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John Wood Community College Trustees held a special meeting Thursday to appoint Dr. John Letts as the fifth president of the College. 

In a press release, the Trustees stated that Board Vice Chair Randy Sims presided at the meeting because Dr. Gary Carter attended via conference call.

In open session, Trustees reviewed options regarding the selection of the next president. During the Board’s January retreat, Trustees reviewed the needs of the district, the process that is underway for an updated strategic plan and discussed the expectations for JWCC’s next president. The Board considered the timing, cost and potential outcome of a national search and also asked Letts to provide a vision statement and what his plans would be for the College if he were to be considered for the position.

Trustees moved to go into closed session for further discussion. Following the closed session, Trustees voted to directly appoint Letts effective immediately and his contract will run through June 30, 2013. His annual salary will be $160,000 retroactive to November 1, 2011. Our news partner QuincyJournal.com reports that the vote was unanimous.

Carter said Trustees have been impressed by Letts’ steady leadership following Klincar’s departure and his vision and plans for the College.

“Dr. Letts is clearly committed to this community and our students,” Carter said. “He has the experience, has shown that he can lead effectively and has the respect of students, faculty, staff and the community. We’ve been closely watching his leadership as interim president and believe his vision and plans for the College are what we need at this point in JWCC’s history.”

Letts served as interim president in addition to his duties as vice president for student services at JWCC since the departure of Dr. Thomas Klincar in October 2011. He began his tenure at JWCC in 1988 as dean of student services and served as interim president from August 1996 to February 1997 during the transition from the College’s second president, Dr. Robert Keys, and its third president, Dr. William Simpson. Letts’ title was changed to vice president for student services in 2001. 

In other business, the Board announced its intent to sell $1.35 million in general obligation alternative bonds for an energy conservation project proposed by Chevron Energy Solutions. Trustees voted in December to table a decision on a $3.9 million contract with Chevron, largely because it included a significant investment of $1.9 million to renovate the Kinscherff Adult Education and Learning Center at 122 N. 5th in Quincy at a time when the Board is considering other facility developments in the district.

Chevron submitted a new $1.35 million proposal without the Kinscherff Center renovation that included energy conservation measures for the other facilities owned by JWCC. If the new proposal is approved at the February Board meeting, Trustees will vote to sell bonds to fund the project. Savings realized through implementation of the energy conservation measures are guaranteed to cover and potentially double the $1.35 million project cost over a period of 20 years.

The next meeting of the Board will be February 15, 2012 at 7 p.m. on the campus in Quincy.