Flathead Valley Community College trustees approved renaming two buildings in honor of retiring President Jane Karas and Kalispell philanthropist Jerome Broussard on Monday.

Trustees also approved a buy-sell agreement for a Kalispell property that was gifted to the college. The board was also briefed on the status of its presidential transition plan. 

Trustees unanimously approved an ad hoc building naming committee's recommendation to rename the student center to the Jane A. Karas Student Center and the Trades Institute to the Jerome T. Broussard Trades Institute.   

Committee Chair and new FVCC Foundation Chief Development Officer and Executive Director Charlotte Housel said the group reviewed the history of each individual's support and advocacy for the community college. 

The renaming of the student center commemorates Karas, who retires in December, finishing her 26th year as president.  

"Some of the things that we considered first was the very significant expansion of the campus' facilities during her tenure ..." Housel said. 

Under Karas' leadership, the college expanded to include the Arts and Technology building, Early Childhood Learning Center, Founders Hall (on-campus student housing), Rebecca Chaney Broussard Center for Nursing and Health Sciences, Broussard Family Library and Learning Commons, Wachholz College Center and the Wachholz Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center in addition to the development of the honors program and workforce training initiatives.  

"All of those initiatives were spearheaded, led, and in many cases, successful, because of Jane's involvement with fundraising for those and advocacy on behalf of the college's needs and the needs of our students," Housel said. 

Karas' role in the development of the honors program and workforce training and economic development initiatives was also recognized. 

"Her leadership has also lent us a very powerful and trusted voice for community colleges more generally. In her time as president, she's raised FVCC's profile both in the region and nationally through her involvement in many different statewide and national organizations," Housel said. 

The sentiment was echoed by Trustee Kelly Dowling Stimpson, who described her impact in the wider community as impressive. 

Board Chair Callie Langohr said it was fitting to rename the student center after Karas. 

"That's what she's been about all these years ..." Langohr said. 

Karas thanked the committee and board. 

"I just want to say I think those of you who know me know the last thing I really care about is recognition. It's never been about me or about what I get out of this. It's about the students and the community and the wonderful people I get to work with here because I've always said this is the best place and the faculty and staff here are amazing, and everybody should be able to get an opportunity to be at this college," Karas said. 

The renaming of the Trades Institute memorializes the financial contributions of Broussard, which included a recent $7 million donation for renovation and expansion of its building. Housel said it was the largest single gift in the college's history. He also gave $4 million for the Rebecca Chaney Broussard Center for Nursing and Health Sciences building and more than $2 million to the Broussard Family Library and Learning Commons building, she said.  

Housel described Broussard as instrumental in supporting programming at the Wachholz College Center and scholarships. 

"And what's more, when Jerome makes a gift, he tends to use it as a lever to inspire further community support," Housel said. "He is never just a one-and-done advocate for the college. He leverages his support to try to inspire others to get involved as well." 

IN OTHER agenda items, the board approved a buy-sell agreement for property at 150 and 36 Turkey Trot Trail off Foothill Road in the Creston area to Brian Finch for a purchase price of $1.7 million. Proceeds from the sale of the gifted property will go toward the Trades Institute building project. 

The board also received an update on transition plans for incoming President Deborah Stephan whose first day on the job is Jan. 1. Stephan was listening to Monday's board meeting virtually.  

As the board worked to clarify its role in the process, Vice Chair Travis Steindorf said its role is oversight of a plan put together by the college's administration. Chair Callie Langohr said planning efforts between the two will need to be "highly coordinated" as they run parallel to each other. Langohr echoed Trustee Mary Sterhan's comments about communicating plans as key to a successful transition. 

Langohr, who is a former assistant superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools and was a longtime principal of Glacier High School, said she is working on charting a timeline, essentially of board responsibilities, throughout Stephan's contract, such as evaluations, to ensure duties aren't forgotten. Steindor said a board committee that includes Trustees Mark Ruby and Sterhan are "working on putting together a final document" regarding the transition to share at the Nov. 23 board meeting.   

"... We hope all the stakeholders will help in our transition. As we move through the presidential transition, your engagement is welcome and essential," Steindorf said, later adding, "We're hoping that there will be a survey that people can participate in, letting the advisory board, president's advisory board, know what is important for a new president to know." 

In listing some of the campus advisory groups and leadership and executive teams that meet on a weekly or monthly basis, Karas echoed the importance of gathering input on staff and faculty needs to share with Stephan, while communicating the college's plans for the transition. 

To Sterhan's suggestion of a possible survey, Karas said that she could ask Stephan if she wanted to go that route during their next scheduled phone call meeting. 

In Karas' president's report, she addressed ongoing faculty concerns about compensation comparisons and collective bargaining, offering to form a task force to work through the issues with the Faculty Senate. The Faculty Senate instead opted to defer those conversations until the new president arrived on campus. 

Reporter Hilary Matheson can be reached at 406-758-4431 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.