Columbia Gorge Community College board hears audit update

CGCC got an unmodified opinion on its 2025 audit, according to a presentation from Caroline Wright and Bree Davis, auditors. That is the best possible opinion, they said. They presented some highlights, some complicated (“You can see the details of that in footnote nine,” Wright said at one point).

There was also an audit for federal findings, which reported several material weaknesses. That’s because the time period overlaps the previous year, before corrective measures were put in place, the auditors said. They have seen much improvement and a corrective plan has just been finished, which the board asked to see.

Problems included some required internal checks, oversight of third-party financial service, and the proper return of some funds. Most have been corrected. Some students were not getting exit counseling notifications or being properly checked for satisfactory academic progress; both issues were caused by the online education tool Anthology.

“Overall, we’re seeing continuous improvement in CGCC’s team,” Davis said.

They now move on to the current audit, with a goal to meet deadline in late 2026. Oregon State, the auditors said, has told them that CGCC was out of compliance for so long that they can’t issue further extensions.

The board then opened a long executive session to discuss President Kenneth Lawson’s performance review. After leaving executive session, the chair unanimously authorized Chair Nate Stice to negotiate Lawson’s contract renewal.

The board agreed to suspend a defunct Associate of Applied Science (AAS) paramedic degree with low enrollment and expensive materials. CGCC contracts with another community college for second-year paramedic classes to be taught in the Gorge.

They also approved a lease for hangar space at Columbia Gorge Regional Airport, in Dallesport. The hangar is under construction and CGCC is already paying a lease with Crestline Construction. This is an increase in the amount they pay, but gains them another 14,000 feet.

The lease is for 20 years, and cost will rise with inflation. The long time-period necessary to get federal funding for project. CGCC will teach classes for people entering the aircraft industry there. However, board members asked if graduates and their wages will stay in the Gorge once they get that industry’s high paying jobs. There are few jobs locally, but it’s possible to commute, staff told them.

There is no clause to end the lease if things go bad, but it could be done through an amendment, Lawson said.

The board then unanimously approved a supplemental budget, to account for higher revenue than expected — the previously-reported $800,000 from the state’s odd appropriations schedule which was not accounted for when the budget was written. There’s also a spending increase and some structural changes to account for newly bargained union wages, fully covered by that money from the state.

Sam Draper, human resource director, also noted a transfer to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) office, which had opportunity to host classes that will add to the college’s reimbursable full time enrollment, and also help locals develop businesses.

Plus, the board adapted the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget and renewed their insurance. Chris McKay, a representative from HMK Company, reported on bond contracts. Physical work is beginning on campus.

Draper gave a clean financial report, and Director Oralee Branch reported the CGCC Foundation got $2,500 for the on-campus food pantry.

Director Laura Delatorre has resigned from the board, leaving an open seat in Hood River County. The board will open an application process for interested residents soon.