The Board of Trustees of the Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 met Tuesday afternoon, December 10th at Olney Central College, Olney, Illinois, and following a public hearing on the tax levy, Trustees certified the 2024 tax levy. The rates for the District’s two primary funds – education and operation and maintenance – were held flat over 2023 rates.

The Board approved the minutes of the Board of Trustees meeting held on November 19, 2024.

The Board waived a second reading and approved revisions to the following policies:

• Selection and Employment Policy 400.1 to align with the recent shift in responsibility for securing Motor Vehicle Reports (MVR) from the Business Office to Human Resources. The revised policy now includes the receipt of an acceptable MVR as part of the background check and employment process.

• Purchasing Policy 300.14 to merge the corresponding procedure into the policy to streamline and clarify the content.

• Relocate Driver’s License Procedure 300.1.25 to IECC-Owned and Personal Vehicle Use Policy 400.33.

• IECC-Issued Credit Cards Policy 300.23 as a new policy that authorizes the Business Office to issue credit cards to select employees for travel-related business expenses and other approved purchases when appropriate.

IECC’s 2024 Biennial Review Report that ensures that IECC is compliant with the Drug- Free Schools and Communities Act was approved by the Board.

The Board accepted the Facility Use Agreement with Lawrence County Memorial Hospital for use of their radiology rooms and energized radiography equipment. The affiliation agreement was approved with Good Samaritan Hospital.

The Board approved the FY2024 Audit prepared by Martin Hood LLC and annual financial report as presented.

The Board approved the authorization to proceed with a digital marketing campaign in partnership with The Original Company – TOC Direct Digital.

The Board approved a Resolution of Appreciation to recognize the extraordinary contributions of faculty and staff who played a pivotal role in the preparation and successful completion of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Accreditation process.

The bid committee recommendation was approved for acceptance of the bid from Silverthorne Chevrolet GMC, Robinson, IL for the purchase of a new 12 passenger van for a total amount of $47,350.

The following was approved as part of the personnel report: Approval of employment for Chris Dowds as Maintenance/Groundskeeper, OCC effective January 2, 2025 and Breeanna Elder as Administrative Assistant to the Dean, OCC effective January 2, 2025.

Change in position titles were approved for Chris Forde, Deanna Ratts, Quianna McGee, Cameron Ireland, and Derek Dunn from Coordinators of Marketing and Public Information to Coordinators of Marketing and Communications.

Special assignment was approved for Kelly Payne as Discipline Facilitator for Humanities/Fine Arts.

Educational level change was approved for Clare Roosevelt. Dismissal of Robin Johnson as Business Office Assistant, FCC effective November 22, 2024.

Resignation ratifications were approved for Paul Bruinsma as Chief Academic Officer effective December 6, 2024; Caleb Dunn as Maintenance/Groundskeeper, FCC effective December 2, 2024; Sueko Davis as Custodian, LTC effective December 18, 2024; and Holly O’Brien as Mental Health Specialist effective January 2, 2025.

Retirement ratifications were approved for Doug Shipman as Director of Business, OCC effective April 18, 2025 and Rodney Ranes as Program Director, Adult Education effective March 1, 2025.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 6:15 p.m. at Frontier Community College, Fairfield, IL.