About WCTC

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Board Members

Board members are qualified to serve and provide a critical balancing perspective on WCTC's vision and direction. In addition to nine appointed members, there are three non-voting representatives: a WCTC student representative, a WCTC faculty representative, and a WCTC support staff representative. WCTC board members live, work, and pay taxes in our district and include a school district administrator, an elected official, current and former students, and organized labor and business leaders. The WCTC Board is a cohesive, interdependent team that works and serves well together.

Board Appointment

The members of the board are appointed by a board appointment committee composed of the county board chairpersons of the counties included, all or in part, in the WCTC district including Waukesha, Dodge, Jefferson, and Racine. The chairperson of the Waukesha County Board, the most populous portion of our district, serves as district board appointment chair. Representation on the board is apportioned throughout the district as set forth in section 38.08, paragraph 2 of the Wisconsin Statutes.

Application for Candidacy to the WCTC District Board (download Acrobat Reader)

Individuals may apply for board membership* in five categories:

• Employer:  A person who makes hiring and firing decisions. The business must be located within WCTC’s district (Waukesha County). (You may work in a non-district office of a major district business.)
• Employee:  An employee who does not have the final authority to hire and fire.
• School District Administrator:  A school district superintendent, supervising principal or person who acts as the administrative head of a school district and who holds an administrator’s license.
• Elected Official:  Any local or state elected official who is not a political party committee person.
• Additional Member:  Any adult who is a district resident.

There are four important requirements all candidates for WCTC board membership must meet in order to be eligible.  They must:

1. Be residents of the WCTC district
2. Submit a properly completed application/affidavit that is received by the district board appointment committee within 14 days of the published announcement.
3. Attend the district board appointment public hearing in person to be interviewed;
4. Have at least two written references submitted before the scheduled public hearing.

*Board members are not salaried; however, they will be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of board member duties.

Code of Ethics

District board members are required to abide by the State of Wisconsin Code of Ethics. If you are selected as a district board member, you must file a financial disclosure statement with the State of Wisconsin Ethics Board.

Why Become a WCTC Board Member?

As a district board member, you will make critical decisions on the policy making body of WCTC. Because each Wisconsin Technical College district has distinct demographic, geographic and economic characteristics, each district’s educational programming is tailored to meet local needs. Board members decide how to best meet those needs.

You will make decisions on important issues affecting WCTC in your role representing the citizens of the district. District boards have the power to levy property taxes for facilities and equipment, develop annual budgets, and approve the hiring of personnel for instructional services. Board members also appoint a president who serves as the chief executive officer for the district.

Some Responsibilities of a WCTC Board Member

• Provide governance for the college
• Attend bi-monthly public board meetings (2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month)
• Represent the college at state and national meetings
• Be involved in the life of the college by attending additional events such as
• Graduation
• Awards Banquets
• Legislator Breakfast, and more
• Be interested in and supportive of the college mission
• Responsibly represent the community
• Be willing and comfortable supporting the college to the public
• Be willing to devote at least 10 hours per month of your time
• Professional development opportunities
• Attend quarterly meetings of the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association that broaden a member’s understanding of the technical college system.
• Attend conferences of the Association of Community College Trustees to gain a national perspective.

Board membership is a rewarding volunteer job that takes a commitment of your time and hard work.  The District Board Appointment Committee for WCTC welcomes applications for board membership each spring when terms of office are due for appointment.

Plan of Representation

The Board Appointment Committee of Waukesha County Technical College has adopted a plan of representation which gives equal consideration to the general population distribution throughout the District as well as the distribution of women and minorities. The plan of representation also meets the requirements of Wisconsin Statute 38.08 (1) (a) which states a District Board shall administer the district and be composed of nine members who are residents of the district and consist of: two employers, two employees, three additional members, one school district administrator as defined in s. 115.001(8), Stats., and one elected official who holds a state or local office as defined in s. 5.02, Stats., except for the office of party committeeman or party committeewoman.

WCTC District Board Members for 2007-2008

Joan Jenstead (Board Chair) is a Property Management Consultant, lives in the City of Brookfield, and has been a Board member since 1984.

Michael Jakus (Vice Chair) is an Attorney-at-Law, lives in the City of Brookfield and has been a Board member since 2002.

Marilyn Grainger (Secretary/Treasurer) is a retired Oncology Nurse Clinician, lives in Waukesha, and has been a Board member since 2000.

Paul Strobel is the Superintendent of Mukwonago School District, lives in the Town of Vernon, and has been a Board member since 2001.

Ronald Bertieri is the President/COO of Friction Stir Link, Inc., lives in the Village of Menomonee Falls, and has been a Board member since 1995.

Pauline Jaske is the President and CEO of Fairway Transit Inc., lives in the City of New Berlin, and has been a Board member since 2001.

Thomas Neill is the Clerk-Treasurer of the City of Waukesha where he lives, and has been a Board member since 1990.

Barbara Soto-Ryan is the CEO of FlexAbility, a human resources consulting and staffing company, lives in the City of Waukesha and has been a board member since 2003.

Richard Brandt is a Senior Campaign Associate with United Way of Milwaukee, lives in the City of Brookfield, and was appointed to the board in July 2007.

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