The Hutchinson Community College Board of Trustees saw approval of a contract.

The board met in special session Monday and took action and approved the hiring of R. H. Perry and Associates, a search firm, for use with the Presidential search. The cost at 48-thousand dollars.

Liz Rocklin will be the lead consultant for the firm on the search. She will be assisted by Toni Murdock and Paul Doeg in working to find a replacement for Dr. Edward E. Berger, who will retire from HCC on July 1.

R. H. Perry representatives will visit campus in early January, with a goal of having candidate finalists on campus in early spring.

The next meeting of the board will be on Thursday, January 9. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the Shears Technology Center Justice Theater. The public is invited to attend.