GCC considers annexing Houghton County

By MEGAN HUGHES

news@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood — The Gogebic Community College Board of Trustees approved on Tuesday a continuing exploration by President Chris Patritto regarding the feasibility of annexing Houghton County, or some facet of it, into the college’s Copper Country district.

The action at the board’s regular monthly meeting included the understanding that Patritto reports his findings to the board.

Before the action, Patritto provided the board with a related presentation.

According to his proposal, when he first took the position of president, listening sessions with staff, students and the public revealed interest in the following: cheaper tuition, new programs and added programming to the Copper Country Campus.

By annexing Houghton County into the Copper Country jurisdiction, the community college would be eligible for more funding.

“Annexation has been discussed in the past, and I see this as as an opportunity for us to meet the needs of many people in the Copper Country area,” stated Patritto’s proposal.

The president’s presentation reintroduced the idea of annexation at the meeting, with the goal of not only getting board permission to look into the process of annexation, but also considering what it would require, along with deeper digging into the effect that annexation would have on the college.

“It would provide opportunities for Copper Country students,” said Patritto, “I think there is a hole there that we can fill. Finlandia closed. Michigan Tech is always going to be Michigan Tech. But I think, especially when you look at our occupational programs, 50% of our programs are occupational. I think there’s, in that whole Hancock area, there is a lot of technology, a lot of business, and a lot of opportunity for our occupational programs.”

The change would allow for students in annexed areas to receive in-district tuition, a roughly 30% difference from the out-of-district fee.

The president explained that there were a couple of ways the college could approach annexation, with one being to annex an intermediate school district, and the other to annex a county or school district. Patritto expressed that, of those options, the latter would be likely be the better fit, according to his initial research, due to some of the ISDs having students that would land outside of the college’s jurisdiction.

According to the presentation, if annexing to an ISD, the board would add two board members, bringing the total member count to nine. And after seven years, there would be a new election of all taxable land and a new seven-member board.

If the college were to annex a county or school districts, the board would remain at seven members. Elections would be conducted as usual, but interested candidates from all annexed property would be eligible to become board members.

In other news, the board reviewed the college’s five-year campus master plan, which was presented by Vice President of Business Services Chad Lashua.

Lashua pointed out some of the projects that had been completed in the last five years, including the TRiO offices, the meeting office, replacement of concrete on campus, and other investments.

“On the list we have ‘installing security cameras’ and ‘upgrading our electronic access’. Those are going to continue; it is not a one and done,” said Lashua, “We are investing in this as we continue seeing challenges across the nation. .... We are systematically getting approval step by step.”

The board approved the most recently revised copy of the master plan as presented.

Board members also:

—Approved a flat rate of $204 per credit, which includes fees, for the winter intersession.

—Approved proposed changes to Mt. Zion’s operating rates for the upcoming ski season. Updates include a $5 increase in equipment rental rates and an update to pricing for season passes. Season passes for families include up to four members. This update will see every additional member beyond the initial four adding $25 to the rate for the season.

—Heard the president’s update.

—Heard the vice president’s update.

—Heard the Houghton update

—Approved financial reports as presented.

—Accepted the budget as presented

—Approved the local strategic value best practices resolution as presented. The resolution is a Michigan requirement stating that the school has met the requirements set by the state regarding best practices. According the board, GCC not only meets the requirements, but goes over and beyond.

—Performed the first reading of Board Policy Series 111 (revision) regarding equal opportunity and nondiscrimination, series 491 regarding pregnancy and related conditions support for students, and series 411 (revision) regarding tuition.