John A. Logan College Board of Trustees Feb. 4.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
Minutes of the special meeting of the Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 530, Counties of Williamson, Jackson, Franklin, Perry, and Randolph, State of Illinois, held at Carterville, Illinois, on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, commencing at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was open to the public and streamed on the College’s YouTube channel.
Chairman Aaron R. Smith called the meeting to order and directed the recording secretary to call the roll.
Rebecca Borgsmiller — present
Brent Clark — present
Bill Kilquist — present
Mandy Little — not present
Glenn Poshard — present
Jake Rendleman — present
Aaron R. Smith — present
Zoren Anako Mohamad Ali — present
Also in attendance were President Dr. Kirk Overstreet, Legal Counsel Rhett Barke, Provost Dr. Stephanie Chaney Hartford, Vice President of Business Services and CFO Dr. Susan LaPanne, Recording Secretary Pixie Vaughn, and other College personnel.
Chairman Smith led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
None
Presentations
Admissions/Enrollment – April Martinez, Director of Enrollment Management & Kaylee Smith, Registrar
Special Merit Awards – Dr. Overstreet presented Certificates to Kassi Teal, Madison Calvin, and Corene Sizemore for their professionalism, bravery, and decisive action. Their commitment to training and calm, coordinated response made a life-saving difference for a patron exercising at Logan Fitness.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORTS
A. Chairman’s Report
No Report
B. Athletics Advisory Committee
Trustee Brent Clark reported that the Boys’ Basketball Team was playing at Southeastern tonight against Wabash Valley. On Saturday, they will travel to Kaskaskia. Trustee Jake Rendleman reported that they beat the number one team, Vincennes, at Vincennes. That was a huge win for the team.
C. Building, Grounds, and Safety Committee
Trustee Jake Rendleman reported that the CTC RENOVATION/CONSTRUCTION (EDA Grant) – H Building (HVAC program): The Drywall installation is nearing completion. Window installation will begin soon. Welding/CNC Manufacturing Building: Foundation work is complete, along with most electrical and plumbing installations. The concrete floor will be poured once weather conditions improve and the snow melts. Vocational Building (Automotive Programs): HVAC, electrical, and plumbing work continue to progress on schedule. This project is on schedule. WEST LOBBY EXPANSION [LOGAN HALL] (CDB): Structural issues are still being resolved; however, preparatory work for the project is ongoing. Structural repairs are currently estimated to take up to 90 days to be completed. Repair work on the Administration Building is scheduled to begin within the next 3 weeks and is expected to take approximately 30 days. 3RD FLOOR NURSING RENOVATION (FEDERAL GRANT): With board approval tonight, the construction contract will be awarded to HE Mitchell Construction of Harrisburg. Construction is expected to begin within the next 2 months and will take approximately 9 months to complete. MULTI-ROOM FLOORING PROJECT: Each year, funds are allocated for flooring replacement in high‑priority areas across campus. This year’s work includes the Student Services corridor and the elevated glass tunnel between C Wing and the D Building. With board approval tonight, this project will begin within the next few weeks.
D. Board Policy Committee
Trustee Borgsmiller reported that the Board Policy Committee is in the final stretch of its initial review of the JALC Board Policy Manual. Thank you all for your consideration and input as we have worked our way through this critical document. We have no policies under consideration at this meeting. However, we do expect to have a few policies (three) ready for review at our next meeting, with final approval slated for March. Once those policies are approved, we’ll begin an annual review cycle to ensure the manual remains compliant with all relevant laws and regulations. In addition, the FY 2027 review will analyze how each policy is categorized, and we may suggest moving some policies to different articles for clarity.
E. Budget and Finance Committee
Trustee Brent Clark directed the report to Dr. Susan LaPanne. She stated that the Board Finance Committee would meet before the next Board Meeting. Dr. LaPanne reported that they are finishing the final pieces of their audit and will then present the audit report to the board. They are also working on the preliminary official statements regarding the upcoming Bond Issuance. The Finance Committee will review all those items.
F. Enrollment Committee
Chairman Smith reported that they will meet in February.
