The Santa Fe College Board of Trustees voted to expand the college — both literally and figuratively — during its meeting Sept. 23.
The Board unanimously approved a proposal for a skilled trade degree program, greenlit funding to renovate its gymnasium and announced student financial aid dispersion. The Board also thanked Santa Fe Police Department Chief Ed Book for his service ahead of his retirement.
A new degree program
Nate Southerland, Santa Fe’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, presented a proposal for a new associate degree program in leadership for industry. The Board unanimously approved the new degree program, which would educate all trade students in areas of leadership, namely in manufacturing fields.
With an increasing number of retirements in skilled trades, Southerland said, there will be an opening in leadership positions. The new program would provide students with resources to learn management abilities before entering the manufacturing field of work.
“This will allow us to move individuals into those leadership positions,” Southerland said.
The Ralph W. Cellon Jr. Institute, which opened Aug. 19, aims to increase the blue-collar workforce by expanding the trade curriculum at Santa Fe. The institute was created to meet increased demand for trade programs, and the new degree offers an opportunity to gain leadership experience.
Many technicians lack leadership and supervision skills that employers value, according to the proposal. The new degree would provide supervisory and management training for trade students.
The program began development when students in Alachua and Bradford Counties expressed interest in trade skill classes, according to the proposal. Over the next seven years, analysts predict manufacturing companies will hire more first-line supervisors, who oversee groups of blue-collar workers.
The new program will collaborate with Ring Power, a construction dealer company and industry partner with Santa Fe, and the Builder’s Association of North Central Florida to promote its launch in Spring 2026. Ring Power and BANCF will inform its apprentices and employers about the program and Santa Fe’s curriculum offerings, with both companies being advertised to all students in the program. Ring Power will also send interested employees to complete the program and expand their knowledge of first-line supervision.
“It’s setting up a really nice leadership pathway for local business industry,” Southerland said.
President’s report
Santa Fe students’ financial aid is set to be disbursed despite notable delays, Santa Fe President Paul Broadie II said, although he did not specify a deadline for the payments. An influx of students have posted their concerns about delays in this semester’s disbursements on social media.
Broadie thanked faculty members for their assistance in financial aid distribution.
“We see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Broadie said. “We’ve worked through all of the IT challenges, and we’re set to disperse our financial aid this year.”
Broadie also announced a general increase in enrollment. Santa Fe has three terms students can apply for in the Fall semester: A, B and G. With the exception of the G term, Fall enrollment has been increasing, with an overall rise of about 11%, Broadie said.
Honoring police chief’s retirement
The Board took time to thank SFPD Chief Book, who announced his retirement in June after serving in law enforcement for over 40 years and 14 years with SFPD. His successor, Ryan Woods, will replace him Oct. 1.
The Board presented Book with a letter to display their gratitude, which was printed and framed for him as a surprise.
The resolution caught Book pleasantly off guard, he said.
“I am very, very honored to have been part of this college community, formally 14 years and informally, through friends and family, for many, many years before that,” he said.
Board member Tara Ezzell expressed appreciation and admiration for Book on behalf of the Board, as well as recognition for Book’s service.
Book led with dedication, professionalism and commitment during his time at SFPD, Ezzell said.
$5 million proposal for expansion
The Board also voted to submit a funding proposal to expand and renovate gym space.
The gym currently suffers from roof damage, causing leaks during storms, according to John Hooker, associate vice president of governmental and community relations. If the proposal is approved, the grant would be used for roof replacements, a backup generator and a new chiller and boiler system, Hooker added.
“These enhancements will allow the gym to function as a standalone operating facility during and after disasters,” Hooker said.
Hooker proposed applying to the Community Development Block Grant, which helps fund communities after a natural disaster. The proposal requested approximately $5 million dollars to renovate the school’s gym, which the Florida National Guard uses during disaster recovery, Hooker said.
“Assembling a grant like this is kind of like one monolith journey,” Hooker said. “We don’t do it alone.”
Contact Leona Masangkay at lmasangkay@alligator.org. Follow them on X @leo_amasangkay.
Leona is a second-year journalism student and the Fall 2025 Santa Fe College reporter. They previously worked on the audience and growth team over the summer as a social media strategist. In their free time, Leona enjoys going to the gym, listening to music and watching Marvel movies.
