Renton Technical College students packed a lecture hall last week to speak out on issues they’d like addressed by a new college president.

“Those students felt like they had a voice, and they kept talking and talking,” said interim president Steve Hanson with a sense of admiration.

The Board of Trustees put off its search for a new college president to consider Hanson for the permanent position. The student forum was one of eight used to solicit community and college input.

There are five other colleges in the area searching for new presidents, creating stiff competition.

“When you have somebody of Steve’s caliber, you don’t want to lose someone like that,” said board chair Ronnie Behnke.

Since arriving at the college in September, Hanson has submerged himself in the campus and built relationships with students and faculty.

Though the board made it clear that Hanson wouldn’t be eligible to apply, positive feedback persuaded the trustees to look into hiring him permanently.

The board plans to interview Hanson Dec. 15. Though there is a chance it might vote on the new candidate then, the board can’t say if it will be prepared by that time, Behnke said.

The forums were also a tool trustees used to better inform themselves about campus issues

“What we need to do is make sure we’re asking the right questions,” said trustee Tyler Page, who is new to the board.

Board members made strong appearances at most of the forums.

The trustees hoped to get input on what the college’s new vision should be in the forums. However, Hanson couldn’t say what his vision would be, because he believed the most successful visions are planned collaboratively, he said.

“I really believe in a collaborative approach,” he said. “You need to have a participatory governance.”

The approach appeared to sit well with instructors.

“I like the idea that Steve wants to share that vision,” Behnke said.

The trustees looked to Hanson to help design a board governance when they hired him for the interim position.

He favors using committees, councils and task forces to govern the school.

The issue of future budget cuts was also brought to the table. Hanson plans to review last year’s process to see what worked and didn’t work, he said.

“I think the thing that’s critical is transparency,” he said.

However, he suggested that future cuts could run deeper into programs.

“People are stressed,” he said. “We have folks who are on overload already.”

He also touted financially beneficial connections in Olympia, which could spare the school in future years.

He also hopes to improve the school’s grant application process by eventually hiring a part-time grant writer.

“I might seem like a calm person, but under the surface, I’m very aggressive,” Hanson said.