![\"Board](\"http:\/\/www.daytonastateinmotion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/MG_0419.jpg\")
<\/a>Photos By: Michelle Cretella\/In Motion<\/figcaption><\/figure>During LoBasso\u2019s presidency, his former role will not be filled. Executive staff members Vice President Amy Locklear, Executive Vice President Brian Babb and Interim Vice President Dick Pastor will instead absorb, respectively, the departments of Athletics, Campus Safety and Marketing under their management.<\/p>\n
With these changes in management made, LoBasso said that it was a natural fit so things will continue to run smoothly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a heightened focus on student retention and some of the success points that we would like to do better on, which is tied to performance with the state funding that\u2019s been out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a plan and a strategy and we\u2019re going to continue to update the community on how we\u2019re doing with that. I also want to focus on communication of the plan and to monitor on how well we\u2019re doing. To me, the biggest thing is to focus on our retention and success operationally at the college and do better,\u201d said LoBasso.<\/p>\n
He also listed some of the initiatives that DSC is working on in its efforts to increase student graduation rates and success in courses. \u201cWe started a new required developmental course in English and we\u2019ve tried new things with our add and drop period. We\u2019ve shortened it a little bit so students aren\u2019t adding courses really late in the semester. A lot of data shows the correlation between registering early and success. We created a new math pathway this year for students that are non-STEM majors,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
The relationship between Eaton and the board changed abruptly when the board decided not to renew her contract last November. The vote was 8-1. The board\u2019s concerns were that DSC was last on a list of ranking out of the 28 colleges in Florida for performance-driven state funding that will be implemented later this year. Another concern was that the College is not a member of a program called Direct Connect that would make it easier for DSC students to transfer to the University of Central Florida. During the January meeting, Eaton defended her position that she relentlessly made efforts to become a member of the program but failed due not to negligence on her part, but to foot-dragging by UCF administrators.<\/p>\n
After the denial of Eaton\u2019s new contract, the former president negotiated with the board to add an addendum to her contract that creates an advisory role for her to allow a smoother transition, instead of serving her presidency until August. During the remainder of her employment, Eaton will still be paid her salary, which amounts to $364,009 plus benefits.<\/p>\n
Bidding farewell as president, she said, \u201cI do want to thank the board the opportunity to serve Daytona State College and this institution\u2019s dedicated employees have a passion to help student\u2019s success. I\u2019m confident now that the faculty and all of the employees will continue to focus on student\u2019s success. Daytona State College is here for our students and their completion reaching their goals helping fulfill their dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vice chair of the board, Forough Hosseini nominated LoBasso as interim president and the other members agreed unanimously. Hosseini then conducted a presentation on how they will choose a permanent president.<\/p>\n
The search committee will be made up of 14 to 17 members. It will include current students, graduates, representatives from faculty, other DSC employees, the Foundation and local businesses. The full list of members will be named at the board meeting on February 19. Hosseini made the estimate that a president could be hired between nine and a half to 10 months.<\/p>\n In other board business, trustees voted unanimously to hire a lobbyist to approach Tallahassee legislators to obtain more funding for College projects and discussed sites for the new $24 million student center.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Brandon Krampert In Motion Staff Writer During Daytona State College\u2019s Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 15 a resolution was passed that transferred Carol Eaton from DSC president to serving an advisory role until her contract ends in August. The board then appointed former DSC Chief Operations Officer Thomas LoBasso Continue reading Interim president takes over reins at Daytona State<\/span><\/a>