Fear of public speaking was front and center at Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting. It was not because anyone there feared public speaking (or admitted to it), but because the newly created Green River’s Speaking Center was featured in a report.

Communications instructor Kate Katims told the board that the phobia of public speaking ranks near the top of human fears. She said the center is designed to help students overcome the terror of speaking in front of a room full of people. In addition, the Speaking Center helps students with oral communication skills required by employers. Katims, and co-presenter Dr. Kathleen Loucks, hope a permanent budget and additional space will allow the center to grow and serve more students.

The board approved a first-in-the-state program to reengage school district dropout students. The program, in partnership with the Kent School District, will serve up to 200 FTE. School District officials estimate more than 1,500 students between the ages of 16 and21 dropped out of school. Students will receive free tuition, books and fees, and the school district would reimburse the College for the cost to operate the program, according to Laura DiZazzo, LAW dean.

In other board action, trustees accepted a donation of over 100 Elton Bennett prints from the Green River Community College Foundation. Mike McIntyre, former GRCC vice president, began the collection. Samples of the artwork can be found in the Board Room and other locations around campus. Trustees also approved a resolution (see earlier article) supporting legislative efforts to increase state revenue in addition to budget cutting and budget reforms.

Sam Ball, capital projects, presented trustees with an award from the Northwest Construction Consumer Council for Salish Hall. The recently completed building scored an Honorable Mention for projects over $10 million.

At a Study Session held prior to the start of the board meeting, trustees heard two Monitoring Reports: Access and Under Represented Students. Dr. Deb Casey and members from each of the councils presented data to the board.

The board's regularly scheduled meeting was rescheduled because a snow and ice storm led the College to suspend operations. The meeting also marked the first for new trustee Pete Lewis, mayor of Auburn.