North Egypt News

John A. Logan College Board of Trustees met June 17.

Here are 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 at Carterville, Illinois, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, commencing at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was open to the public and streamed on the College's YouTube channel.

Chairman Aaron 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 -- present

Glenn Poshard -- present

Jake Rendleman -- present

Aaron R. Smith -- present

Zoren Anako Mohamad Ali -- present

Also present 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 COMMENTS

Trustee Bill Kilquist shared his concerns about the Open Meetings Act and whether a committee had followed the procedures. It was his understanding that all committee meetings were open meetings. Chairman Smith asked Rhett Barke, Legal Counsel, to look into it and report back in August.

Presentations

None

BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORTS

A. Chairman's Report

Chairman Aaron Smith congratulated the President on becoming part of the leadership of the Illinois Community College Presidents’ Council. Dr. Overstreet was named Secretary/Treasurer of the council. It is a four-year commitment and will progress through the leadership ranks.

B. Football Exploratory Committee

Chairman Smith reported that he, Dr. Clark, Dr. Overstreet, and a few others from the college had met. It was an excellent starting point. They discussed how to bring a hundred new bodies (male and female sports) onto campus at minimal to no cost to the college. The next meeting is scheduled for August, and they hope to have more information to share with the board.

C. Athletics Advisory Committee

No Report

D. Building, Grounds, and Safety Committee

Vice-Chair Jake Rendleman reported that the Administration is working to finalize the ribbon-cutting dates for the Jerry Bechtel Plaque. The plaque is complete, and the bench details are being worked out. C & E Wing Renovation (CDB) – The construction work for this project is nearing completion, and the furniture is expected to arrive next week. The Glass Elevator is scheduled to ship in July, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of September. Baseball/Softball Player Facility (HB Foundation) – The netting and Turf will be installed over the next 3-4 weeks. The exterior signage and grading will also be completed within the next three to four weeks. The substantial completion is expected to occur in July. The CTE Renovation/Construction (EDA Grant) bid opening will be on July 1. The board will vote on the contractor in July, and construction is expected to begin in August. West Lobby Expansion (CDB) – This project is scheduled to rebid at the end of July, with construction set to begin in the fall.

E. Board Policy Committee

Trustee Becky Borgsmiller reported that they have eleven policies for first reading. There are some updates and language changes, and more updates are expected next month.

F. Budget and Finance Committee

Trustee Dr. Brent Clark reported that they had a Finance Committee meeting a few weeks ago with Dr. LaPanne and Dr. Overstreet. They discussed what a bond offering might look like, and Dr. Clark turned it over to Dr. LaPanne for further discussion. Dr. LaPanne stated that the committee provided excellent insight into their feelings of security regarding the bond issuance that they will be proposing. The presentation will be at the July board meeting. She received advice from the two trustees regarding the bond issuances, and they reviewed the current bond market. Dr. LaPanne reported on the meetings that she had with the PMA. Then, they provided a brief overview of the projects that the first bond could fund, as well as those that the second potential bond could fund. She is currently ensuring that the Finance Committee receives all the necessary information and then passes it on to the Building Committee to discuss the sources of funds they will seek through bonds. Dr. LaPanne stated that she wants to ensure it is done properly, so there is no potential negative impact on the taxpayers in the district.

G. Enrollment Committee

Chairman Aaron Smith reported that he and Trustee Borgsmiller had met with Dr. Overstreet to begin examining past trends and where they have been, as well as where they are going. Things are on track in a good way for fall.

H. Integrated Technology Committee

Trustee Mandy Little reported that, in addition to the informational and consent agenda items, ADP: Payroll is going live! ADP will generate the July 7th pay. Time and attendance through ADP will be live in August. Online College Catalog: The 2024-2025 catalog is live, and the 2025-2026 catalog is being updated by our C&I team. They will be kicking off the Curriculum component in July. Disaster Recovery: The off-site Disaster Recovery Site is operational. Electronic door access: This is working on a few internal doors without issues. Contractors will be on-site this week to continue work on the external doors between the campus police and the administration building.

I. Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA)

Trustee Mandy Little reported that the Governor’s budget included a 3% increase in equalization. The base operating budget received a 1% increase, followed by a contingent fund with an additional 2% for base operating. That was pending approval from the Governor. Trustee Little stated that what they heard from ICCTA and ICCB was that, within a few months into the fiscal year, it will hopefully be released. All of the other programs were level-funded and survived. Also, the new Leadership was elected.

