The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, May 5, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., in The Brumit Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality, Tillman Dining Room. Dr. Theresa Banks, Chair, presided.
In addition to Dr. Banks, the following members of the Board participated: Joe Barwick, Michael Garrison, Tommy Justus, Matt Kern, David King, Judy Lewis, Roger Metcalf, John Parham, Anthony Penland, Frances Ramsey, Roger Reid, Glenda Weinert, and Mariana Flores, Ex-Officio. Himanshu Karvir and Libby Kyles were absent.
Others present for the meeting included: John Gossett, President; Deborah Bailey, Vice President, Economic and Workforce Development and Continuing Education; Amanda Edwards, Executive Director, College Advancement; Kerri Glover, Executive Director of Community Relations and Marketing; Cris Harshman, Vice President of Operations/CIO; Fairley Patton, Vice President of Student Services; Darryl Rhymes, Director, Employment & Employee Relations; Beth Stewart, Vice President of Instructional Services; Ashley Leonard, College Attorney; and Carolyn Rice, Secretary to the Board.
Call to Order
At 3:00 p.m., Chair Banks read the ethics statement. No conflicts of interest were reported. Ms. Rice called roll; a quorum was present.
2025-2035 Master Plan
Ms. Jana Hartenstein and Mr. Kyle Kirkwood with McMillan, Pazdan, Smith Architecture presented the completed 2025-2035 Master Plan to the Board. The following are some of the suggestions shared for each campus:
A-B Tech Asheville:
- The key driver of the Master Plan was to build a sense of community, starting with a “One Stop” building where both curriculum and continuing education students could go for all of their needs.
- Create a sense of arrival on campus.
- Reroute all traffic in a loop pattern around the two sides of campus to decrease traffic and increase pedestrian safety on Victoria Road.
- Take advantage of the local history, culture, and geographical location by promoting the views and adding murals to the existing buildings.
- Build a promenade from Victoria Road to the top of the campus, where all academic programs would be located. This would create a “connection” for students.
- Renovate/update several existing buildings on campus.
A-B Tech Enka:
- Have one arrival point with signage that takes you to a large plaza.
- Update the outside of the buildings with screens or murals.
- Create a large lobby area in the TCC building with directional signs to different programs, opening up the building.
- Support the outdoor community by adding a park with a bandshell structure for concerts, etc.
A-B Tech Woodfin:
- The campus would benefit from adding a classroom, gym, covered parking, and shooting houses.
A-B Tech Madison:
- The campus is already a “One-Stop” campus. Students come in, are welcomed, helped, and attend classes in the same building.
- An addition to the campus in the current helicopter landing lot would be beneficial and serve as a connector from the lower to the higher parking areas.
Conclusion:
- The College has been provided with a spreadsheet of projects, some small and some large. All projects are listed by priority and are in order of what has to happen first before the next project starts. The Master Plan should be used as a framework for the future, and McMillan, Pazdan, and Smith will always be available to help.
Consent Agenda
At 3:40 p.m., Chair Banks asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Mr. King moved to approve the Consent Agenda items:
- April 7, 2025, Board Meeting Minutes
- Personnel Actions. Mr. Kern seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Resolution/Action Items
- Dr. Gossett discussed the proposed budgets for Buncombe and Madison Counties with the Board. The Buncombe County manager asked us to present a budget that included a 3.9 percent reduction from the prior year, and we did. The proposed budget for Madison County remains the same as last year.
- Dr. Barwick moved to approve the Proposed Budgets for Madison and Buncombe Counties. Dr. Parham seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Budget Update
- Ms. Melissa Valko discussed the State and County Budgets as of March 31, 2025, with the Board. The total budget amount in the state funds is a compilation of what the state approved in November 2024. The College received Hurricane Recovery allocations, some of which are multi-year allocations. We are on track with our budget for the remainder of the year.
- Ms. Beth Green gave an overview of Article 46-funded projects to the Board. Several stormwater projects are underway, such as the stormwater retention pond, Haith Branch and Tributary restoration, and Sunnicrest and Chestnut water control measures. New countertops and cabinets are scheduled for the Vet Tech lab space and prep area. Funds are set aside for the South campus project, and the Master Plan has just concluded.
- Repair and replacement projects for 2023, 2024, and 2025 are underway. Most projects address HVAC needs, roof replacements, lighting, and remodeling restrooms to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Article 46 bill sunsets in 2027, and the College will address moving forward with the county manager after the budget process has concluded.
Trustee Business
- Dr. Banks asked for a report from the Presidential Evaluation Committee. The Committee met and reviewed state requirements, survey questions, and the results of an evaluation survey sent to the Executive Leadership Team. An evaluation survey will be emailed to the full Board on May 7 and will be open through May 16. The Committee will review the Board’s survey results with Dr. Gossett before the June 2 Board meeting, where the full Board will be presented with the results and have time to discuss them in Closed Session.
- Dr. Banks thanked the Board members who plan to attend the May 10 Commencement Ceremony.
President’s Report
Dr. Gossett shared the following with the Board:
- Governor Stein will give welcoming remarks to our graduates on May 10.
- It is an exciting time of the year, as we celebrate academic award ceremonies, scholarship soirees, program showcases, and multiple pinning ceremonies.
- The Western Community College Leadership Academy held its graduation ceremony last week for potential leaders from A-B Tech, Blue Ridge, Haywood, and Southwestern community colleges. Next year
- Isothermal and McDowell will participate in the program as well.
- Dr. Gossett attended an “Adult Learner Convening” sponsored by the Belk Endowment. The demographics of our students are changing, and we know that our future will be adult learners.
- Dr. Gossett joined members from Biltmore Farms, along with several stakeholders, to tour MxD (Manufacturing X Digital), a destination for innovative manufacturers located in Chicago. Biltmore Farms is still interested in having a manufacturing, innovation, and training hub on their property that includes workforce development, universities, and colleges.
- A-B Tech hosted Representative Pless at A-B Tech Woodfin, where he discussed his proposed legislation regarding emergency medical services. Representative Pless has since withdrawn the proposed legislation.
- Dr. Gossett attended Chancellor VanNort’s installation at UNC Asheville, where Ms. Amanda Edwards swore in Chancellor VanNort in her role as the Chair of the Buncombe County Commissioners.
- The Board voted to close the Geomatics program last year, but due to the hurricane, the College is reinstating the program. The need for Geomatics is back, and the demand for those jobs has expanded. This is what A-B Tech does – respond to our community's needs.
- Several community college presidents are writing letters to the General Assembly asking them to extend tuition support through this summer, fall, and next spring. Please let Dr. Gossett know if you would like to sign the letter.
SGA Report
SGA President Ms. Mariana Flores shared that the SGA has been attending a lot of parties to celebrate the end of the year. We continue to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, and over 55 students participated in the last SGA event of the year.
New officers have been elected for the 2025-2026 school year, and sadly, this was Ms. Flores’s last Board meeting.
The Board gave Ms. Flores a standing ovation, wished her luck, and sang her praises!
Closed Session
At 4:13 p.m., Mr. Kern moved that the Trustees enter into closed session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11 (a) (1) and (3) to discuss confidential personnel matters pursuant to G.S. 115D-27-29 and to discuss matters protected by the attorney-client privilege. Dr. Justus seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
At 5:20 p.m., Dr. Parham moved to adjourn the closed session. The motion was seconded by Mr. Kern and unanimously approved.
Informational Items
The 2024-2025 Student Success Scorecard and Divisional Updates are included in the Board packet.
The next Board meeting will be on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in The Brumit Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality at A-B Tech Asheville.
Adjourn
Upon a properly made motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:22 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice,
Board Secretary