Sickels resigns from SWCC board of trustees

After 14 years representing district 7 on the Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of trustees, Vicki Sickels has made the choice to step down as her and her husband are moving to Ankeny to be closer to family.

“We both recently retired, and we figured this is the time to do that,” Sickels said.

Sickels was appointed in 2008 and said a lot has changed for the better since then. “The biggest thing as you look at the campus and how it changed over the years,” she said. “The construction of the dormitory suites, updates to the technology center and most recently the ag center.”

As she looked back, she recalls the first graduation ceremony she attended. “There was no AC in the gym for graduation,” she said. “The campus just looks so much different than it did.”

The board recognized her resignation at their Tuesday meeting, her last meeting. “For 14 years, I’ve been there the second Tuesday of the month,” Sickels said. “It’s bittersweet. The hardest thing was graduation this year because I knew it would be the last time.”

The news didn’t come as a surprise to the board, as she’s been planning the move for several months after the new home was bought in April.

Sickels said she is going to miss everything about being a board of trustees member. “We have a great administration team,” she said. “They made our job so easy. It’s really a pleasure to serve with those people and the board members.”

Though they will be moving to Ankeny, Sickels said she can’t see her and her husband not getting involved. “Both my husband and I have always been very involved in the community,” she said. “We are used to being busy.” They’ve already started looking at opportunities to volunteer in their new area.

Sickels said she is most proud of how SWCC has been able to help the community. “Every community college is different,” she said. “That’s the wonderful thing of community colleges is the ability to meet the needs of the community.”

Board President Dr. Tony Cass appointed himself, Vice President Fred Shearer and Jerry Smith to a subcommittee to fill the district 7 vacancy. District 7 includes Mount Ayr, Bedford and Clearfield. The position would be temporary, only until November 2023 - the end of Sickels’ term.

In November, the position will be up for public vote.

In other SWCC news

Ben Heath, a SWCC electrical technology graduate, was approved by the board for the position of electrical technology instructor. He earned his associates of applied science degree in 2016. He spent the last seven years at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Ankeny.

“The historic enrollment in Southwestern’s electrical technology program has led us to propose the hire of an addition electrical technology instructor to co-lead the rapidly growing electrical technology program alongside current instructor, Jon Oswald,” Vice President of Instruction Lindsay Stoaks told the board.

Lindsay says they expect to have at least 20 first year students coupled with strong first to second year retention in the number of about 22 second year students. She’s expecting enrollment of at least 10 students for the career academy.

“Throughout his experiences, he had the opportunity to gain tremendous amounts of hands-on experience in both residential and commercial electrical,” Stoaks said. “He also earned his journeyman Class A license as well. He’s eager to lead the next generation of electricians - hoping to build a strong foundation in the theory, practice and safety measures needed to create successful and thriving technicians.”

The board approved SWCC’s ninth year of building partnership with Union County Habitat for Humanity.

The project will construct a home at 616 N. Walnut St.

In her recommendation to the board, Stoaks said “This would allow the project to provide the required lab experience for both students enrolled in the carpentry and building trades and also the electrical technology program without incurring the expense and risk associated with building a spec home.”

Union County Habitat for Humanity pays for all materials required to build the home. “This is a win-win-win for everybody involved in this partnership,” Stoaks said. “We have a great, long-standing history, and we look forward for the opportunity to partner up again.”

In Jerry Smith’s board member report from the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees (IACCT), he noted an upcoming shift in policy debate in education.

“They (Republicans) are kind of scrapping amongst themselves about urban and rural issues,” he said. “I would submit to you going forward that we’re not going to have Republicans and Democrats fighting here in Iowa as urban and rural constituencies.”

Smith cited the recently defeated voucher bill in which Gov. Kim Reynolds proposed for the second year in a row to divert funds from public schools to private schools.

“Going forward over the next three years, I think you’ll see it,” Smith said.