Craig — At its monthly meeting, the Colorado Northwestern Community College Board of Control did the following:

• Heard from Dean of Instruction Donna Theimer about the school’s new paleontology program, two recently acquired grants, and student activities, including a new ski club and a trip to the X Games in Aspen this coming weekend.

Theimer also shared that the college’s Full Time Equivalent number was up 20 percent as of Monday. State funding is based on a school’s FTE. The percentage did not account for concurrent enrollment students from the high school.

Conversely, “our headcount is down, which means we have more full-time students that are totally immersed,” Theimer said.

The first of the two grants Theimer shared with board members was a $75,000 grant through the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative Program. Renewable over three years, the grant is designed to provide increased support services to rural, first generation and first-time students to help them earn a college degree.

The second grant, awarded in December, is also a three-year grant. CNCC will receive $90,500 for the first year to develop a program to help under-resourced individuals in the community obtain the skills they need for employment. The college can apply for $100,000 grants each of the next two years.

The grant provides GED and ESL training as well as adult basic education courses to undereducated and underemployed individuals. Added support will be provided to students by the college in partnership with the Moffat County Social Services Department, the Workforce Center, Love INC, the Community Budget Center, Bridges Out of Poverty and probation and mental health professionals.

“If we find students who have special needs and one of our partners can provide it, we can send them over to them,” Theimer said. “The goal is to get them into the workforce or into a vocational school. It’s gotta be career-focused.”

Three new positions will be added to CNCC staff through the grant, including a full-time director for a new adult basic education program, which will provide English as a Second Language and GED training.

A part-time ESL teacher and part-time job developer will also be hired.

• Heard from CNCC President Russell George, who introduced new Vice President of the Craig campus Janell Oberlander. Recently arrived to Craig, Oberlander will officially start Wednesday, with the opportunity to meet faculty, staff and students at a luncheon that afternoon.

• Discussed a bid to repair the roof of Trapper Fitness totaling more than $66,000. Board member Lois Wymore questioned whether the building, given to the college nearly 20 years ago, was enough of a budget priority to merit the cost.

“How much of an asset is this for our students? Is this really where we should be spending our money?” Wymore said.

After much discussion, the board approved a motion to follow CNCC procurement policy procedure to acquire more bids and consider completing the work in spring or later.

• Heard requests from community member Eldon Holland regarding availability of board meeting minutes to the community, review of financial statements by the board and the proposed new parking lot.

In particular, Holland requested that the new parking lot to be completed just west of the building be compliant with regulations set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. His main concern was that the ground be level to make it safe for seniors getting out of their cars.

Contact Lauren Blair at 970-875-1794 or lblair@CraigDailyPress.com or follow her on Twitter @CDP_Education.