NWACC's Washington County groundbreaking planned for June

BENTONVILLE -- Officials will break ground on the Northwest Arkansas Community College's Washington County center on June 27, President Evelyn Jorgenson told the Board of Trustees on Monday.

The time hasn't been set yet, but it will likely be in the afternoon, she said.

Hight-Jackson Associates is designing the 35,000-square-foot facility, which will be built on 20 acres next to Arvest Ballpark and the recently opened Arkansas Children's Northwest hospital.

The center won't initially use all the property and will be built with expansion in mind.

"It will give us an opportunity to really start the public phase," Jorgenson said of the groundbreaking.

College officials will receive input from community members during receptions, lunches and other group conversations, she said.

The capital campaign for construction also will begin after the announcement of the groundbreaking date, Annetta Tirey, the college's foundation director, told trustees in February.

The foundation has raised $3.6 million of the estimated $10 million to $12 million project.

Donations made so far to the college foundation for construction of the school's Washington County center include $2 million from the Walton Family Foundation, $1.5 million from the Jackson G. and Ella Frances Byrd Trust and $100,000 from the Black Hills Corp. Foundation.

The Washington County center will eliminate staffing redundancies and provide more comprehensive services in one location, officials have said. The college is leasing 25,000 square feet in three locations in Washington County.

The center will offer general education courses as well as various health profession courses.

The college enrolled 7,715 students during the fall semester. Of those, 2,762 students, or 36 percent, lived in Washington County, according to college figures.

Trustees also voted 8-0 for Jorgenson to receive a 1 percent raise for fiscal 2019, which begins July 1. Trustee Mauricio Herrera was absent.

Specific salary numbers weren't available Monday night. The board made the decision after spending about 2 1/2 hours in executive session. There was no discussion between when Todd Schwartz, vice chairman, made the motion and the vote was taken.

The one percent raise is consistent with what all the college's faculty and staff received, Jorgenson said after the meeting.

Trustees agreed to have a special meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday to discuss an item brought to the Financial Committee during its meeting April 12. Trustee Ron Branscum didn't specify what the item was when he gave his report to the board Monday.

NW News on 04/17/2018

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