The Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting on Tuesday night, December 13th at Frontier Community College, Fairfield, Illinois. All trustees were in attendance, including John Brooks (telephonically), Roger Browning, Gary Carter, Brenda Culver, Jan Ridgely, Barbara Shimer, Brady Waldrop, and Student Trustee Raechel Hnetkovsky.
Chancellor Gower reported that IECC’s Fall 2022 enrollment is up 1% over this same time last year. While modest, this marks the third consecutive term with positive enrollment for IECC. The Chancellor also reported about a recent trip to the Lift Center, a regional technology center available to high school juniors and seniors. IECC is exploring how it can better partner with area high schools to create pipelines to technical or vocational careers.
Dean Paul Bruinsma provided the Board with information about IECC’s move to becoming a Guided Pathways institution. The change will clarify pathways to degree or certificate completion potentially reducing the time and financial resources necessary to earn a degree. The committee led by Dean Bruinsma will submit its final recommendations by February 2023.
Affiliation agreements were approved with Jasper County Ambulance, Lawrence County Ambulance, United Life Care Ambulance, Edwards County Clerk & Recorder, Hamilton Memorial Hospital, and Good Samaritan Hospital of Vincennes, Indiana.
The semi-annual review of closed meeting minutes was conducted as required by the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
Utilizing funding made available through the PATH Grant, the board awarded a bid to Electromek Diagnostic Systems for an Energized Digital Radiography Room at Olney Central College.
Updates were authorized for the current Board policy 300.12 concerning investments and Policy 300.17 concerning the use of District facilities and equipment.
The Board named Empower Retirement as the next IECC 403(b) Plan Record Keeper and accepted a proposal from Hurst-Rosche, Inc. as the architect of record for the scope of projects outlined in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) dated September 28, 2022. Illinois Eastern Community Colleges is preparing several campus beautification and modernization projects for all four colleges.
The Board approved the Certification of Compliance with the Truth in Taxation Law and approved the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Designation of Tax Levy Year. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board is the organization that establishes accounting and financial reporting standards in the United States.
The Board approved employment for Joseph Young, Industrial Maintenance at OCC, Danielle Trapp, Social Services/Early Childhood at WVC, Mari Yamato, temporary Art Instructor at OCC, and Erick Schmitt, Maintenance Worker at WVC, all effective January 3, 2023. The Board ratified the resignations of Courtney Meadows, Program Director of Cosmetology, and Sarah Holtz, Assistant Program Director of Cosmetology both effective December 16, 2022. Mark Smith, Building Manager at WRC, effective January 31, 2023.
Trustee Brady Waldrop was honored for his service to the board. Mr. Waldrop began a new role as the States Attorney in Lawrence County, IL in early December and will resign his seat as a Trustee before the January 2023 meeting. He thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve District #529.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at 6:15 p.m. at Olney Central College, Olney.
Pictured From L-R: Trustees Barbara Shimer, Brady Waldrop, Roger Browning, Brenda Culver, Jan Ridgely, Student Trustee Raechel Hnetkovsky, and Chairman Gary Carter.