Off-campus centers make profit for Three Rivers

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo.--Three Rivers Community College came out of fiscal year 2010 with a $1.8 million surplus, according to president Dr. Devin Stephenson, making for a "landmark event" during the current economic climate, he said.

Per request of the trustees during the board meeting Tuesday, Stephenson provided information about the community college's three main off-campus centers, showing a profit of about $600,000 during fiscal year 2010.

"I think it demonstrates the wisdom of prior boards in moving into off campus centers," board chair Marion Tibbs said. All three extended learning centers were established in 2005.

After expenses were paid, the Kennett center made $209,500, Malden $101,100 and Sikeston $288,400, according to materials distributed at the meeting.

"We are providing tremendous service" outside of the four-county taxing district and "bringing those dollars back here" to the home base in Poplar Bluff, Stephenson said.

If Three Rivers officials do not work to protect their 15-county voluntary service area by providing higher education accessibility, another university or technical college will, the president added.

In Sikeston, the cost to rent the current facility on Kathleen Street, a converted racquetball court, is $84,000 per year, board secretary Randy Winston said.

To eliminate that expense over the long term, the Matthews family donated about 40 acres of land on the U.S. 60 and 61 interchange in May for Three Rivers to establish its "eastern campus" in Sikeston, community college officials said at the time.

Following an executive session yesterday, the trustees moved to accept the lease agreement and transfer it to the Three Rivers Endowment Trust, which recently received its 501(c)3 status from the Internal Revenue Service. The Endowment Trust will continue to raise money to build on the real estate donated by Scott Matthews, his wife Karen, his sister Elizabeth and her husband Mike Brunt.

The trustees decided to name the future Sikeston site, the Matthews Family Campus.

In other business, the board:

* Authorized the community college to enter into an agreement with the Endowment Trust to rent out the lobby area of the former Pear Tree Inn building to operate the Poplar Bluff License Bureau.

On July 15, Three Rivers was awarded a one-year contract with the Missouri Department of Revenue to take over the service.

* Adopted an American's with Disabilities Act and reasonable accommodation policy, plus a disposal of surplus property policy, previously not in place, according to Stephenson.

* Hired Matthew Thomas as graphic designer; Michael Willis as instructor of nursing; and Gary Pride as public safety institute curriculum/lab coordinator.

* Accepted the resignation of Michele Weimer, industrial technology instructor; Michael Burson, medical laboratory technology instructor; Kristy Johnson, nursing instructor; and Barry Short, registration specialist and assistant baseball coach.

* Began inviting a local minister to open the regularly scheduled meetings with a prayer. Pastor Gregory Kirk, the executive director of the United Gospel Rescue Mission, performed the honors for the first day of the new tradition.

* Rescheduled the next board meeting for noon Aug. 25, which will be preceded by the annual tax levy hearing.