John A. Logan College, Community College District No. 530 Board of Trustees Met March 23.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
Minutes of the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 530, Counties of Williamson, Jackson, Franklin, Perry, and Randolph, State of Illinois, held in the Hancock Conference Center at Carterville, Illinois, commencing at 6:00 p.m. Public attendance was limited in accordance with the COVID-19
Phase 4 guidelines. The meeting was available via Zoom video.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Bill Kilquist.
The Chairman directed the recording secretary to call the roll.
Rebecca Borgsmiller -- present
Ray Hancock -- present
Bill Kilquist -- present
Mandy Little -- present
Glenn Poshard -- present
Jake Rendleman -- present
Aaron Smith -- present
Joshua Payne -- present
Also present were President Kirk Overstreet, Legal Counsel Rhett Barke, Vice-President Melanie Pecord, Interim Vice Presidents Stacy Buckingham and Clay Brewer, Recording Secretary Susan May, and members of the President’s Cabinet.
Chairman Kilquist led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
There were no public comments or questions.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORTS
A. Chairman’s Report
Chairman Bill Kilquist stated that a new agenda format would be tested over the next few months to ensure everyone is comfortable with the new format.
B. Athletics Advisory Committee
No Report.
C. Building, Grounds, and Safety Committee
Trustee Jake Rendleman reported that the committee had not met but provided an update on facility projects. Renovation work on C-wing is progressing, and the asbestos abatement should be complete by the end of March. Drywall has been installed in the new admissions area, and many offices located at the rear of the second floor are nearly complete. The project completion is still on target for the end of May.
The elevator and mezzanine project is waiting on the Capital Development Board to notify the bidder of the rejection of their bid. Once this occurs, the project will be rebid. Bids for the Pedestrian Pathway Project will likely occur in April or May.
Bids were received for the Multi-Use Pathway that will run along the south edge of campus. Samron Midwest Contracting was the apparent low bidder, and upon approval, should receive a contract within the next 30-45 days. Work on this project would begin immediately.
The Baysinger Hensley Design Group (BHDG) will begin the initial design phase for the West Lobby Expansion project. The initial design phase will take approximately three months and will provide three design options for review. The overall design process will take up to twelve months.
D. Board Policy Committee
Trustee Mandy Little reported that the Board Policy Committee met on March 11, 2021, and recommend the revisions to Board Policy presented tonight for first reading. She stated that she would be available to provide clarification as needed.
E. Budget and Finance Committee
No report.
F. Integrated Technology Committee
Trustee Rebecca Borgsmiller reported that the IT Committee discussed the use of technology fees at their virtual meeting this month. Course evaluation software is being evaluated, and a recommendation is expected to be made next month. A password policy has been implemented in computer labs to provide additional security in the labs, and a new process is in place to allow students to reset their passwords. Jenzabar One is in the data evaluation stage and still on target to go live in June.
G. Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA)
Trustee Mandy Little reported that April had been declared Community College Month. Ms. Little attended the ICCTA meeting in Schaumburg on March 12 and distributed materials from the meeting to the Board. She noted that Scott Elliot was present for the Cybersecurity presentations at the conference. The Executive Director presented information on State advocacy issues, including community college baccalaureate degrees in Nursing and Early Childhood Education. Dr. Steve O’Keefe serves on the Executive Committee for the Illinois Community College Marketing Collaborative (ICCMC), which was formed to create and manage a comprehensive, statewide community college branding initiative. The Government Relations and Public Policy Report noted that the new House rules adopted for the 102nd General Assembly not only allowed for virtual committee hearings but also made the notable change of requiring all legislation filed in odd-numbered years to be discharged from the House Rules
Committee to a standing committee before the committee deadline. This will result in more and more bills being sent to subcommittees. Trustees were asked to review the bill list to weigh in on any bills they felt were pertinent for lobbyists to follow.
H. John A. Logan College Foundation
Trustee Jake Rendleman reported that the Foundation had increased funding by 63 percent this year. Nearly $400,000 in scholarship funds are available to high school students within the eleven district high schools and four private schools. New scholarships are being awarded, and there are existing scholarship endowments that are providing an increased number of scholarships this year due to the increase in funds available for distribution. In addition, several
new scholarships will be available to non-traditional students. A marketing plan will soon be in place to ensure potential students are aware of these opportunities.
