August 27, 2008 Board Meeting Minutes

The Board of Trustees of Illinois Valley Community College District No. 513 convened a regular session at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 in the Board Room (C307) at Illinois Valley Community College.

Members Physically Present

David L. Wilcoxson, Board Chair
Dennis N. Thompson, Vice Chair
Lori E. Scroggs, Secretary
Paula J. Endress
David O. Mallery
Cassie Fuller, Student Trustee

Members Absent

Thomas C. Setchell
Deborah L. Sweeden

Others Physically Present

Jerry Corcoran, President
Bob Marshall, Vice President for Student Services
Cheryl Roelfsema, Interim Vice President for Business Services and Finance
Sue Isermann, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs
Walt Zukowski, Attorney

PUBLIC HEARING

This being the time and place published for a Public Hearing regarding the FY2009 Budget, Board Chair, David L. Wilcoxson, called for questions and/or comments from the audience. Since there were no questions and/or comments, Mr. Wilcoxson called for a motion to close the Public Hearing. It was moved by Mr. Thompson and seconded by Mr. Mallery to close the Public Hearing. Motion passed by voice vote.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

Mr. Wilcoxson led a moment of silence for Harry Debo who passed away on Sunday, August 10, 2008. Mr. Debo served on the Board of Trustees from 1987 to 2003 and served as Board Chair from 1995-1997.

In the past few months, board members have experienced the loss of their loved ones, L. Scroggs’ mother, Dave Mallery’s father, and Deborah Sweeden’s father. Mr. Wilcoxson asked that everyone take a few minutes to place them in their thoughts.

APPROVAL OF AMENDED AGENDA

An amended agenda was posted 48 hours before the meeting. It was moved by Mr. Thompson and seconded by Dr. Scroggs to approve the amended agenda as presented. Motion passed by voice vote.

NURSING PROGRAM UPDATE

Gloria Bouxsein presented the accomplishments, dreams, and goals of the nursing program at Illinois Valley Community College. She reviewed the Certified Nursing Assistant Program which is a prerequisite to the nursing program. For the nursing program, she reported on the admission criteria, the number of admitted students, the total enrolled students, faculty status, number of graduates and the NCLEX scores. She shared changes that have been implemented to improve the ADN/RN program and acknowledged the six district hospitals that have formed a partnership to support the nursing program.

CONSENT AGENDA

It was moved by Mrs. Endress and seconded by Ms. Fuller to approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion passed by voice vote.

The following items were approved in the consent agenda:

Approval of Minutes –Board minutes of the July 15, 2008 special meeting; Board minutes of the July 23, 2008 Regular Board meeting; and minutes of the July 31, 2008 Facilities Committee meeting.

Approval of the Bills - $1,605,439.54

Education Fund - $1,185,942.45; Operation and Maintenance Fund - $203,326.66; Operation and Maintenance (Restricted Fund) - $321.00; Auxiliary Fund - $28,332.46; Restricted Fund - $85,148.83; Audit Fund - $9,000.00; Liability, Protection and Settlement Fund - $93,368.14.

Treasurer’s Report

Personnel

Approved the stipends for the pay periods ending June 28, 2008; July 12, 2008; and July 26, 2008 as presented.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Jerry Corcoran reported the Human Resources Department has begun the process of posting two key positions at the College – Vice President for Learning and Student Development and Vice President for Business Services and Finance. Interviews are planned to take place in November with recommendations to be brought to the Board in December. Dr. Corcoran reported an increase of 2.9 percent in credit hours for the summer of 2008. The credit hours compared to the same time period last year show an increase of 2 to 3 percent. IVCC received notification of a three-year National Science Foundation (NSF) grant in the amount of $521,000 entitled, "Building an Engineering Technology Workforce: A Plan for Reaching Young People, Adults and Women." Dr. Corcoran congratulated Dorene Perez, Jim Gibson, Rosie Lynch, and Sue Caley-Opsal for their work on this grant. An emergency notification system for emergency and safety campus closures has been implemented for the benefit of the students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Corcoran thanked Harold Barnes and Tracy Morris for their work in putting this system in place. Students will be advised of the process to sign up for this system. The IVCC Annual Auction was held on Saturday, August 9. Previously outdated computers were sold at the auction, but this year a list of computer equipment will be sent to all in-district elementary and secondary schools to give them the opportunity to upgrade their computer labs. Senator Dahl was present on the IVCC campus and was very pleased with the College’s decision to move forward with the capital improvements for the truck driver training program. He stated the program has a great reputation in the community. House Bill 4189, clarifying community colleges as units of government and not state agencies, has passed in the House and Senate overriding the Governor’s veto. Representative Bob Pritchard sponsored the bill. Mr. George Needs, IVCC’s Ethics Officer, received notification from Mr. David Keahl, Director of Ethics Training and Compliance for the State, that community colleges are no longer expected nor permitted to participate in the annual online ethics training coordinated by the Office of the Executive Inspector General. Mr. Needs will continue providing ethics-related training for our staff.

