The Copper Mountain Community College District Board of Directors held a marathon of meetings yesterday, including a board workshop, a regular monthly meeting, and a joint meeting with the Morongo Unified School board. Reporters Andrew Dieleman and Cassidy Taylor join us now for dual coverage, starting with highlights from the regular meeting…
The board began with a mid-year review of the president and board goals for the college. President/Superintendent Dr. Daren Otten and the board praised the ongoing efforts of college staff and faculty in helping the college further its goals of student, health, safety, and education success despite the pandemic. Otten stated that there is still room for improvement with all goals and that he and the board would continue to work to constantly improve the college and its programs.
In open session, the board accepted a resolution celebrating the 20th year of Copper Mountain College as an accredited, independent community college; approved a policy on employee telecommuting; and voted to approve tenure for two CMC employees. The board was also treated to a reading from ASCMC President and “student showcase” student Lily Smith’s book “Index.”
The board also received numerous reports from numerous staff, faculty, board members, and other representatives on numerous topics; including CMC accreditation updates, ASCMC board elections, and the district’s 2019-2020 fiscal audit.
We now pass the meeting baton to reporter Cassidy Taylor, who attended the joint CMC and MUSD meeting…
Thank you, Andrew.
It was all smiles at the third meeting for the CMC board as they welcomed the Morongo Unified School District board for their joint meeting which only happens twice a year. Board members sang praises for the dual enrollment program, which now offers 13 courses to 195 enrolled high school students and has seen steady growth. Dual enrollment courses allow high school students a leg-up by awarding college credits before they graduate high school. The school district is also actively working to continue offering more dual enrollment courses in the coming years.
Additionally, MUSD will be adding two new career technical education courses (CTE). The plan is to open up a medical assisting program at Twentynine Palms High School and a fire science program at Yucca Valley High School. Both courses are designed to give high school students, as well as adults, practical career knowledge and certifications that they can use immediately in the community.
Looking to the future, the boards will be assigning subcommittees to continue work on the Integrity Project, which focuses on promoting academic integrity. CMC Superintendent and President Dr. Otten often praised the partnership between the boards during the meeting and both the boards were enthusiastic in regard to future plans and ideas for continued education opportunities here in the Morongo Basin.
