(ABOVE) DACC softball players Kelsey Martlage, Riley Richey, Kennedy Hudson, Danielle Shuey (back), and Coach Matt Cervantes.
A double dose of good news for Danville Area Community College during Thursday (June 22nd) evening’s Board of Trustees meeting. First, the board approved a new three-year faculty agreement with the Education Association, running July 1st of this year through June 30th of 2026. Both Vice-President of Human Resources and Labor Relations Jill Cranmore and Vice-President of Finance Tammy Betancourt credited the style of “interest-based bargaining” for the successful negotiations. Cranmore says, it’s a style that emphasizes cooperation.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: Both parties come together; both college administration and the faculty union. And we sit down, and we just work through problems. What are your questions? What are your problems? And we come to a resolution.
Betancourt agreed; saying that both sides simply, from the start, operate as one team.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: And instead of position based, where it’s the quote, unquote “us against them;” it’s more collaborative. And often times we find ideas and solutions that you wouldn’t otherwise find in “traditional bargaining” versus “interest-based.” I would say it was a good increase during these times. And I think everyone was happy.
DACC president Dr. Stephen Nacco, who pointed out that this is the first three-year deal with the faculty in his seven years as president; stated that annual raises are adjustable by employee, with various factors decided upon by interest-based bargaining. On the average, raises will be 4% during the first year of the contract, and 3.25% during the second and third years.
DACC Board of Trustees listens to Vice-President for Student Services Brian Hensgen, Athletic Director Tim Bunton, and softball coach Matt Cervantes.
Prior to the contract vote, the DACC Lady Jaguars softball team was honored. It was another season of national recognition; going 43-24, and finishing 9th in the NJCAA Division Two national tournament. They finished seventh in the country in hits, and first in triples. Coach Matt Cervantes says, the wheels just keep turning.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: The past two years we’ve been really blessed with some really, really good kids. But I think what they’ve done is build a solid foundation to move forward.
Some new freshmen on the scene really helped this year; including from St. Joseph-Ogden, Kennedy Hudson and Kelsey Martlage; and from South Vermillion, Riley Richey.
Audio PlayerAUDIO (Hudson): It was very exciting with how they, the sophomores, brought us in under their wings to gear up for what we were going to do this year.
AUDIO (Martlage): And I’m happy where we ended. I think we had a really good season. And I wasn’t too surprised when it all came together.
AUDIO (Richey): Coach Matt sets the culture here before you even come and get started here, that “this is what we’re all about.” And it was just a great experience.
Sophomore Danielle Shuey’s DACC says are over, and she leaves happy.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: I knew we had the potential the whole time. But it was a matter of putting it together, and building the culture up the right way.
Danielle Shuey says she is indeed moving on to play softball at a four year school, but has not yet officially committed.
