GCC board launches intervention team

IRONWOOD - The Gogebic Community College board discussed the launch of a Behavioral Intervention Team at its meeting Tuesday evening.

The team will work with students dealing with drug and alcohol use through assessments and counseling sessions.

Student services officials have identified drug and alcohol use as a factor leading to lack of academic success for some students in achieving their educational goals.

"This is a pilot program to see how it works," said Dean of Student Services Jeanne Graham.

The board agreed to contract with Samaritan Counseling Centers for assessments and counseling services to be held at the school as part of the program. The cost for the current semester is $5,000.

"I'm pleased we're providing services like these for our students," said president Jim Lorenson.

Graham also gave an enrollment report for the new semester.

GCC, with enrollment up 36 students, is one of only two community colleges in Michigan to have positive enrollment this semester, Lorenson said.

"Gogebic today is certainly not the Gogebic of a decade ago," said Lorenson.

The board also approved various faculty appointments.

It appointed Christina Ylitalo as a full-time biology instructor for the college at its Copper Country extension center.

The board appointed Patricia Polakowski as administrative assistant to the Dean of Instruction Ken Trzaska.

It also approved to continue Ed Gorman's contract as full-time probationary automotive technology faculty member.

The board approved purchase of a 2013 Suburban from Red's Auto at $37,069. It also declared the 2001 Ford Taurus surplus property and will now seek bids for its sale.

The board also approved expenditures of $22,000 for laptop computers for the Copper Country campus, and $5,000 for an engineering study of the pool in the Lindquist Student Center.