J. John A. Logan College Foundation

Trustee Jake Rendleman reported that the John A. Logan College Assistant Professor, Crystal Young, was honored with the announcement of a new nursing scholarship in her name. Former student Hannah Hooks, now a Registered Nurse, and her father, Michael Hooks, established the Crystal Young Nursing Scholarship to recognize Young’s lasting impact on students. Additionally, a $50,000 gift from a new Foundation donor has created the Staley Family Nursing Endowment for ADN program students. With these two gifts, nursing students now have access to $100,000 in new endowments, further supporting their education.

K. Student Trustee

Student Trustee Zoren Anako Mohamad Ali reported that Today marks our first Board Meeting since the end of the spring semester and our recent graduation ceremony. The summer term officially began on June 2nd. While the campus has been relatively quiet—due to the majority of summer students taking online classes— there is still a lot of energy and activity happening behind the scenes. Many students are staying engaged through extracurriculars and preparing for upcoming events in the fall. Our cosmetology students, for example, are currently on campus honing their skills and building their professional portfolios. Just yesterday, I had the opportunity to be one of their models for a hair and makeup practice. It was an incredibly fun and inspiring experience to witness their creativity and growing talent firsthand. We also have two more orientation days for incoming students quickly approaching—one this Thursday at 9:00 a.m. and another on Wednesday, July 23rd, at 1:00 p.m. These orientations play a key role in helping students get acquainted with the campus, supported by our student ambassadors and dedicated staff. At the most recent orientation, I had the pleasure of introducing myself and connecting with high schoolers who are eager to begin their college journey here at John A. Logan. Their excitement reminded me just how transformative this place can be. In addition, I recently had the honor of writing a letter in my role as Student Trustee, in partnership with the John A. Logan Foundation and its generous donors. The goal was to raise funds to help students cover the cost of their textbooks—an issue that remains a significant barrier for many. This initiative is especially meaningful to me because no student should have to choose between financial stability and access to their course materials. As Student Trustee, I take my responsibility to represent and advocate for all students very seriously, and I will continue to amplify the voices of those who rely on these vital resources to succeed.

ASSOCIATION REPORTS

A. Faculty Associations Report

Jane Bryant shared her concerns about when retirees' email access ends. She noted that when students reach out to retirees for letters of recommendation, they sometimes require additional information that they cannot recall without access to the D2L records. She wanted to know if there was a way to access D2L. Dr. Overstreet stated that he, Scott, and the Registrar could look into some possibilities. Mr. Barke shared that when a person is no longer an employee at the college, the question arises as to whether that person should still have access to student records. Dr. Overstreet stated that they could have a conversation about putting something in place to make it easier for faculty.

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP REPORTS

President Kirk Overstreet would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2025 graduation, and there were a large number of people from the custodial staff, police force, student affairs, academic affairs, IT, and many other departments. It was a great event, and he heard great feedback. There were 240 that walked and 480 that graduated this year. He gave a shout-out to Carmen Cutsinger, who works with the graduation committee to make it all work. Dr. Overstreet thanked Chairman Smith for recognizing the Executive Council. He is excited to serve as Secretary/Treasurer this year and then transition into leadership roles. He is also excited about the impact it will have not only on John A. Logan College but also on the college regionally. He shared that he works hard to maintain and foster relationships with his fellow presidents in Southern Illinois, enabling them to collaborate effectively. They are working on creating a coalition to bring Mr. Bost and Mr. Severin together and explain to them the impacts that some of the bills will have on the students. President Overstreet stated that he and Jennifer Fuller met with Katie Keller from Senator Duckworth’s office. She is a strong proponent of education, as well as Dick Durbin. He shared that he would be in Peoria to participate in the Higher Education Futures Table. They will be discussing Federal Landscape, Equity Plans, and forthcoming communities of practice across the state. Dr. Overstreet stated he will be serving on the presidential panel for Community College Funding in Illinois. He stated that the dual credit bill had passed, but he was unsure if the Governor had signed it. He shared that John A. Logan is part of NACEP, and there were only two colleges in the state that are part of it. The accreditation standards are difficult. He stated that Rachel and her team worked on it this year to make sure that we maintain that accreditation. They are examining how Dual Credit can align with ICCB regulations and systems to ensure its effectiveness in our communities.