G. Integrated Technology Committee
No Report
H. Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA)
No Report
I. John A. Logan College Foundation
Trustee Jake Rendleman reported that Tickets are now on sale for Glo Bingo, a fundraiser benefiting the Promise Scholarship Program. The event will take place on Friday, March 13, with both individual tickets and tables of eight available for purchase. Tickets are on sale on the Foundation Website. The Foundation has received a generous donation of land from a Carbondale donor. The property will be listed for sale later this month, with proceeds designated for the purchase of equipment for the CTE construction project. Next month, Foundation donor Frank Cluck will visit campus for a tour and to formally present the Foundation with a $300,000 check to establish a scholarship endowment. In December and January, JALC received grant awards that total $620,068. These grant awards are as follows:
Illinois Community College Board (ICCB): Total grant awards $550,068
1. Noncredit Strategies at Work (CPR)
2. Strengthening Mental Health Supports
3. Trades School (Nursing)
Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE): Total $20,000
1. Nursing School Fellowships for 2 faculty to continue education
Grow Your Own – Illinois: $50,000
J. Student Trustee
Student Trustee Zoren Anako Mohamad Ali stated that in her previous report, she mentioned that her role as Chair of the Student Voice Committee within the Student Senate includes working on Student Voice Projects based on the results of the Student Voice Survey. One of their projects, the “Student Senate Food Access Proposal”, was finalized last semester. This semester, they will focus on revitalizing campus maps and improving navigation across the college. Due to construction and changes to campus access, she felt this project was especially important now more than ever. In addition to being the Student Trustee, she also works at the Welcome Desk, which is now located at the E-Wing Entrance across from the coffee shop. The change in location has been beneficial, allowing her to interact more with the student body. Due to the closure of the main entrance, students have been redirected to the E Wing as their primary campus entrance, creating a funnel effect on all student activity. In the first couple of weeks of the semester, she helped many students navigate the campus, which has been challenging for them since many are new, and our returning students can’t rely on the usual paths they took due to construction. Many offices near the construction area have also been displaced, which has been quite confusing for students trying to reach them. She has perfected the art of giving directions to students using the available maps, and she has walked some students between their classes, helping them find the shortest route to their next destination. This firsthand experience has provided valuable insight and direct feedback, informing her on how to move forward with the Maps and Navigation Student Voice Project. The Student Voice Committee has developed an initial outline and will continue refining it as they move forward. While they have not yet been able to meet this semester due to scheduling conflicts and cancellations, she plans to share updates on their progress in future reports. As this is her final semester at John A. Logan College, she anticipates transitioning responsibility for this project to the next Student Senate leaders and the next appointed Student Trustee. Student Trustee petitions are now available, and she was glad to have received emails from motivated students interested in the position. She plans to prepare a transitional document that outlines her experience serving on the Board, along with guidance and insights to support the future Student Trustee.
ASSOCIATION REPORTS
No Report
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP REPORTS
President Kirk Overstreet reported on the third flood B-Wing Nursing Renovation. The project was estimated to cost $1,630,000.00, and the bid came in at $1,631,900.00, which was $1900 over. That was less than 0.02%. They are very excited about it. It just goes to show how important the projects are to our local workers. Dr. Overstreet stated it had been a pleasure working with the architect. The architect will be working with them on the FMP. FMP will be at the college in March, and they will be hosting some open houses and gathering data from the community, students, faculty, and staff. It will be a very detailed FMP with long-term internal controls. Dr. Overstreet stated it had been a very busy semester and gave an enrollment update. He stated that they usually decline in numbers in spring, but they are up 4.2% in headcount from last year. They are up 1.6 % in credit hours. That is the on-campus students, and when Dual Credit is added in, they are at 16.8% headcount and 10.8% in credit hours. Dr. Overstreet reported on the construction and office relocations. He reported that the college held its third annual Martin Luther King Celebration. It was a big success with over 250 people attending the breakfast. The keynote speakers were Jeff McGoy, Vice President of Student Affairs at Shawnee Community College, and Dr. Jamal Randy Allen Rasheed, a highly respected leader in the African American Community. They also had community donations for the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Illinois. They had coats, food, and money donated that morning. It continues to grow every year. Dr. Overstreet stated that there is a lot going on, but he has been preparing for the ACCT Legislative National Summit. He and Jennifer have been on Zoom calls with the state’s Legislative Affairs Committee, and they will all meet as a group with Mr. Bost. They think it will be more effective than having each of them schedule individual meetings. They also get to meet with Senators Duckworth and Durbin. They will bring back information from the Summit on what is happening in Washington and with the Federal Government. The big thing will be strengthening workforce development pipelines, supporting the Federal Pell Grant and student aid programs, advancing rural broadband and campus infrastructure needs, and elevating the success metrics for funding priorities at Illinois Community Colleges. The ICCP group, the President’s group, is the strongest that he has seen since it since he has been at John A. Logan College. They are working together in one voice and in unity to move things forward.
