College board looks at impacts of separation

The clock is ticking on Gillette College’s application to become separate from the Northern Wyoming Community College District, and in the meantime, the college board is considering how the split will affect Sheridan College.

Dr. Walt Tribley, president of the college district:

Dr. Tribley and Vice President Cheryl Heath talked about some of the changes in a recent meeting of the college board.

Dr. Tribley said Campbell County’s application to separate from the college district is currently under review by the Wyoming Community College Commission, and the commission is expected to announce a decision at a special meeting on Nov. 20.

Dr. Tribley said the board meeting focused more on where and what are some of the assets that are shared by the two colleges and on the liabilities the district currently has in Gillette. In rough numbers, Dr. Tribley said part of that indebtedness is for student housing.

Tribley said at this time, no one knows how the debt and assets of Gillette College will be divided, or whether Gillette College or the Northern Wyoming Community College District will be responsible for the indebtedness.

He said that’s something all parties in the proposed split are looking into.

Dr. Tribley said regardless of how Campbell County’s application proceeds, and regardless of the outcome in November, both Sheridan and Gillette colleges are here to stay. He said both will continue to serve students.

Gillette College was organized in 1969 as part of the Northern Wyoming Community College District. This will reportedly be the third time an attempt has been made to separate the college from the district, and the effort started after Dr. Tribley announced that sports would be cut from both the Gillette and Sheridan College programs this year.