Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By IAN MINIELLY
Ironwood — The Gogebic Community College board of trustees agreed to enter into a partnership with the Copper Country ISD to provide Early Childhood Education instruction to copper country students. According to Dean of Instruction Ryon List, GCC will provide an instructor, facilities, equipment, and all necessary materials and supplies to the secondary students of Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw counties in career and technical instruction. The contract is set for yearly renewal at $25,000.
Michael Meyers, executive director, speaking on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce in Ironwood, implored the college use an outside search firm as its seeks a new college president. Meyer said GCC is a jewel for this part of the state and the school should hire a new president with educational vision, academic credentials, and the ability to work with and foster relationships with the school’s staff, as well as community leaders.
The board agreed to move forward with its decision to seek bids from different executive search firms. The firms will provide the board with their unique qualifications and the board will then select from the firms based on the criteria and cost associated with each. The process to replace former president Jim Lorenson began in earnest Tuesday with the agreement to pursue bids for the job.
In academic news, List said the first drone operators licensing class “took off” Monday. They had some last minute sign ups for the test preparatory class, but about 12 students are enrolled and List said he received many positive reviews.
Erik Guernard, dean, provided positive news regarding the Porcupine Mountain State Park partnership. This year according to Guenard, the park is in the green, even with the disastrous Christmas break that saw revenue at the area ski hills evaporate in the below zero temperatures. Unlike previous years, the park made money this year with the long winter and high snow totals.
While the school is losing Don Pelkola, director of accounting and payroll, effective November 2018 to retirement after 43 years of service to the school. The school did announce the hiring of Noel Aho for the position of Softball Coach. Aho begins working May 1.
Dean Jeannine Graham announced towards the end of the meeting that the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. contacted GCC on Tuesday regarding Lori Wardynski’s jersey. The hall wants to put Wardynksi’s jersey on display in the Ring of Honor for the next school year. The current jerseys can be viewed on the halls website at wbhof.com under the Ring of Honor tab.