Boards approve agreement for merger with SWKTS
February 19, 2008

Dacee Kentner
News editor

The Seward County Board of Trustees and the USD 480 board of education have reached an agreement for consolidation between Seward County Community College and Southwest Kansas Technical School.

SCCC's board met for a special luncheon Feb. 8 to discuss renewed negotiations between SCCC and USD 480. The proposed agreement was then sent to the board members of USD 480 for approval, according to Dr. Duane Dunn, SCCC president.

The USD 480 board voted Freb. 18 to approve the agreement for consolidation.
The effective date for the merger is July 1. On the effective date, the Kansas Board of Regents will have the opportunity to approve the proposal allowing the plan to take effect.

SCCC has agreed to pay USD 480 $80,000 for the SWKTS property on the effective date. The property includes all land and buildings originally obtained for the technical school.

In the agreement, SCCC will be required to continue all technical school programs for at least two years unless there is little or no enrollment. The college will also retain technical school personell and student records.

The college will inherit all cost and expenses incurred by SWKTS for the 2007-08 school year which remain unpaid. SCCC will also continue to provide vocational education programs to high school students, and will be committed to using the school for technical education.

Although SCCC and USD 480 are insured under the same insurance company, SCCC will accept all limited liability to personal injury or property damage not otherwise covered by insurance.

In the terms set forth, USD 480 would follow requirements to transfer all monies from SWKTS accounts to the college. The district would also continue to operate the Community Learning Center for one year on the SWKTS campus.