BENTONVILLE — Providing quality education at an affordable price is a priority for five candidates running for two spots on the NorthWest Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees.
Zone 1
Scott Grigsby
Age: 60
Residency: Bella Vista, 12 years
Family: Wife, Shawn; two children
Employment: Regional manager for Arvest Bank
Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance and banking from University of Arkansas; graduate certificate in banking from University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.
Military experience: None
Political experience: Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees from 1988-94 and chairman from 1995-96.
Jim Parsons
Age: 79
Residency: Bella Vista, 12 years; Rogers 10 years
Family: Wife, Jody; one child
Employment: Retired as division chairman of science and math from NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
Education: Master’s degree in biology and post-graduate work in school administration from East Texas State University, Commerce, Texas; post-graduate work in nuclear physics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.; post-graduate work in biology and chemistry from University of Western Michigan, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Military experience: Retired lieutenant colonel, Army Special Forces.
Political experience: Ecclesia College Board of Trustee since 2002; NorthWest Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees 1996-2002; Bella Vista Property Owners Association Board member for 38 days in 2010; unsuccessful runs for Arkansas state representative seats in 1986, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010 and 2012 along with Arkansas Secretary of State in 1990, Arkansas senate seat in 1992, Bella Vista Mayor in 2006 and Bella Vista City Council in 2008.
Zone 2
Johnny Haney
Incumbent
Age: 59
Residency: Bentonville, 29 years
Family: Wife, Beth; three children
Employment: Self-employed as a salesman
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business from University of Texas-Permian-Basin, Odessa, Texas.
Military experience: None
Political experience: NorthWest Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees member since 2002.
Daniel Shewmaker
Age: 52
Residency: Unincorporated Bentonville, 18 years; Bentonville area since 1989
Family: Wife, Dayle; two children.
Employment: Manager and limited partner in Jac’s Ranch.
Education: Bachelor of Science in business administration from U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Military experience: Retired colonel from Arkansas Air National Guard
Political experience: None
David Wilson
Age: 45
Residency: Bentonville, eight years
Family: Wife, Kristen Oliver; two children.
Employment: Adjunct professor at NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
Education: Doctorate in higher education administration from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla.
Military experience: None
Political experience: None
Nine board trustee seats will be zoned for the election Nov. 6. State law requires community college districts be zoned once a minority within the millage boundary reaches more than 10 percent. The college reached that threshold in the 2010 United States Census.
Five seats are uncontested, while two seats are open and will be appointed by the governor.
Scott Grigsby and Jim Parsons are running for Zone 1. Incumbent Johnny Haney, David Wilson and Daniel Shewmaker are running for Zone 3.
Grigsby stated a “seamless transition” for a new president is most important.
College President Becky Paneitz announced her retirement earlier this year. Her last day will be June 30. The college is in the process of reviewing candidates. Plans include board members interviewing three presidential candidates at the start of November.
Financial integrity is another concern for Grigsby.
“In light of economic times, growth in competition and level of state funding, a review of educational offerings is essential to assure that the college produces skilled entrants to satisfy the demands of emerging work force in Northwest Arkansas at a reasonable cost to the students,” Grigsby said.
Reducing the cost of tuition while offering employable skills is important to the future of the college, Parsons said.
“The recession and the inability of college graduates to find work is one of the big problems that NWACC will have to address for the next two years,” Parsons said. “College tuition and books are so expensive that many students will have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of attending college. Too many people complain that their degree has left them still unemployed and question the value of their attending college in the first place.”
Haney said attracting quality educators while keeping an eye on finances is an ongoing concern for the college.
“Since the declining state funding continues to be a problem, we must deal with this issue,” Haney said. “Additionally, our challenge is to find creative ways to obtain capital funding for continued growth within our service areas.”
Wilson also believes an emphasis on supporting faculty is important, along with finances.
“Faculty at NWACC completely understand the mission of our community college in that they are there to help change lives through education,” Wilson said. “However, I think funding issues will always be a big concern-challenge at NWACC. We cannot afford stupidity in our budget process. We have pushed the limits on what a community college can ask for in tuition and millage increases. We simply need to do more with less.”
Shewmaker mentioned some issues the college should focus on in order to provide quality education in the future.
“NWACC will have to look hard at one possible solution of expanding to a second campus. Increasing the use of technology and online tools would also allow additional course offerings reaching even more students,” Shewmaker said. “Finally, the next president needs a strong board of trustees that will build a partnership of respect and trust. That trust will allow the president to lead NWACC to the highest level of excellence.”