Foundation Board Member, Pam Yarborough, established a $40,000 Pamela Archer Yarbrough Scholarship endowment. Jake and Carolyn Rendleman established a new $1,000 scholarship to be awarded this fall to benefit a student studying agriculture and planning to transfer to SIU Carbondale. A $30,000 endowment for the Herrin High School Principal’s Scholarship was finalized last week through a $15,000 gift from Mike Hooks. Dr. Reno Ahuja of Carbondale established a $3,000 annual scholarship for a Carbondale High School student, and Ameren is funding $24,000 in scholarships for minority students in Construction Management or Heating and Air Conditioning programs at John A. Logan College.
I. Student Trustee Joshua Payne
Student Trustee Joshua Payne reported that a virtual panel discussion had been scheduled in honor of Women’s History Month. The Student Senate Project will address textbook costs, the need for students to access their funds, and the accessibility of classroom materials. Student Senate members will meet with administrators to discuss how to best implement changes. Mr. Payne stated that it had been an honor to serve John A. Logan College's students and congratulated Victor Frankel on his election to serve as Student Trustee for the next year.
FACULTY ASSOCIATION REPORTS
A. Faculty Association Report
President Robert McKenzie reported that the Executive Committee members had met with President Overstreet to discuss class schedules for fall and noted that he had received positive feedback on the decision to have an in-person graduation ceremony in DuQuoin this year.
B. Adjunct Faculty Association Report
No report.
C. Logan Operational Staff Association Report
No report.
PRESIDENT’S CABINET REPORTS
A. Clay Brewer, Interim Vice-President for Administration
Dr. Brewer reported that the men's and women’s golf teams were off to a great start, with the women winning the Kokopelli and Rend Lake tournaments. The Women’s Volleyball Team will host the Region 24 tournament this weekend.
The Logan Fitness Center is seeing an increase in visitors, and enrollment is up 32 percent for the second half block fitness courses this spring.
B. Stacy Buckingham, Interim Vice-President for Business Services & College Facilities
Ms. Buckingham reported that the College received $4.1 million in Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRSSA). Guidance has been received from the Department of Education, which will allow institutions to look at revenue loss.
The College has received approximately 70 percent of state payments and 99 percent of the property tax revenue budgeted. As of January 31, operating cash and investments were at 32 percent of the FY21 budgeted operating expenditures.
C. Melanie Pecord, Vice-President for Instructional Services
Dr. Pecord announced plans for summer camps for kids ages 10 – 12 to provide educational opportunities and acclimate kids to John A. Logan College at an earlier age. The camps will focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects, including robotics, computer forensics, physics, and biology.
The Illinois Community College Board has approved a new Associate in Applied Science Ag Management program. Enrollment continues to build in the agriculture programs at John A. Logan College.
D. President Kirk Overstreet
President Overstreet reported that the website had been upgraded to include a Title IX button to direct individuals to appropriate resources and a student button that directly leads to application and registration information at John A. Logan College. An About Us page including the history and facts of the College has also been added to the website.
The College partnered with Bi-County Health to provide a vaccination clinic for College employees and their families, and approximately 200 individuals received vaccinations on campus on March 19. A follow-up vaccine is scheduled for April 16. Currently, we are planning for a full return to campus on May 17 while maintaining mask mandates and social distancing.
Screening will continue for the fall, and we look forward to returning to a regular schedule for athletics, events, and plays in the spring.
PRESENTATIONS
Ambulance Project Presentation
Associate Dean for Career and Technical Education Scott Wernsman presented information to the Board on an ambulance project for the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) programs at John A. Logan College. The Jackson County Ambulance Service donated an ambulance to the College, which is being renovated by students in the applied technology programs to create a real-world simulation for EMS/EMT students.
