CCC board finalizes president contract

CLOVIS - The Clovis Community College Board of Trustees finalized a contract for incoming president Charles Nwankwo in what is expected to be the final meeting for 2019.

Nwankwo, currently the vice president of technology and business partnership at Chandler Gilbert Community College in Arizona, is slated to begin Feb. 17 at CCC. He will receive a three-year contract, with a board option for a fourth year.

The contract, approved 5-0 by the board after a 50-minute executive session, was supplied to The News Wednesday afternoon. The contract includes:

• An annual salary of $185,000.

• An agreement for the Nwankwo family, and guests from time to time, to occupy the college's residence at 1621 E. 21st St. Nwankwo will be responsible for any taxes should use of the residence be deemed a taxable fringe benefit.

The college will provide all utilities, maintain the house in a good state of repair and provide liability, home and fire insurance.

Should Nwankwo's employment as president end for any reason, the college will grant 30 days to vacate the residence.

• An automobile allowance of $600 monthly, on the condition Nwankwo provides a reasonably suitable vehicle for use on college business and provides liability insurance.

• Moving expenses covered, provided Nwankwo submits three cost bids from movers.

• An annual expense allowance of up to $20,000 including but not limited to memberships in professional organizations, entertainment, travel and gifts. Any expense greater than $500 requires approval from the board chair.

• Severance pay, calculated as the lesser of the salary remaining on his contract or one year's salary.

In other business at the meeting:

• Trustees congratulated Adrien Bennings, current vice president for finance and administration, on her new position as president at Kellogg Community College in Michigan.

Bennings, who will begin in January, was selected from a nationwide pool of 54 applicants. She succeeds Mark O'Connell, who retired after 29 years at the college and the last four as president.

"Anything we can do as Clovis Community College to help," Board President Terry Martin said, "call us."

• Trustee Raymond Mondragon, defeated by Carolyn Spence in his re-election bid for District 4, told employees and board members he'd enjoyed his time. He was confident Nwankwo would do great things for the college, and advised the board to support Interim President Robin Kuykendall "110 percent."

Mondragon recognized Spence in the audience and said while he enjoyed his four years on the board, "we live in a democracy and the voters have spoken; I want to welcome her, and wish her luck."

Martin welcomed Spence as well, and told Mondragon, "you will be missed, and we will continue to call upon thee."

• The next meeting is scheduled for 8 a.m. Feb. 5.