The Board of Trustees of the Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 met Tuesday night, April 16th at Olney Central College, Olney, Illinois.

The Student Affairs division provided a report on efforts and activities to provide support to students across the District. Holly O’Brien, Mental Health Specialist, informed the Board of the initiatives she has launched in her first months of employment.

The oath of office was administered to Jorri VanDyke, who was seated for a one-year term as student member of the Board of Trustees. A student at Olney Central College, she succeeds student trustee Guadalupe Amicone.

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

Affiliation agreements were approved with Rehab for Life and ProgressiveHealth Rehabilitation, Inc.

The Board waived the second reading and approved Policy 500.41 Student Attendance that formalizes IECC’s current practice related to student attendance. It establishes a clear framework for both students and faculty which will assist in preventing confusion or ambiguity about expectations regarding attendance and valid absences. The Board also waived the second reading and approved Policy 300.3 Auxiliary Enterprises Fund with modest changes.

A motion was passed by the Board to authorize administration to accept an offer on a parcel of land on Route 130 in Richland County. The Board had previously authorized administration to list the property for sale with a commercial broker.

Bid committee recommendations were approved for acceptance of the following bids:

• Walters Buildings for a total of $79,750 for the construction of the Frontier Community College Rotary Plaza Pavilion.

• Bahrns Toyota-Lift for a total of $32,800 for the purchase of a forklift for Frontier Community College.

• Eagleson Automotive Center for a total of $31,187 for the purchase of a 2023 or 2024 Chevrolet Bolt EV 2LT for Frontier Community College.

• Homes by Schuetz for a total of $148,500 for the construction of the Olney CentralCollege Theater Storage Building.

• Accu-Tech for a total of $86,073.28 for the Copper Wire Cable for Lincoln Trail College.

Personnel matters included the approval of the employment of Amy Drake as TRIO Upward Bound Counselor at Lincoln Trail College effective April 22, 2024; Jade Colclasure as TRIO Upward Bound Counselor at Wabash Valley College effective May 6, 2024; and Dan Brant as O&M Team Lead at Olney Central College effective April 22, 2024.

Change in employment status was approved for Kristie Markman from TRIO Student Support Specialist to TRIO Upward Bound Counselor at Olney Central College effective May 6, 2024. Changes in status for the following from Maintenance Worker to O&M Team Lead effective April 22, 2024 were also approved: Kent Staley at Frontier Community College, Christopher Ellington at Lincoln Trail College, Ernest Majors at Wabash Valley College, and Arron Brown at Terry L. Bruce/West Richland Center.

Approval of proposed non-college employment was approved for Amie Mayhall at McGraw Hill Higher Education.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 6:15 p.m. at Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, IL.