The Mott Community College Board of Trustees has chosen to make Interim President Shaunda Richardson-Snell's position permanent with a narrow 4-3 approval vote, despite calls from faculty and some trustees for a national search, according to ABC12. The vote took place on May 19 and has sparked discussions about the transparency and alleged conflicts of interest within the board.
Trustee complaints about impropriety and conflict of interest have arisen due to Richardson-Snell's alleged connection with Board Trustee Janet Couch's daughter. Trustee John Daly's objection at the start of the board meeting was swiftly overruled by Board Chair Jeffrey Swanson, as reported by WNEM. Couch's intermittent involvement in meetings has also raised questions about her influence on the decision-making process, with Trustee Dr. Kenyetta Dotson criticizing this participation as detrimental to the board's image.
The finalized contract offers Richardson-Snell a base salary of $255,000, a potential $30,000 merit bonus, and a $900 monthly car allowance. This agreement mirrors the initial proposal by an ad-hoc committee, abandoning revisions made during a previous six-hour session, which attempted to amend the offer. Board Secretary Candice Miller defended the contract, emphasizing its fairness and alignment with higher education norms, despite others, like Trustee Art Reyes, lamenting the dismissal of previous board efforts to reach an accord in the contract's finer details, according to Flintbeat.
