Barton Community College Board of Trustees Study Session Report
July 9, 2009

Barton Taking Steps to Advance Military Training Operations

At its Board Study Session July 9, the Board heard a report from Dean of Technical Education Bill Nash regarding potential growth for Barton's Military On-Site Training Program, also referred to as MOST. Nash reported that Barton is concentrating on providing non-credit training courses at three other military installations, which have a tie-in with Fort Riley's 1st Infantry Division.

Barton has already completed five logistics contract classes at Fort Sill, Okla., and is contracted for nine more classes through Oct. 1 at the base. At Fort Knox, Tenn., Barton has completed two unit armor courses and has four more scheduled, plus a logistics class contract that is pending. And talks are ongoing to provide classes to troops at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., added Nash. All three bases will have a Fort Riley connection, explained Nash because in October, each of those bases will have units that belong to the 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley.

"Fort Knox is our greatest opportunity because come Oct. 1, Fort Riley will have a full operational brigade at Fort Knox," said Nash. "They will have more Fort Riley 1st infantry soldiers at their location than the other two will."

Nash told the Board that the toughest obstacle to expanding training to the three bases is figuring out how to curb costs. Barton is working to cut training costs by establishing local instructors who will be able to teach the classes, eliminating travel expenses and logistics challenges. The College is also working with the installations to help officials determine when it is cheaper to purchase equipment versus having Barton provide equipment for training.
Nash referred to the initial classes as a "stepping stone" to other potential courses at each of the bases.

"I think it's a win-win and certainly looks good from the military perspective that Barton is willing to take these steps to support our troops, wherever our troops are located, especially the 1st Division Troops," said Heilman. "We are effective and we are reaching out to do what we can in serving the 1st (Infantry)."

Nash reported that in 2008-09, Barton generated a little more than $100,000 on MOST at Fort Sill and Fort Knox. The College already has more than that amount in the first three months of the new academic year. He said curbing the cost of training will allow those installations to offer more training opportunities.

"I would say our growth has been because of our staff and faculty," said John Truitt, Barton's Executive Director of Technology and Military Programs. "Those guys do an outstanding job and wherever they go, they become ambassadors for the College."

Nash reported that Barton was in the process of changing the name of Troop School to Military School, in part to avoid confusion of troop-school programs that may already exist on those other bases.

Year-End Report Shows Financial Challenges, Still Barton Grows Cash Reserves

Dean of Administration Mark Dean provided a year-end operating report to the Board that shows Barton struggled with some fiscal challenges in 2008-09, even sending $353,000 of aid back to the state, but the College was still able to grow about $800,000 worth of cash reserves.

"That was not expected, but it's going to help with the problems that we will encounter this year," said Dean.

Part of that growth was because revenue at the College exceeded expectations. Barton realized a 7 percent increase in overall enrollment and a 5 percent growth in-state from the previous year. Barton's growth is compared to the state's community-college average of less than 1 percent, which means Barton will receive a larger portion of the state-aid pie this year that is divvied up among the 19 community colleges.

There was also a slight increase in property taxes collected, mainly due to payment of delinquent taxes, reported Dean. Additionally, the College reduced spending mid-year, in anticipation of having to give money back to the state, which it did in June.

For this operating budget, Dean said the College anticipates a reduced amount of property taxes that it will receive from the county this year. The College will attempt to hold the same mill levy that it already has. Projected state aid includes about $500,000 in stimulus money, which off-sets some of the anticipated cuts, but stimulus dollars are relegated to payment for specific expenditures. According to the proposed operating budget, the College is expected to spend about $200,000 more than it is anticipating bringing in. But with a beginning fund balance of $7.95 million, the College is starting with more money than it started with last year, Dean said. And projections are based upon 1.5 percent enrollment growth for the year, a conservative estimate.

Included in the budget, the College has set aside money for the state, in anticipation of further reductions to its state aid amount. The State has already indicated it would further reduce aid by 2 percent and more reductions could occur as the year progresses, explained Dean.

"For us, that's going to be an additional $165,000 they will take from us," said Dean. "We set aside 5 percent, so we have an additional cushion of 3 percent. Still, we are in much better shape than I thought we would be at this time.

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