The future of Southwestern Oregon Community College’s president, Judith Hansen, does not rest with the three employee groups that voted no-confidence in her earlier this month. It resides with the seven members of the Board of Education.

Unlike Southwestern’s employees, the board members have decided to reserve judgment until they hear from a team of consultants charged with listening to campus concerns.

Since the subject of Hansen’s job performance has arisen, the board has segmented into three camps. One has consistently called for an investigation, citing concerns about finances, public safety and personnel decisions. Another has faith in Hansen’s continued leadership.

Then there are the swing voters. They have demonstrated confidence in Hansen, though they believe it is important to delve into concerns raised by staff to make sure nothing has slipped by the board.

The first group includes three of the four current board members who hired Hansen in 2005. The swing voters are the most recently elected members. All the board members live in North Bend except one of Hansen’s strongest supporters and one of her most vehement critics.

Here’s a summary of the board members and their viewpoints:

The swing voters

Lonny Anderson, 47, of North Bend, board member since 2005, services manager

The board appointed him to replace Dan Smith. Anderson became chairman of the board in July 2007. He sees the hiring of Oregon School Boards Association as more of an inquiry into campus culture rather than focusing on Hansen.

“We have to be fair to Dr. Hansen and we have to be fair to employees,” he said. “I want to make sure we have due process.”

Rick Howell, 60, of North Bend, board member since 2007, retired school administrator

He worked with Hansen while he was superintendent of South Coast Education Service District. The hiring of OSBA was to determine the underlying cause of personnel issues.

“We can’t develop a real solution until we have defined the problem,” he said. “We have a good board. I think we have people with different ways of looking at this.”

Hansen’s supporters

Carol Oelke, 67, of North Bend, board member since 2001, housewife

Oelke was the only board member who initially did not support hiring the OSBA. She said Hansen should be applauded for producing a budget that provided pay increases without including layoffs during troubled economic times.

“I lend my full support to Dr. Hansen. I think she is very professional and very much has the interests of the college as her prime concern,” she said.

Cherie Mitchell, 74, of Brookings, board member since 2005, business owner

The lone board member from Curry County, Mitchell appreciates the work Hansen has done to improve the college’s reach farther south. She thinks the problems started with a few employees who have been able to gather others to follow suit. She is worried talented employees will be driven away by the squabbles.

“Community colleges are the way to take care of a lot of people in a lot of areas and do it quickly,” she said. “Judith has been a mastermind in doing that.”

Hansen critics

Harry Abel, 59, of Coos Bay, board member since 2003, business owner and college alumnus

Abel has brought six resolutions before the board outlining employee grievances. He also made a motion to put Hansen on paid administrative leave based upon the college staff votes of no-confidence.

“There is apprehension and disappointment that we as a board haven’t grasped the magnitude of (staff’s) votes of no-confidence,” he said.

Marcia Jensen, 58, of North Bend, board member since 2000,  business manager

She served as board chairwoman for four years, including the first two of Hansen’s tenure. She said she was incredibly pleased with Hansen the first two years, then began hearing about problems from staff. Jen-sen would have liked to have dealt with the issues in February rather than postponing action.

“No one is more disappointed than I am about the situation,” she said. “Why can’t we admit it’s not a good fit?”

David Bridgham, 63, of North Bend, board member since 1998, business owner

He is the longest-serving member of the board. He served as president of the Oregon Community College Association where he met all the other community college presidents in Oregon. He does not think Hansen’s management style works at Southwestern.

“The strife is there,” he said. “It is palpable.”