LTCC slow to decide how to replace departing president

By Kathryn Reed

What happens when Paul Killpatrick vacates the president’s office at Lake Tahoe Community College next month?

The answer to that question should come June 15 at 7am after the board of trustees’ special meeting.

Paul Killpatrick is leaving LTCC July 16.

The board discussed before and after the regular session on June 8 how to proceed. No decision was made.

Michelle Risdon, Academic Senate president, reiterated her group’s issues: cost of having an interim president; consistency in leadership; and taking the time to think about what qualities everyone wants in the person to next occupy that seat.

She told the board that 31 of the 33 faculty who responded to a questionnaire did not want to hire an interim president.

At the June 2 board meeting the faculty presented the idea of having the two vice presidents share the role of president. One hasn’t even started his job.

Board member Fritz Wenck this Tuesday said, “There seem to be a number of people out there who would be good in the interim. Some people I think would be outstanding.”

Board President Kerry David doesn’t believe having the two VPs share the president’s job is the best idea because those jobs already require added work compared to a few years ago, the people in the positions are new, and the college has things like accreditation and a declining budget to deal with.