PROVOST
Dr. Stephanie Hartford reported:
Spring 2026 Highlights – Provost Division
Student Affairs – Student Use of Services, January 5 to 22
Fall 2025 Credentials Awarded | |
Certificates | 118 |
Degrees | 89 |
Advisement | |
In-Person | 480 students |
Phone | 361 students |
119 students | |
Total | 960 students (this was an increase in 96 students) |
Enrollment Management/Recruitment & Retention | |
Saturday Sign-up | 40 |
Coffee & College Workshop65 | 55 parents & students |
Retention Alerts Submitted | 109 |
Alert Closed (students retained) | 51 |
Alert Closed (students not retained) | 28 |
Open Alerts | 21 |
*Faculty submit alerts for at-risk students. Enrollment Management contact students via phone call and email during the first week of classes. Once late registration ends Academic Advisement takes over managing their advisee alert caseload. | |
Financial Aid | |
In-Person | 194 students |
*95% of enrolled, Pell-eligible students have completed their financial aid files. | |
Testing | |
In-Person | 62 students |
TRiO and Disability Support | |
In-Person | 65 students |
DSS Accommodations Processed | 237 |
Welcome Back Events for New & Continuing Students
Student Development Events | ||
Navigation Stations Tables | Just note we do them. No numbers tracked. | |
Wednesday, January 14 | Pancake Breakfast | 109 students |
Thursday, January 15 | Best Year Yet | 34 students |
Retention Efforts
Online Learner Usage Reports | ||
*Report identifies students who have not accessed their online courses. Enrollment Management contact students via email. | ||
Wednesday, August 13 | Learner Usage Report #1 | |
Thursday, August 18 | Learner Usage Report #2 | |
Academic Affairs
Teaching & Learning Center | ||
Thursday, January 8 | ADA Compliance Training | 80 |
January 5 to 23 | Individual Assistance to faculty & staff | 204 |
January 5 to 23 | Individual Student Assistance | 145 |
Health Sciences & Nursing | ||
EMS | Congratulations to Dr. Benjamin Brewer, EMS Faculty, Dr. Kristin Yosanovich, Dean of Health Science and Director of Nursing, and special thanks to Specialist II, Tracie Zoller for their work on an accreditation visit that occurred during our snow event. On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, during the exit interview, our EMS program was informed that reviewers found no findings during their visit. They commended the staff for its excellent program. Peer reviewers will submit their recommendations to the CoAEMSP—The Committee on Accreditation for the EMS Professions board who will officially vote on the accreditation of our EMS program in the near future. | |
CTE and Workforce Training | ||
Perkins Assistance | 195 students receiving assistance for SP 2026 | |
HCCTP | 16 students will be starting the program on Feb. 2nd | |
Workforce CPR – | Nine sections of CPR courses scheduled in SP26 with Sevita Health. Jessica Short, Workforce Healthcare Coordinator, continued a partnership that started in FL25 with Sevita Health. The nine sections are for Basic Life Support (BLS) classes. In FL25, there were 13 sections completed by 119 students. | |
Faculty Achievement | ||
EMS | Dr. Benjamin Brewer, new EMS faculty member, was selected as one of 23 speakers in the world to present at the annual International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) Conference on November 12 to 15, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He spoke on a topic called “Should I Stay, or Should I Go?” about actual patients and focusing on those who can be saved. The lecture focused on the delays that occur when EMS providers allocate resources to those who research has proven they won’t survive. It was aimed at focusing EMS on viable patients and improving outcomes for those critically injured who benefit from quick intervention. | |
Grants
Award Recipient | Amount and Scope of Work |
Workforce Training | $126,471.25 grant received from Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (IL DCEO) Funds will be used to start a Smart Machine Maintenance Tech(SMMT) program in Workforce Training. Students will learn to fix appliances, vending machines, etc. |
Communication, Humanities, and Social Science Department | $50,000 GYO (Grow Your Own) Investing in Illinois Community College Teacher Pathways for Community-Connected Males |
Vice-President of Business Services and CFO
The Vice-President of Business Services and CFO reported that she had a report placed in each board member’s area. The reason for the report was that she and Dr. Overstreet felt it was important that the Trustees be walked through the finances. Dr. LaPanne shared what was on the Treasurer’s Report and what it meant. Dr. LaPanne reported on the Debt Certificates, which occurred around January 19, 2026. They have received their $20 million, and the Debt Certificate Issuance was successful. Dr. LaPanne stated that tonight, the board would provide her with a resolution regarding the BINA Hearing. That was done with the last set of bonds, and that was the Public Hearing where the district’s taxpayers could come and ask what we are doing, what the plan is, and how we are going to pay for this debt service. Tonight, you will be asked about the BINA Hearing, and you will receive the report on how the bonds will be spent. The upcoming process through the rest of February and March will be the publication of the preliminary offer statement. They will also undergo a credit rating update for each issuance of debt certificates and bonds. The Funding Bonds are to be sold on April 6, 2026, with a closing on April 27, 2026. The other item on the informational agenda is Bond Arbitrage. The Arbitrage tax was over $200,000, which is a required payment. Dr. LaPanne stated that if they had any questions or concerns, she would be happy to meet with them.