Provost Dr. Stephanie Chaney Hartford reported:

The College submitted its required HLC Interim Monitoring Report on May 21, 2025. This report addresses their progress on Assessment and Planning. The Higher Learning Commission reviewed the Report and responded on May 30th to inform the College that no further action is required. Their Report Analysis stated, “The John A. Logan College interim report is a responsive and thorough document that attends to the areas of focus articulated by the peer review document in 2022. It provides sufficient evidence of the transformation that has taken place within the timeframe since the 2022 Assurance Review. It utilizes extensive supporting evidence, including numerous appendices and hyperlinks, that further illustrate the narrative and help make a compelling case. The interim report satisfies the expectations outlined by the peer review team, while conveying expectations for how the institution envisions its attempt to provide continuous improvement in the future.” They concluded, “The John A. Logan College interim report reflects an institutional commitment to educational achievement and improvement through a systematic approach to integrated planning and assessment of student learning. The institution is a “work in progress,” with only two years applied to an institutional aspiration that will hopefully bear greater productivity and success by the time the institution completes its next reaffirmation of accreditation scheduled for 2027-2028. Good luck!”

Thank you to the many individuals at JALC for their efforts in not only preparing the Report but also in creating the various processes that have enabled the outstanding work we were able to document. Emily Monti, Joseph Dethrow (writers, editors, organizers), Kristin Yosanovich, Andrew Carr, Jennifer Fuller (writers), Jordan Mays, Susan LaPanne (assessment and program review), and Faculty & Staff.

Thank you to the Board for reviewing the policies that are being submitted for consideration. In the 2025- 2026 academic year, the college staff will begin collecting evidence for the HLC reaffirmation, which is scheduled to occur in the 2027-2028 academic year. Much of the evidence that is collected will be linked to Board Policy. Having current policies will be helpful in this process.

Our Dual Credit program recently received notification from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) that we were officially re-accredited for another seven years. JALC is 1 of 136 programs nationwide to earn this honor. JALC is 1 of only two colleges in Illinois to hold this accreditation.

ICCB Recognition is ongoing. We have been responding to requests for information and making updates as needed.

BUDGET FY2026

Vice-President of Business Services and CFO, Dr. Susan LaPanne, stated that the new ADP System, which includes the Human Resources Information System and the new payroll system, is scheduled to go live on July 1, 2025. The Human Resource Information System is systematizing and creating electronic files for all of our staff, employees, and faculty. It will be very clear where our records are and that all records are complete and secure. Dr. LaPanne reported that June 30, 2025, is the beginning of audit fieldwork. The full statements will be presented to the board in January or February 2026. Dr. LaPanne wanted to encourage anyone with children to take advantage of Purdy School Days. Flyers were available for anyone who wanted to know more about it.

PRESIDENT’S CABINET

No Report

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

A. Personnel

President Overstreet accepted the retirements of JaDean Towle, Scholarship Manager, effective May 31, 2025, and Marsha Perfetti-McIntosh, Instructor of Health, effective May 31, 2025. He accepted the resignations of Kamaria Parker, Customer Service Clerk, Specialist II, effective May 30, 2025. Also, Nina Wargel, Manager of Quality Services in CCR&R, had recently passed away from cancer. Dr. Overstreet asked for a moment of silence.

B. Jenzabar One and Campus Marketplace

The Jenzabar One and Campus Marketplace (formerly known as Higher Reach) 5-year agreements were approved at the May 2024 board meeting. This is to inform the board that we are paying our year 2 invoices for these services. Jenzabar One is a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) system designed specifically for higher education institutions. It provides a wide range of administrative and academic functions, including admissions, registration, student billing, and advising. Campus Marketplace is a rebranded and standalone platform derived from the Higher Reach system, designed to support non-credit community and workforce education offerings at John A. Logan College. It enables registration and purchasing processes for students and affiliated organizations. The system supports both individual and organizational users, allowing them to manage enrollments, access demographic and financial data, and interact with course offerings efficiently. The funds for both of these platforms are in the tentative FY26 budget under review by the Board of Trustees. We will be paying Jenzabar One, $ 303,561, and Campus Marketplace, $47,250.

