woodard had a conflict while employed as president of Herring Bank, which holds the college’s depository.

Individuals with conflicts can serve on the board but cannot hold an office on the board, according to SACS-COC.

Campbell said when Woodard’s situation came up, it was discussed that Campbell himself had a conflict with his son’s business relationship with the college and with his brother-in-law employed by the company who manages the college’s investments. Campbell said last week that his son is no longer affiliated with the company that does business with the college, but that he would like a determination about the position of his brother-in-law.

Buckhaults said Tuesday that he hopes to have a determination this week from the college’s attorney and SACS-COC about Campbell’s situation. Regents are scheduled to meet again this Friday, July 24, to consider the vice chairman’s position as well as the vacant position formerly held by Adams.

Also last week, regents met in closed session for about 15 minutes to discuss real estate but took no action upon returning to open session.

The board ratified the hiring of Jay Bradley as assistant men’s basketball coach and Kae Hewett as the college comptroller. Regent Darlene Spier voiced concerns about Hewett’s lack of higher education finance experience and said the last two people in that position had also not had higher education finance experience. Vice President Brad Vanden Boogaard said Hewett is a CPA who had impressed the committee and who would be mentored by Buckhaults about higher education finances.

The board also ratified the reassignment of Chancey King as the college’s new admissions coordinator.

In his president’s report, Buckhaults said the classes will resume on campus this fall with several steps being considered in light of the COVID-19 situation. The new budget is being built on with 220 students planned in the dorms, down from a max occupancy of 288. Buckhaults said Southwest Hall will be closed unless the space is needed.

The president also said that the NJCAA has cancelled fall competitions, including volleyball and the start of winter basketball. Those sports can still hold practice and have scrimmages however.