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

Cassie Fuller reported the first Student Government Association (SGA) meeting will be held on Thursday, August 28 at 7:15 a.m. The students will be discussing what they want to accomplish for the academic year. Freshman representative petitions will be available next week and due on September 10. The SGA is working hard to provide a fun and successful spirit day and to encourage student involvement in all activities and organizations. Ms. Fuller attended an IBHE/SAC meeting at Robert Morris College and discussed issues to be addressed this year which included textbook affordability, transfer services, financial aid scholarship availability, budget and funding, and student involvement. Ms. Fuller will attend the ICCB/SAC meeting on September 12 and 13 in Springfield. Elections will be held to determine officers. The first edition of the IVLEADER will be on the newsstands on September 4 and will include articles on the truck driver training facility, sport updates, and the trustee report. On September 27 a Special Olympics Bowlathon will be held at the Super Bowl and on September 20 a volleyball tournament will be held at LaSalle-Peru High School. Dave Mallery and Cassie Fuller attended the Special Olympics auction held on August 7, which was very successful.

Mr. Mallery commended the students who volunteered their time at the Special Olympics auction. He also attended the Massage Therapy graduation and found it to be very rewarding.

FY09 BUDGET

It was moved by Mr. Thompson and seconded by Dr. Scroggs to approve the resolution adopting the FY2009 Budget. The motion passed by voice vote.

FACULTY RESIGNATION – YELENA KAJEVIC, ENGLISH INSTRUCTOR

It was moved by Dr. Scroggs and seconded by Mrs. Endress to accept with regret the resignation of Yelena Kajevic, English instructor, effective August 14, 2008. Motion passed by voice vote.

STAFF APPOINTMENT – SARA ESCATEL, DIRECTOR OF ADULT EDUCATION

It was moved by Mr. Thompson and seconded by Ms. Fuller to approve the appointment of Sara Escatel as the Director of Adult Education at an annual salary of $40,000.

RATIFICATION OF SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION CONTRACT

It was moved by Dr. Scroggs and seconded by Mrs. Endress to approve the three-year contract with the Service Employees International Union Local 138, as negotiated.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Tim Horger, a member of the IVCC faculty for twenty years, offered a different perspective on the status quo of IVCC. He remembers a time when unbridled leadership merely guided by board policy at the institution was able to foster a relationship of mutual respect and promoted a course served to maintain enthusiastic support of the programs at IVCC. In recent times, in his opinion, he feels that dialogue has been strained and much goodwill has been lost. He believes to restore the confidence that a great many have felt in the past will require a great effort and involvement of those who support this community and keep a watch on IVCC. He asked if this Board was aware of the micromanagement that has affected the morale of the employees of the College. Dr. Scroggs asked how this has affected the morale of the faculty. Mr. Horger believes the morale is at an all-time low and that people are going along hoping things will improve but he does not see that happening.

TRUSTEE COMMENT

None.

CLOSED SESSION

It was moved by Dr. Scroggs and seconded by Mrs. Endress to convene a closed session to discuss 1) collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives; 2) imminent litigation; and 3) closed session minutes.

Student Advisory Vote: "Aye" – Ms. Fuller. Roll Call Vote: "Ayes" – Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Endress, Mr. Mallery, Dr. Scroggs, and Mr. Wilcoxson. "Nays" – None, motion carried.

The board recessed at 8:20 p.m. The Board entered closed session at 8:33 p.m.

On a motion by Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mrs. Endress and carried unanimously, the regular meeting resumed at 10:30 p.m.

APPROVAL OF CLOSED SESSION MINUTES

It was moved by Mr. Thompson and seconded by Dr. Scroggs to approve and retain the closed session minutes of July 23, 2008; August 4, 2008; and August 11, 2008 meetings. Motion passed by voice vote.

RESOLUTION AGREEMENT

It was moved by Dr. Scroggs and seconded by Mr. Thompson to authorize the President of the college to enter into the agreement recommended by the administration and discussed in closed session. Motion passed by voice vote.

INCREASE IN PART-TIME FACULTY PAY SCALE, COMPENSATION FOR FY09 – EMPLOYEES NOT AFFECTED BY NEGOTIATED LABOR AGREEMENTS, AND VICE PRESIDENT CONTRACT

It was moved by Mrs. Endress and seconded by Ms. Fuller to take no action on these items. Motion passed by voice vote.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Dr. Scroggs, seconded by Mrs. Endress, and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:32 p.m. Motion passed by voice vote.