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Meeks to continue as EGCC president
By Denise Dick
By DENISE DICK
LISBON
The president of Eastern Gateway Community College was awarded a new three-year contract and will earn $126,772 its first year.
The 11-member EGCC board of trustees unanimously approved the contract for Laura Meeks at a board meeting Wednesday at the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center.
Ann Koon, the college’s director of public information, said the salary for the second and third years of the pact haven’t been determined; negotiations with the unions representing faculty and staff are ongoing.
Meeks was named president of Jefferson County Community College in 1999 and became EGCC’s president when that facility expanded to include operations in Mahoning, Columbiana and Trumbull counties.
Board members also discussed creation of a vice president of strategic initiatives position.
“This position is needed, and it’s in the budget,” Meeks said.
The person selected will be responsible for expansion of programs outside of Jefferson County including the “logistics of Early College High School and other educational offerings in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.”
That person is expected to earn between $68,000 and $85,000 annually.
In other business, Meeks talked about the $1.3 million for EGCC secured by U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17, in the appropriations subcommittee.
The bill must still pass the full House Appropriations Committee, the House and Senate and be signed by the president.
It would be used to help create a presence for the college in downtown Warren. A specific location hasn’t been determined.
It also would help to expand services to an additional 100 economically disadvantaged high school students at the Youngstown Early College to enable them to get a high school diploma, as well as an associate degree.
Additionally, the money would aid EGCC in building a wind turbine so it can offer classes in wind energy.
“We passed the first step,” Meeks said, praising Ryan.