Advisory board joins new district, new term lengths set

Advisory board joins new district, new term lengths set
GILLETTE (WNE) — The Gillette College Advisory Board has transitioned to the new community college district, aiming to represent voices from the community and industry as the new district takes shape.

The Gillette Community College District trustees voted this week to ratify the advisory board’s revised bylaws, making it a part of the new district.
The advisory board originally formed to serve as a liaison between Gillette College and the Northern Wyoming Community College District based in Sheridan.
With the ongoing Gillette College transition into its own district, trustees and advisory board members reevaluated the purpose of the advisory board in past months and agreed the 11-member board could continue to be a resource to the district and community.
The advisory board also appointed two new members, representing the agriculture industry and oil and gas, which trustees also approved.
It sought to add members from sectors of the community “that need their voices heard at the college,” said Richard Cisneros, an advisory board member.
Although the board maxes out at 11 members, its census fell when three members left after being elected as trustees of the new district.
When looking for replacements, they looked for representation from the local industries of banking and finance; construction and engineering; education; telecommunications; agriculture; health care; coal and extraction; hospitality and food service; and oil and gas.
In addition to appointing new members, the repurposed advisory board also determined new term lengths and reset all terms to have begun Jan. 1.
Two vacancies remain. Cisneros said the board hopes to fill those slots with members from the banking and finance industry, as well as hospitality and food service.
This story was published on Jan. 25, 2022.