PRESIDENT’S CABINET
No Report
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
A. Personnel
President Overstreet accepted the retirement of Beth Rosendahl, Manager of Career Services, effective February 28, 2026. He accepted the resignation of Jasmine Henry, Specialist I, effective January 15, 2026. and other, Naomi Itokazu, Professional Tutor/Advisor, effective January 12, 2026, changing from professional staff to Adjunct Instructor, and Tyler Staats, Manager of Manufacturing Training, effective January 16, 2026, changing from Full-Time to Part-Time.
B. Bond Arbitrage Rebate
The College engaged Hilltop Securities Asset Management for arbitrage rebate compliance services. The final arbitrage rebate computation period for the General Obligation Community College Bonds, Series 2020A, ended on December 1, 2025, and payment was due to the United States Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, no later than January 30, 2026. Hilltop Securities Asset Management’s calculation covered the investment of gross proceeds from December 29, 2020 (the delivery date of the Bonds) through December 1, 2025 (the final computation date). Based upon their computations, the arbitrage was $205,790.93. This amount was paid to the United States Treasury on January 27, 2026, to satisfy our obligation associated with the Bonds.
CONSENT AGENDA
Chairman Smith asked if there were any Consent Agenda items the Board would like to pull for further discussion or a separate vote. Hearing none, Chairman Smith presented Consent Agenda items A–M for approval.
A. Approved the Multi-Area Flooring Replacement Project
Approved the flooring replacement projects for a total cost of $41,255.00.
B. Approved the purchase of Workstations for the Electric Vehicle
Approved the purchase of the APX MEGAMODMRO – 614 Piece Mobile Workstations for $65,031.36.
C. Approved the Office Computer Replacements
Approved the purchase of 190 computers for a total cost of $178,650.00.
D. Approved the Modern Campus Renewal
Approved the continued subscription of Acalog, Curriculog, and Pathways in the amount of $34,483.37.
E. Approved the Welding 1-Year Certificate Program
Approved the CBE Welding 1-Year Certificate Program, effective Fall 2026.
F. Approved the B-Wing Third Floor Nursing Renovation
Approved the renovation project for a total cost of $1,631,900.00.
G. Approved the Academic Calendar 2027-2028
Approved the 2027-2028 Academic Calendar as presented.
H. Approved the Personnel Action Items (Appendix A)
Approved the employment and ratification of personnel as recommended by President Overstreet.
I. Approved the Expenditure Report for the period ending November 30, 2025 & December 31, 2025
Approved the monthly Expenditure Report for the period ending November 30, 2025 & December 31, 2025.
J. Approved the Treasurer’s and Financial Report for the period ending October 31, 2025 & November 30, 2025
Approved the Treasurer’s and Financial Report for the period ending October 31, 2025 & November 30, 2025.
K. Approved the content of Closed Session Minutes of November 25, 2025
Approved the content of the Closed Session Minutes of November 25, 2025.
L. Approved the content of Closed Session Minutes of January 5, 2026
Approved the content of the Closed Session Minutes of January 5, 2026.
M. Approved the Minutes of the January 5, 2026, Special Meeting
Approved the minutes of the January 5, 2026, Special Meeting.
Jake Rendleman and Dr. Glenn Poshard moved and seconded that the Board of Trustees approve Consent Agenda Items A–M, as presented.
Upon roll call, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.
(Resolution #16-4433)
NEW BUSINESS (Roll Call Vote)
A. Resolution setting forth and describing in detail claims heretofore authorized and allowed for proper community college purposes which are presently outstanding and unpaid, declaring the intention to avail of the provisions of Article 3A of the Public Community College Act of the State of Illinois, as amended, and to issue bonds in a principal amount not to exceed $22,000,000 for the purpose of paying claims against the District and directing that notice of such intention be published as provided by law.
Jake Rendleman and Dr. Brent Clark moved and seconded that the Board of Trustees approve the Resolution setting forth and describing in detail what was presented in Item A of New Business.
Upon roll call, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.
(Resolution #16-4434)
B. Resolution calling a public hearing concerning the intent of the Board of Trustees to sell $22,000,000 Funding Bonds.
Dr. Glenn Poshard and Jake Rendleman moved and seconded that the Board of Trustees approve the Resolution calling a public hearing as presented in Item B of New Business.
Upon roll call, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.
(Resolution #16-4435)
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Legal Counsel Rhett Barke said it was desirable to go into closed session in accordance with 5 ILCS 120/2(c), Item 1& 8. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, and Building Safety.
Dr. Brent Clark and Dr. Glenn Poshard moved and seconded that the Board of Trustees approve entering into Executive Session, as presented by Legal Counsel Rhett Barke.
Upon roll call, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.
(Resolution #16-4436)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
ADJOURNMENT
Dr. Brent Clark and Jake Rendleman moved and seconded that the special meeting of the Board of Trustees be adjourned.
Upon roll call, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.
(Resolution #16-4437)
The meeting was duly adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
https://www.jalc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/min_02_04_26.pdf
