DAILY LEADER / JUSTIN VICORY / Dr. Ronnie Nettles, president of Copiah-Lincoln Community College, congratulates Andrew Spiller on five years of service on the Board of Trustees of the college. Spiller announced his retirement from the board at Thursday’s board meeting.

A couple of retirements were among the matters discussed by the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Board of Trustees during the board’s meeting Thursday at the Thames Center.

The longest serving employee at Co-Lin, Sheryl Montgomery, announced her upcoming retirement after 42 years of service to the college. In a letter to the board, Montgomery expressed her thoughts. “I’m finding it difficult to retire; Co-Lin has been my educator, employer and family for 51 years.”

The board then recognized Andrew Spiller’s retirement as a trustee with the board after five years of service. Spiller addressed the board early in the meeting.

“I’ve enjoyed the fellowship and work with you,” Spiller said.

“You have done an excellent job and have been an inspiration to us all,” responded Dr. Ronnie Nettles, Co-Lin president.

The board also approved full police powers for Charles D. Johnson as part-time police officer for the Simpson County Center/Co-Lin District, effective Nov. 18.

Despite a significant increase in December graduates, Vice President of Instructional Services Dr. Jane Hulon noted a decrease in enrollment numbers at Thursday’s meeting. This follows trends in that direction at other community colleges and universities in the state, according to Hulon.

“We should increase our efforts to retain students. This will go a long ways in increasing enrollment,” Hulon suggested.

Illustrated by PowerPoint slides, Nettles reviewed construction projects under way, or in the works.

A number of roofing projects that are funded by state bonds have been ongoing since 2008. These include the Career and Technical building roof, the Associate Degree Nursing building roof and the library roof.

Nettles mentioned future projects at Ellis Hall, Ellzey Hall, the Ewing Administration building and the Career and Technical building at the Simpson County campus.

The board approved WGK Inc. as engineers for a pedestrian corridor project on the Wesson campus.

In other business, the board approved 19 purchase orders over $5,000, totaling $355,370.

Stan Patrick provided a financial statement for November that showed $20,125,016 in total expenditures and $17,383,581 in total revenue. This is to be expected, Patrick noted, since “only 35 percent of the expected revenue stream has come in up to this point.”

The board also accepted a health and human services grant in the amount of $19,295 administered by the University of Southern Mississippi.

Student activities at the college for the month of November included:

• Phi Theta Kappa held a Christmas toy drive.

• Phi Theta Kappa brought in a guest speaker to talk about human trafficking.

• The Centurion Club sponsored a movie night featuring the film “Holy Grail.”

• The SGA sponsored a nine-team powder-puff football tournament.

• Who’s who photos were taken along with Mr. and Miss Co-Lin and Campus Favorites.

Fall finals for students will begin Monday, Dec. 9, and take place all week.

This year’ December graduation will be held in the Mullen Gymnasium at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 19.