Board of Trustee hires a new Interim President

The Board of Trustee hired a new Interim President. 

The Board of Trustees held a special meeting Monday, and named Michael Sebaaly as new acting interim president. 

Sebaaly has been a physical education instructor and head wrestling coach at NIC since 2019. Sebaaly will take office Nov. 10, replacing current interim president, Dr. Lita Burns. The position pays $180,000 salary. 

Sebaaly was voted in by a 3:2 vote. Chairman Todd Banducci, trustees Greg McKenzie and Michale Barnes voted aye, while trustees Woods and Howard said nay.

The Special Meeting was held at 5 p.m., and during the meeting Woods and Howard walked out.

When asked why she left the meeting Woods said, “ I felt that it was a sham, completely corrupt, [and] we weren’t there to do anything actual good selection for this institution,” and she said, “ that these candidates chose were predetermined and they didn’t have qualification to run this institution. “ 

There were 10 applicants for the interim presidency position, including Mike Sabaaly. The applicants names were, Gaydon Stanley, Molly Michaud Chris Martin, Ed Katiz, Ted Tedmon, Lloyd Duman, Jason Droesch, Christy Doyle, Jon Gardunia and Chirs Martin. There is no other public information for the application candidates than their names. 

The requirements for the position of president are a master’s degree from an accredited institution and the qualifications of preference is listed below.

• Higher education experience.
• A minimum of five years experience of higher education in administration/Senior leadership.
• Senior level experience in leadership at a community college.
• Experience in working in business, and industry and or/technical education/ or career. 

The board also discussed the “no public comment” during all the open sessions this past year. Trustee Woods said, “[It is] because you have an agenda.” Trustee Woods also said that there will be no public comment for the October 27 meeting. 

Chairman Banducci and President Burns held a meeting to discuss the action items and the agenda for the meeting, and they discussed the no public comment decision

President Burns said, “ Depending on the outcome of the interim [president] appointment, I really felt like it was probably going to be [a] no-win situation on the terms of public comment,” she said, “the decision has been made so it seemed to me, I was in agreement to no public comment.”

The board also discussed the legal counsel of the college. The legal counsel is Attorney Marc Lyons is NIC’s attorney and has worked at NIC for 22 years. Chairman Banducci and Trustee McKenzie said they would like to have additional legal counsel for the board. Trustee Woods said that Chairman Banducci, trustees McKenzie and Barnes don’t want to hear what Lyons has to say. 

Trustee Howard said, “ It doesn’t mean something has to replace him, and quite honestly, this whole idea of you [wanting] to have your own lawyer for this board, I don’t trust. I don’t trust you.” 

Trustee Woods also said, “ You’ve already cost us 270,000 for a president that’s not sitting here, and we’re going to pay for another president.” She said, “ We have a lawsuit on top of that and now you want the taxpayers to pay for even more legal counsel.” 

The next open session board meeting is October 27, the agenda plan is too elect additional legal counsel for the college.