Kishwaukee College trustees approve president contract extension

MALTA – Kishwaukee College trustees approved of a contract extension for the college's president, who was recently named as a finalist in a Wisconsin technical college presidential search, during their meeting scheduled for 5:55 p.m. Tuesday at the college.

The four year contract from July 1 through June 30, 2024 will pay Kishwaukee College President Laurie Borowicz an annual salary starting at $200,676, with a 2.5% increase each contract year. She also would receive a $10,000 annual vehicle allowance to reimburse costs for owning or leasing a personal vehicle for college business purposes.

The update comes after Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee, Wisconsin named Borowicz as one of two finalists to become the school's next president in late September. However, Borowicz confirmed Tuesday she chose to no longer be a finalist in the technical college presidential search.

"I'm extremely proud of the work that we do at Kishwaukee College," Borowicz said. "I believe that, during [the COVID-19 pandemic], it's important to have leadership stability. I enjoy leading the college and knowing that we continue to have such a positive effect on our students and our communities and I look forward in continuing my work in my role as president at Kishwaukee College."

Borowicz said the pandemic has disrupted everyone's lives and college officials continue to do everything they can to meet needs of learners and to keep everyone on campus safe. Overall, she said, she believes the institution has responded well to the pandemic.

"As good as can be expected, given the circumstances we're in," Borowicz said.

Borowicz, who came to the Malta community college in January 2016, previously received a contract extension in 2018 with a $190,000 annual salary.

Bob Johnson, who chairs the college's Board of Trustees, said Tuesday evening trustees voted, 6-0, to approve the contract. Trustee Roberta Burke was absent from the meeting, Johnson confirmed.

Johnson said a lot of instructors had to convert instruction method from in person to remote due to the pandemic and Borowicz was responsible for a lot of the cohesiveness behind that shift in gears. He said trustees also discussed Tuesday how education will change as a whole and how much will go back to in person once there is a vaccine.

“We don’t know, but we think there’ll be a pretty big change,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he believes Borowicz is in a great position to lead the college through those changes. Although, he said, the board would have understood if she were to take the Wisconsin technical college position, since he knows she is a Wisconsin native.

“But we’re really glad she didn’t,” Johnson said.

• This story was updated at 11 p.m. Tuesday following the Kishwaukee College Board of Trustees meeting.