PRCC board adopts $37.4 million budget; No increase in student tuition

     POPLARVILLE – The Pearl River Community College Board of Trustees approved a budget of $37.4 million for the 2015-16 academic year Tuesday during the regular June meeting on the Poplarville campus.
    Roger Knight, Vice President for Business and Administrative Services, explained that the $37.4 million for the 2015-16 budget includes both restricted and unrestricted funds.
    “The new budget is an increase of $1.3 million over last year’s budget,” said Knight.
      The Current Unrestricted fund totals $36 million. Knight projected $18.4 million of this amount will go toward salaries and fringe benefits.
      Revenue projections for fiscal year 2016 reflect an increase in state funding ($465,685), due to recent enrollment increases, while funding support from Pearl River Community College’s six-county district remained the same at $3.1 million.
      The board also voted to freeze student tuition at last year’s level. Tuition for a full-time student (12 hours or more) is $1,325. The hourly rate for in-state students (less than 12 hours) remains at $115.
      A major portion of the expenditure increase is comprised of a two percent salary increase for PRCC employees.
       Said PRCC President William Lewis, “With all the budget cuts we have absorbed in the last couple of years, this budget is reflective of a total team effort. The faculty and staff had input in our budget. Our increased enrollment in recent years offers strong endorsement for the academic and career-technical education offered at PRCC.”
    In other business, the board:

  • Approved the hiring of Dr. Ed Pinero as Director of Career and Technical Education programs, replacing Gwen Smith, who is retiring at the end of this month. Dr. Pinero is currently the Director of Planning and Development for Pearl River County.
  • Approved the hiring of instructors Tyrone McLaurin (barbering), Nancy Gilbert (practical nursing dual enrollment), Rodney Clark (drafting and design technology), Shakira Nettles as assistant women’s basketball coach, Stephen Sorrells as assistant football coach, Jonathan Morris as mathematics laboratory instructor.
  • Approved the transfer of Delana Harris to director of recruiting and marketing, Amber Floyd to ABE testing clerk and Ruby Smith to ABE instructor-coordinator, Dr. Kyle Hill to chairman of the department of fine arts and director of bands, Leah Blossman to mathematics laboratory coordinator and Derrick Leblanc to assistant football coach and student services assistant.
  • Approved the retirement of Raye Lynn Arbo from the position of practical nursing dual enrollment instructor and Elaine Smith as curriculum planning specialist, both effective June 30.

Each community college president is asked to bring two (2) wrapped door prizes, minimum value of $50 each. We will have a station set up at the conference for you to drop off the door prizes.

Each community college is asked to provide name tags for their Board members, administration, and staff attending the conference.