LUMBERTON — The Robeson Community College board of trustees on Monday selected a staffing agency to fulfill the school’s maintenance needs after it voted last month to terminate 12 full-time employees because of budget issues.

At the board’s regular monthly meeting, college President Charles Chrestman said staff members met with representatives from four staffing agencies in Robeson County on July 18 to request quotes for temporary personnel to carry out the school’s custodial needs.

The Staffing Alliance, of Lumberton, had the lowest bid and was selected to provide custodial services for the school.

Chrestman said 17 temporary staff members and one supervisor had their orientation at the school Monday morning and began work that afternoon. The last day for the 12 former employees was Friday, he said.

They were treated to a lunch and met with officials from the Employment Security Commission to discuss unemployment benefits; they also met with Bob Winfree, president of The Staffing Alliance, to discuss continuing their work at RCC through his agency, Chrestman said.

“We understood the decision you guys made and how hard that decision was, and we tried with the best of our ability to understand the tensions involved,” Winfree said. “We just wanted to treat people right.”

Chrestman said: “The former employees who worked here were very good people; some of them had been here 10 to 15 or 17 years. They understood that this was a decision the board made. What we tried to do on behalf of the board was make sure they were linked up with as many options as they were entitled to.”

In other action Monday, the board awarded a bid to re-roof two of the buildings damaged in the thunderstorms of April 16.

Davco Roofing and Sheet Metal Inc., of Charlotte, was awarded the contract to re-roof Buildings 2 and 3. Its base bid was $219,560. The company also placed an alternate bid to complete the re-roofing of Building 12, which Chrestman said is only partially re-roofed.

Chrestman said once the repairs are made, two more buildings will need new roofs, and a small storage building will also need a roof in the near future.

In other actions Monday, the board:

— Approved a resolution of appreciation for Caroline Sumpter, president of the Student Government Association. Sumpter served as president from Sept. 13, 2010, through June 30. Under her leadership, the association coordinated numerous events, including a fall festival and a series of Spring Fling events, and also took part Relay for Life and the United Way Day of Caring food drive.

— Were told of the retirement of Marilyn Locklear-Hunt, director of Learning Resource Services.

“We want our county and our state to be the very best that we can possibly be, and we are those people who make those things happen,” said Hunt, who has worked at the college since 1980. “I want to extend a very warm thanks to all of you for very positive support over the years.”

— Approved the hire of three full-time, permanent employees: Randall Channing Jones as vice president of Adult and Continuing Education; Felicia Hunt as assistant vice president of Basic Skills; and Pam Romano as Personnel Services specialist.

Staff writer Teddy Kulmala can be reached at (910) 272-6146 or tkulmala@heartlandpublications.com.