Opinion

Presidential search team hard at work

Tuesday, February 11, 2003

Members of the presidential search committee for the Mid-Plains College Area are taking their jobs very, very seriously.

Proof of this was furnished a week ago, when all 19 members of the search team were in attendance in North Platte when the list of applicants was reduced to a final field of eight candidates.

When that many committee members are involved -- from McCook, North Platte and other communities in the 18-county Mid-Plains area -- you feel fortunate if a majority shows up, let alone a full slate of members.

But -- because of the importance of leadership in the Mid-Plains area -- every member of the search team is devoting time and attention to the task.

Their commitment stems, in large part, from the stormy, often controversial administrations of the past two college area presidents: Greg Fitch and George Mihel.

The two particularly angered McCook area constituents. Before abruptly leaving last year, Mihel had changed the name of McCook Community College to "campus" without board action. And the president who preceded him, Fitch, had also upset McCookites, downsizing the registrar's office and taking away the president's title from McCook Community College in a move called "Operation Starship."

But those presidents have moved on, giving the college and citizens an opportunity for a fresh start.

So far, so good. After advertising the position, 37 applications were received from many parts of the nation. In the first full week of February, members of the committee were assigned to read and rate each of the applications. After that review, the field was narrowed to 18 candidates.

Then, last Tuesday, the total committee met again, spending 51/2 hours to scrutinize the field of applicants. After an intense inspection of education, experience and accomplishments, the eight finalists were chosen.

Within the next few weeks, the leading candidates will be coming to the college area to meet individually with the search committee.

Once that process is complete, a list of finalists will be presented to the Board of Governors of the Mid-Plains College Area, who will make the final selection.

Under the astute leadership of Dan Moriarty, a search consultant, and Kent Miller, chairman of the search committee, a conscientious effort is being made to bring a quality, caring administrator to the helm at Mid-Plains.

It is a credit to the search leaders, and the interim president of the college, Dr. Carlton Williams, that a good representation from McCook is included on the search team. Members from McCook include Harold Bennett, newly elected president of the Mid-Plains Board; Dr. Richard Tubbs, vice president for McCook College; Mike Hendricks, president of the college faculty association; Kay Lavene, executive director of the McCook Economic Development Corp.; Richard Burton, member of the McCook College maintenance staff; Erin Schack, McCook College student; and Gene Morris, publisher of the McCook Daily Gazette.

Along with other members of the search committee, they are making a conscientious effort to bring enlightened leadership to the community colleges which make up the Mid-Plains College Area.

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