The presidential search committee being able to cut the amount of candidates from the initial 388 applicants to 64, then to 20 in January and now 12 as of Feb. 29.

In update on the presidential search committee’s progress, Lee Daniels, chairman of the presidential search committee, gave a small presentation on how the search committee is progressing.

During the week of Feb. 2, three consultants conducted interviews at a hotel near O’Hare Airport, and further vetted the 20 candidates to 12. At the presidential search committee meeting on Feb. 29, the group decided that all 12 of the members would conduct face-to-face interviews with all 12 finalists in the process. After the committee has chosen the final three applicants, the board of trustees will have the floor to choose the next president.

Following that presentation, Trustee Joseph Wozniak requested a presentation of Waterleaf’s progress. Dana Stewart, dean of business and technology; Associate Dean of Business Chris Faye and Culinary and Hospitality representatives Tim Meyers and Mary Beth Leone gave the presentation

The group discussed projections for Waterleaf’s profits, as well as students utilization of the restaurant. The restaurant is used by students Monday through Friday every week for a variety of classes, such as Classical Cuisine, Preparation and International cooking courses.

The restaurant is now open to the public Tuesday through Friday. Tuesday is only open for dinner, Wednesday and Thursday have both lunch and dinner, and Friday is only open for lunch. As well, the Wheat Café is open on Tuesdays from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. for its Fast Casual Class and the Culinary Market is open 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

Finally, the trustees also voted on having an in-house counsel for the board of trustees and president of the college with a dual reporting relationship. Trustee Deanne McGuire had a problem with this dual reporting relationship and employment status, asking whether the college would have to provide benefits.

Both Vice Chairwoman Deanne Mazzochi and a legal consultant giving the presentation told McGuire that the hiring of the counsel and the dual reporting would comply with the Community College Open Meetings Act. The board passed the motion to hire an in-house counsel 4-2, with McGuire and Wozniak voting against. Trustee Erin Birt and Student Trustee Gloria Roark were absent.