Recognition of Student Trustee
Chairman Kilquist recognized Joshua Payne with a plaque for his service to the College as Student Trustee.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS (NON-ACTIONABLE)
A. Revisions to Board Policies for First Reading
Revisions to Board Policy were presented for first reading as recommended by the Board Policy Committee per Board Policy 2710. The revisions will also be made available for employee input and presented to the Board for final approval in April.
B. Personnel Information Items
The Board of Trustees were informed of the resignations and retirements approved by President Overstreet.
C. Contractual Network Engineering Services
President Overstreet informed the Board of a short-term contract agreement with Capitol Strategies to provide a local contractor qualified to perform the duties of a Network Engineer, which has been cost-effective and very beneficial to the department’s resources. With the increased demand for monitoring network systems, The Information Technology Network department will request funds in the FY 2022 budget to rewrite the short-term agreement to an annual contract to be presented to the Board of Trustees for consideration at a future meeting.
CONSENT AGENDA
Chairman Kilquist asked if there were any items on the Consent Agenda that the Board would like to pull out to discuss and vote on separately. There were no requests to pull any items from the Consent Agenda.
Mandy Little and Glenn Poshard moved and seconded that the Board of Trustees approve Consent Agenda items A – I as recommended.
Upon roll call, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.
(Resolution #16-4211)
A. Minutes of February 23, 2021, Regular Meeting
B. Content of Closed Session Minutes of February 23, 2021
C. Treasurer’s and Financial Report for the period ending January 31, 2021 (Appendix I) D. Expenditure List for the period ending February 28, 2021 (Appendix II) E. Student Trustee Election Results (Appendix III)
The Board of Trustees approved the results of the 2021-2022 Student Trustee Election held on March 3, 2021; declared Victor M. Frankel the winner of the election; and authorized the seating of Mr. Frankel for a one-year term as student trustee beginning April 15, 2021.
F. Multi-Use Path Resolution (Appendix IV)
The Board of Trustee approved an amendment to Board Resolution #16-3625, originally adopted on November 28, 2017, to increase the matching fund requirement for the Multi-Use Path project.
G. SURS Deferred Compensation Plan Resolution (Appendix V)
The Board of Trustees approved the resolution and employer participation agreement to adopt the SURS Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), effective June 30, 2021.
H. FY21 Campus Computer Purchases (Appendix VI)
The Board of Trustees approved the purchase of 233 Dell computers totaling $200,529.69. I. Personnel Action Items (Appendix VII)
The Board of Trustees approved recommendations for the employment of two full-time biology instructors, department chair appointment, full-time faculty academic rank, employment of a full-time director for Childcare Resource and Referral, and the ratification of workforce development staff.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Chairman Kilquist stated that it was desirable to take necessary action to adjourn into closed session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c) to discuss pending litigation and the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific individuals.
Mandy Little and Jake Rendleman moved and seconded that the Board of Trustees adjourn into closed session.
Upon roll call, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.
(Resolution #16-4212)
The meeting was declared in closed session at 7:07 p.m.
The meeting was declared back in regular session at 8:53 p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A moment of silence was held for the victims of the mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado, on March 22, 2021. Chairman Kilquist thanked the Campus Police for their service to John A. Logan College.
Chairmen Kilquist noted that monetary gifts should be brought before the Board to determine whether the project can be afforded or not.
Chairman Kilquist announced that this was Trustee Ray Hancock’s last regular meeting and thanked him for his service and all that he had done for John A. Logan College as President and John A. Logan College Board member.
Chairman Kilquist named Trustees Rebecca Borgsmiller and Aaron Smith to serve as the Nominating Committee for the election of Board officers in April. Trustees who desire to serve as an officer of the Board should submit a letter of intent to the Nominating Committee by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 16. Nominations will also be taken from the floor.
Trustee Jake Rendleman expressed his appreciation to the Board of Trustees and staff for the lab dedication in the Agriculture Department.
ADJOURNMENT
Jake Rendleman and Aaron Smith moved and seconded that the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees be adjourned.
Upon roll call, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.
(Resolution #16-4213)
The meeting was duly adjourned at 9:02 p.m.
https://www.jalc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/8.A-MIN-03-23-21.pdf
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