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BTC cuts administration to save money

ROCK TOWNSHIP — Blackhawk Technical College is realigning administrative duties to help with a projected budget shortfall.

The college will lose 1.5 positions and save about $150,000, said BTC President Tom Eckert.

The BTC Board tonight is scheduled to vote on “slight” pay increases for two of the deans who are taking on additional responsibilities, Eckert said. The deans are in charge of the various academic areas.

Eckert said the move would help with a shortfall of about $500,000 in the coming fiscal year and another $1 million in the succeeding year.

The shortfall is caused by cuts in aid included in Gov. Scott Walker’s 2011-13 budget proposal.

“I would not do this if we weren’t facing what looks like some pretty major reductions, … because that’s a lot of work that people are taking on,” Eckert said.

Eckert said the savings come from shuffling duties now handled by three deans.

The dean in charge of the Monroe campus, who is retiring, will be replaced, Eckert said.

The vacant position of dean of health occupations, BTC’s largest academic area, will be filled by Nancy Lightfield, who is now dean of the Center for Transportation Studies.

The dean of manufacturing, construction, and aviation programs, Kirke Plank, will take on the added duties of running the Center for Transportation Studies and the associated transportation, agriculture, and apprenticeship programs.

Mark Brown, the law enforcement coordinator, will take over as dean of public safety but retain some of his current duties. A half-time person will be hired to take on some of Brown’s duties.

Lightfield and Plank will received “slight” pay increases to reflect additional duties, Eckert said. Complete figures were not available Tuesday, but Plank’s salary would rise to $104,547 and Lightfield’s to $94,883.

A pay increase for Brown will come to the board at its May meeting, according to a memo describing the moves.