January 16, 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, January 16, 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. EndressDavid O. Mallery
Thomas C. Setchell
Deborah L. Sweeden
Elizabeth Kunkel, Student Trustee

Members Absent

Others Physically Present

Dave Louis, Interim PresidentJerry Corcoran, Vice President for Business Services and Finance
Bob Marshall, Vice President for Student Services
Sue Isermann, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs
Walt Zukowski, Attorney

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

It was moved by Mrs. Sweeden and seconded by Dr. Scroggs to approve the agenda. Motion passed by voice vote.

PRESENTATION – EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Marianne Dzik, Dean of English, Mathematics and Education, and Diane Christianson, Early Childhood Education Instructor and Director of the Early Childhood Education Center, gave a presentation regarding the program and center.  A needs assessment was conducted on daycare in LaSalle County and revealed over 3200 children need full-day child care but only approximately 1200 spaces are available to meet this need.  There are only 15 spaces available at the IVCC Early Childhood Center.  The Center exists for two major reasons – 1) IVCC’s Valued Practice of welcoming students into a caring and secure environment in which their individual needs and interests are addressed.  The Center welcomes students’ children into a warm environment so that the parents can attend IVCC to improve their lives.  Most of the children’s parents are single moms or children from low income families.  Most of these parents receive reduced childcare tuition through the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the C-Campus grant which is available due to the College having a lab school.  During the last Nursing Accreditation it was noted the lab was a great support and benefit for the nursing students.  IVCC’s Valued Practice of teaching and learning is the second reason.  The Center models the high standards which are taught in the College’s Early Childhood program and provides the theory taught to the hands-on theory in the classroom during observation in the Center’s lab.  The Center is licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services and determines the student/staff ratio.  Currently, for 15 students, IVCC employs a part-time director, full-time instructor, part-time instructor, and 2 student workers who are paid from the Federal Work Study program.  The Center is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. during the fall, spring, and pre-summer sessions.  If needed, the hours can be adjusted.  The Center is closed when the College is closed.  The Center is more than a daycare center.  There is a strong emphasis on curriculum and the students are provided the educational and social preparedness needed for kindergarten.  Besides an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Education, IVCC recently received approval for an Associate of Arts Degree in Teaching for Early Childhood Education which is a full degree articulation.  IVCC has been meeting with the Illinois Facilities Fund (IFF) which provides below-market rate real estate and equipment loans for nonprofits serving low-income and special-needs communities and also conducts research for guidance and improvement.  The purpose of the meetings is to collaborate and initiate ideas to address the needs of daycare.  The meetings are held once a month until June when a written report will be provided and shared with the Board.    

Mr. Mallery entered the meeting at 7:29 p.m.

CONSENT AGENDA

It was moved by Mrs. Sweeden and seconded by Mr. Thompson 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 December 19, 2007 Meeting

Approval of the Bills - $1,217,333.05

Education Fund - $783,704.68; Operation and Maintenance Fund - $71,198.08; Operation and Maintenance (Restricted Fund) - $38,039.35; Auxiliary Fund - $272,086.85; Restricted Fund - $47,304.52; Liability, Protection and Settlement Fund - $4,999.57.

Treasurer’s Report

Personnel

Approved the stipends for the pay periods ending December 15, 2007 and December 29, 2007 as presented.

Bid Approval – 15-Passenger Shuttle Bus

Approved to accept the bid from Midwest Transit – Kankakee, Illinois to lease the 2008 Ford Starcraft for 36 months at an annual lease payment of $7,835.00

Bid Request – Vertical Milling Machine

Approved to request bids for a vertical milling machine in accordance with the specifications provided.

Bid Request – Aerial Work Platform

Approved to request bids for an aerial work platform in accordance with the specifications provided.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Louis reported a slight increase in the credit hours for the fall semester.  He also noted a slight increase in credit hours for the spring semester as compared to last spring at this time.  Board members received the February events calendar.  Dr. Louis was impressed with the number of events held at the College and encouraged Board members to attend.

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

Mr. Thompson reported on the Board Facilities Committee meeting which was held on Tuesday, January 15.  The committee discussed the three options for the additional parking lot.  The committee was in favor of Option C – the additional 300-vehicle parking lot located east of the current East Campus parking lot and move the proposed Technology and Workforce Development Center closer to Building F.  The committee also discussed two options for the Truck Driver Training building.  Option A is a 600 square foot building which included two restrooms and an observation area.  Option B is a 3,000 square foot building which would include two restrooms, an observation area, and offices for the director, administrative assistant and instructors, as well as two classrooms.  Approximate cost for Option B is $455,950 as compared to the approximate cost of $111,100 for Option A.   The funding for the Truck Driver Training building would be entirely paid for by local funds that would come from the Building Fund.  Mr. Mallery questioned how the College would replenish the additional monies which have been set aside for the Technology and Workforce Development Center match.  Dr. Louis noted that $400,000 is set aside each year for the match and would be replaced next year.  The building could also be used as a storm shelter on the East Campus.  The general consensus from the Board was to inform the architects and engineers to move forward and expect approval at the February Board meeting.

Mr. Setchell reported on the Audit Finance Committee meeting held on January 16 in which the administration recommended a $2 per credit hour increase in tuition effective with the summer 2008 semester and 111 course fee adjustments.  The committee reviewed the athletic tuition waivers and decided to leave this alone for the time being but to provide an 18-month window for notices to be made if the Board should decide to reduce the amount of tuition waivers for athletics.  They also discussed increasing the number of academic tuition waivers but will wait for a proposal from the administration.  The committee decided no changes will take place at this time.  They decided to give the new Athletic Director time to adjust the athletic program and identify strengths between now and October and then the administration can provide a comprehensive report.  Another topic discussed was the Nuclear Power Plant valuation.  The Committee is looking for a joint governmental agreement with other taxing bodies to make sure that the College is getting a full and fair appraisal of that tax base.

Mr. Wilcoxson reported on the exciting basketball game between Black Hawk East and Illinois Valley.  He was pleased to see over 150 people in attendance.

Ms. Kunkel distributed a written report to Board members.

ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST AGREEMENT

It was moved by Mr. Setchell and seconded by Mr. Mallery to establish a Trust Agreement with an Illinois Bank for an amount not to exceed $1.5 million as the maximum local commitment for CDB Project No. 819-046-015 and a new 300-vehicle parking lot.  It was noted that the administration will prepare a request for proposal to receive the best interest and lowest fees.  Motion passed by voice vote.

SCHEDULE OF REGULAR MEETING DATES AND TIMES

It was moved by Mr. Setchell and seconded by Mrs. Scroggs to approve the following Board meeting dates for 2008 and will provide public notice of this schedule.  All meetings will take place at 7 p.m. in Room C307, the Board Room, on the campus of Illinois Valley Community College, 815 North Orlando Smith Avenue, Oglesby, Illinois.  Motion passed by voice vote.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008                        Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Wednesday, February 27, 2008                      Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Wednesday, March 26, 2008                          Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Wednesday, April 23, 2008                            Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Wednesday, May 28, 2008                             Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Wednesday, June 25, 2008                             Wednesday, December 17, 2008

PUBLIC COMMENT

No comments

TRUSTEE COMMENT

No comments.

On a motion by Dr. Scroggs, seconded by Mr. Thompson and carried unanimously, the regular meeting resumed at 10:05 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Ms. Kunkel, seconded by Mrs. Endress, and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:06 p.m.