August 17, 2017 Minutes of Regular Meeting

The Board of Trustees of Illinois Valley Community College District No. 513 convened a regular session at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 17, 2017 in the Board Room (C307) at Illinois Valley Community College.

Members Physically Present

Jane E. Goetz, Chair
Everett J. Solon, Vice Chair (entered the meeting at 6:40 p.m.)
David O. Mallery, Secretary
Jay K. McCracken
Amy L. Boyles
Angela M. Stevenson
Matthew F. Pehoski, Student Trustee

Members Absent

Melissa M. Olivero

Others Physically Present

Jerry Corcoran, President
Cheryl Roelfsema, Vice President for Business Services and Finance
Deborah Anderson, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Mark Grzybowski, Associate Vice President for Student Services
Walt Zukowski, Attorney

PUBLIC HEARING

This being the time and place published for a Public Hearing regarding the FY2018 Budget, Board Chair, Jane Goetz, called for questions and/or comments from the audience.  Since there were no questions and/or comments, Ms. Goetz called for a motion to close the Public Hearing.  It was moved by Ms. Stevenson and seconded by Mr. McCracken to close the Public Hearing.  Motion passed by voice vote.

APPROVAL OF AMENDED AGENDA

It was moved by Dr. Boyles and seconded by Mr. Pehoski to approve the agenda, as presented.  Motion passed by voice vote. 

PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

It was moved by Mr. McCracken and seconded by Ms. Stevenson to approve the consent agenda, as presented. Motion passed by voice vote.

The following items were approved in the consent agenda:

Approval of Minutes – July 13, 2017 Board Meeting

Approval of Bills - $1,344,587.92

Education Fund - $962,706.81; Operations & Maintenance Fund - $63,948.08; Operations & Maintenance (Restricted Fund) - $152,418.52; Auxiliary Fund - $74,516.70; Restricted Fund - $6,822.39; and Liability, Protection & Settlement Fund - $84,175.42

Treasurer’s Report

Personnel

Approved the stipends for pay periods ending July 8, 2017 and July 22, 2017

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Corcoran reported the work that has been done in the theatre as part of the Cultural Centre renovation project is now complete. The all-staff gathering in the area on Monday morning followed by the new student convocation on Tuesday were held in the Cultural Centre.  The lighting upgrades, paint and wall coverings look terrific and no doubt will really help showcase to the community this area as being a first-class venue for musical and theatrical performances and other special events. Dr. Corcoran is pleased to be able to respond to the recommendations made by the faculty and staff when they were asked approximately five years ago to help prioritize a list of improvements that could be scheduled out over five to 10 years.  IVCC’s architect has been asked to design a display near the main entrance that will publically and very tastefully recognize Durley and Hazel Marie Boyle for their very generous bequest which funded the project. Fran Brolley has been in touch with representatives from the Boyle Family from start to finish on what this project would entail, and as soon as the new display is ready to go, an event honoring this breathtaking renovation project will be held.  Mark Grzybowski was happy to report that the Saturday express registration event held at the Ottawa Center on July 22 was very successful. Twenty-four students from the east side of the district enrolled in 226 credit hours and were well served by Ida Brown, Valery Calvetti, Lori Carbone, Crystal Credi, Jeannette Frahm, Kim Herout, Vicky Jackson, Briana Marini, Quintin Overocker and Karen Stachowiak. The LPN pinning ceremony held on July 24 in the gym turned out just fine, a credit to the Nursing faculty and staff led by Julie Hogue. Dr. Corcoran thanked Dr. Amy Boyles, Jay McCracken and Angie Stevenson for participating in the event and representing the Board of Trustees.  The summer camps for kids offered through Continuing Education were another big hit this year. Thanks to Kim Koehler, Jennifer Sowers, Bonnie Jasiek, Jennifer Scheri, Jessica Beam and Elizabeth Gonzales 120 students were served through the Summer Ed’ Venture program alone, plus 240 students in 21 camps.  Bonnie Campbell is happy to report that the ICCB has approved a Fiscal Year 2018 Special Populations Support Grant application in the amount of $10,000 to conduct research and enact evidence-based strategies for enhancing services for individuals that meet the definition of special populations. In IVCC’s case, the focus will be on providing support for at-risk nontraditional students pursuing careers in manufacturing. Tina Hardy prepared the grant application on IVCC’s behalf and should be commended for a job well done.  The new student convocation event held this past Tuesday was impressive thanks to the fine planning of Mark Grzybowski and his Student Services team. A total of 373 new students participated. Special thanks to Nick Needs, SGA president, and Trustee Matt Pehoski for their fine contributions.  Dr. Corcoran was excited to announce that he just received the official word that Mary Margaret Weeg, longtime educator extraordinaire in the division of humanities at LPO Junior College and IVCC, remembered the college fondly with a $1.1 million bequest—largest in the 93-year history of the college.  By working with Dr. Weeg’s representatives and because of her appreciation of the arts, everyone has agreed that a Mary Margaret Weeg Arts Scholarship should be established, continue building the Foundation’s endowment, and support adult education, the student emergency fund and IVCC Foundation operations. The most appropriate way to remember her would be to name the Cultural Centre on her behalf, something that the College will move on right away. With the board chair’s permission, Dr. Corcoran requested a special meeting for this single-action item. The meeting will be held on Friday, August 25 at 3:30 p.m. with a ceremony immediately following so that Mary’s long-time friends and colleagues can come together as a family and reminisce about the impact she has had on everyone, and celebrate the fact that she will serve generations of students in perpetuity. Mary passed away in April of 2015.  Clearly, there has never been anyone quite like Mary Margaret Weeg.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Possible dates for an Audit/Finance Committee meeting and a Facilities Committee meeting were discussed.  The Facilities Committee meeting is tentatively set for Tuesday, October 3 at 5:30 p.m. and the Audit/Finance Committee meeting is tentatively set for Thursday, October 12 at 5:30 p.m. preceding the October board meeting.

FY2018 BUDGET

It was moved by Mr. Solon and seconded by Ms. Stevenson to adopt the Resolution approving the FY2018 Budget, as presented.

Student Advisory Vote:  “Aye” – Mr. Pehoski.  Roll Call Vote:  “Ayes” – Mr. Solon, Ms. Stevenson, Mr. McCracken, Dr. Boyles, and Ms. Goetz.  “Nay” – Mr. Mallery.  Motion carried.

FACULTY RESIGNATION DATE EXTENDED – DR. ABHIJEET BHATTACHARYA, ECONOMICS INSTRUCTOR

It was moved by Mr. Solon and seconded by Mr. Pehoski to accept with appreciation the change in resignation of Dr. Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Economics Instructor, to August 10, 2018.  Motion passed by voice vote.

INSURANCE RENEWALS

It was moved by Dr. Boyles and seconded by Ms. Stevenson to accept the recommendation of the insurance consultant to renew all coverages with the same carriers at $263,998.  Motion passed by voice vote.

TRUSTEE COMMENT

Ms. Goetz reminded board members of the 21^st Century Scholars Society dinner on Thursday, August 31 at Uptown in LaSalle.  She noted it is a wonderful way to support the students and staff and encouraged everyone to attend.  She noted the article in the paper on the new student convocation was sent to all community college trustees in the state by the Illinois Community College Trustees Association.  She complimented Kevin Solari on the article.