By Brandi Miller, Staff Reporter.
The most recent Delta College Board of Trustees monthly meeting included discussions on art, budgets, and changes for Delta. The meeting took place on Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. The usual dinner meeting was cancelled.
Vice President of Instruction & Learning Services, Reva Curry, introduced the guest for student success, Andrew Reider. Reider is an artist that has taken part in a Saginaw-inspired mural entitled “Where We Live.” He says the purpose is to address how arts and humanities play a role. The mural measures at 40 inches tall, 4 feet in depth, and 126 feet long. It is made of oil and spray paint and is placed 14 feet above the ground. The Saginaw natives that are included in the design of this project include saxophonist Sonny Stitt, singer Sharrie Williams, singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder, and artist Robert Nickle.
Reider described this mural as “industrial, urban, and rural.” Some contributors to the mural are Tom Osborne and Michelle Mclean. Osborne is a retired kindergarten teacher, while Mclean is an ER physician. Both Osborne and Mclean spent 36 hours on just one specific panel. After gaining confidence, Reider said they each took only 5 hours on a different wall.
Reider closes with telling the board that all the panels were lined up together for the first time at the Saginaw Art Museum. President Jean Goodnow commented, “It is a great tribute to history of Saginaw.” She also says, “The art department honors Saginaw.” Reider reminded everybody that the project is a permanent installation.
Other topics discussed at the board meeting:
- The placing of a new projection screen in the lecture hall of the G-wing.
- Proposal by Larry Ramseyer to furnish all labor and materials to complete the conference room technology upgrade project based on their big of $131,718.91 and approve the project budget of $194,00.”
- Proposal given by Barbara Webb that the Board of Trustees approve the shared award of the beverage contract to Coca-Cola and Pepsi for 2016-17 through 2020-21 with the opportunity for two additional one-year extensions.
- Supply budget is under by $600,000 while the budget for wages is under by $800,000.
- Revenues are ahead of budget.
- Multiple trustees thank those who ran the MCCA conference in Mackinac Island.
- 100% passing rate in the PN program
- Newest trustee from Midland County: Andre Buckley to replace Kimberly Houston-Philpot
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PHOTO CREDIT | JESSICA SIEROCKI