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–N for approval.

A. Scag Mower Purchase/Trade-In

Approved the purchase of two new mowers as well as the trade-in of currently owned equipment.

B. Document Management License Renewal

Approved $25,875 for the continued use of Imaging Office Systems ' document management platform.

C. Capitol Strategies Annual Contract

Approved the one-year contract with Capitol Strategies for network engineering services, not to exceed $100,000, for FY26.

D. Natatorium Air Conditioning Repair

Approved the Natatorium Air Conditioning Repair project.

E. Logan Fitness Weight Room Equipment Order

Approved the Logan Fitness Weight Room Equipment Order from Pure Fitness.

F. Professional and Executive Support Staff Employment Contract Extensions

Ratified the re-appointment and employment contract extensions for Professional and Executive Support Staff as recommended by the President in accordance with Board Policy 5227.

G. FY 2026 Salary Increase for Professional and Executive Support Staff

Approved an annual salary increase of 3.0 percent for professional and executive support staff under contract for FY 2026, in accordance with Board Policy 5220A and 5221A.

H. Personnel Action Items (Appendix A)

Approved the employment and ratification of personnel as recommended by President Overstreet.

I. FY 2026 Resource Allocation & Management Plan (RAMP) Submission

Approved the FY 2026 Resource Allocation and Management Plan as recommended.

J. Interfund Loans

Approved an interfund loan from the Working Cash Fund to the Restricted Purposes Fund in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000.

K. Transfer of Interest earned from Working Cash Monies

Authorized the transfer of the interest earned in the Working Cash Fund through June 30, 2025, in the anticipated amount not to exceed $287,000, evenly between the Education Fund and the Operations and Maintenance Fund to be used for the general operating needs of the College; and that the College Treasurer be authorized to make the necessary entries to execute such transfers.

L. Expenditure Report for the period ending May 31, 2025

Approved the monthly Expenditure report for the period ending May 31, 2025.

M. Treasurer’s and Financial Report for the period ending April 30, 2025

Approved the Treasurer’s and Financial report for the period ending April 30, 2025.

N. Minutes of the May 13, 2025, Regular Meeting

Approved the minutes of the May 13, 2025, Regular Meeting.

Jake Rendleman and Glenn Poshard moved and seconded that the Board of Trustees approve Consent Agenda Items A–N, as presented.

Upon roll call, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.

(Resolution #16-4404)

OLD BUSINESS (Roll Call Vote)

A. Adoption of FY 2026 Budget

NEW BUSINESS (No Action)

A. Board Policy Revisions for First Reading

Dr. Brent Clark and Becky Borgsmiller moved and seconded that the Board of Trustees approve the FY26 Budget.

Upon roll call, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.

(Resolution #16-4405)

EXECUTIVE SESSION

None

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chairman Aaron R. Smith stated that the Board of Trustees meeting had been moved to Wednesday, July 16, 2025, due to scheduling conflicts. The agenda will be posted following the review on Monday, which is within 48 hours.

Legal Counsel, Rhett Barke, shared that there are signs posted outside of some office doors that indicate private office restricted access. Some entities are going around and conducting First Amendment Audits throughout public facilities. What that means is that someone with a cell phone or video recorder is pushing the limits, claiming that these are public buildings paid for by public funds, so they would have access to every and any space. The courts have indicated that as long as we have posted signs in certain areas of restricted access, people cannot just enter those doors because that would be considered a trespass; if we did not have the signs, they would have the ability to come in and interrupt because it is a public building paid for by public funds. Recently, they have appeared in the Williamson County Government Buildings, and rumors suggest they may also be in surrounding county Government buildings. We are trying to be proactive and avoid dealing with the situation after it happens; instead, we are addressing it now. As you know, there is confidential and protected information in your offices that would not be proper to be disclosed to someone who comes in and looks at it. That is the only reason for the signs. The college is not changing its policy on the open door as far as communication. Dr. Overstreet stated that they will have a conversation with Mr. Ron Webb, Director of Campus Safety/Chief of Campus Police, and make sure the police force is on board with it. He also said that he is not happy about having to put the signs up. It is not his preference, and he, Dr. LaPanne, Dr. Hartford, and the cabinet members still have an open-door policy. But, they still want to protect the students, employees, and the information.

https://www.jalc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/min_6_17_25.pdf