August 2011 Board Report

The Illinois Valley Community College board approved a three-year agreement for full-time faculty Tuesday with salary increases slightly over 3 percent each year.

Faculty will receive a 3.18 percent increase in 2011-12, 3.15 in 2012-13 and 3.10 in 2013-14. A total of 86 instructors will make those gains via a flat $125 increase to each step on the salary schedule. Service employees (10 custodians and five maintenance workers) will receive flat 2.5 percent increases over three years and the opportunity to earn more vacation time based on years of service.

Administrators and support staff will receive 3 percent and 3.15 percent raises respectively in 2012. Part-time faculty will receive a $20 increase on each salary step. Contracts for IVCC President Jerry Corcoran and the three vice presidents will be voted on at the board’s Sept. 20 meeting.

“I am really pleased with these agreements,” said Corcoran. “This is fair compensation for our hard working employees. If you want to attract and retain high-quality faculty and staff you have to pay them fairly and treat them with respect — one of our key core values.”

In addition, the contract brings changes to the 80/20 health insurance co-pay schedule. This year, IVCC will continue to pay 80 percent of the insurance for employees who participate in the annual wellness screening. Those not participating will pay two percent more or 22 percent.

Health screening participants will be given wellness goals to achieve by fiscal 2013. Employees who attain their goals will continue to pay 20 percent; those who do not will pay 22 percent.

“This unique approach will promote wellness and help us control our health insurance premiums,” said Corcoran. “More importantly, it will lead to early diagnosis and treatment of serious health problems.”

In other business, the board approved a $40.7 million budget that includes issuance of $5 million in debt certificates to assist in financing construction of the Community Technology Center (CTC).

CTC construction bids will be opened Thursday and Corcoran received the board’s blessing to accept the Capital Development Board’s recommendation for the contractor.

“This way the project can move ahead, yet nothing would preclude the board from formally approving the contractor at its September meeting,” Corcoran said.

Following a public hearing, the board approved a budget up $4.3 million or 12 percent over fiscal 2011 due largely to the debt certificates and an anticipated $737,000 increase in tuition and fees.

In a related action, the board accepted the proposal of First National Bank of Ottawa for $5 million in debt certificates with a variable interest rate starting at 2.6 percent. The certificates will cover roughly two-thirds of the college’s $7.6 million Community Technology Center match.

In other business, Corcoran said the college has been approached by Illinois Valley Community Hospital to have a nurse practitioner on campus a few half days a week to serve the medical needs of students and staff.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Corcoran said, adding the matter would be discussed at the next facilities committee meeting.

In other business, the board approved:

The $32,880 bid of Blackhawk of Eagan, Minn., for computer printing supplies and the purchase of 280 tons of rock salt from Cargill for $16,730 ($59.75 per ton).
The 36-month lease for two Volvo tractors and two Hyundai trailers for the truck driver training program from CIT Group Leasing for $4,592 per month plus maintenance fees. In addition, the board approved the purchase of $70,000 in fuel for the program from Sapp Bros. of Peru and Flying J of La Salle, extended its offering of the program at Waubonsee Community College for another year and increased tuition at Waubonsee by four percent to $3,100 per student.
Advertising contracts with radio stations The Radio Group, $25,740, La Salle County Broadcasting Corp., of Oglesby, $14,808, and NRG Media of Ottawa, $14,624.
The purchase of $25,720 in Lab-Volt power distribution training equipment for the basic and advanced renewable wind energy technician certificate program from Advanced Technologies Consultants.
The hiring of sociology instructor Jared Olesen who taught formerly at the University of California-Irvine. In addition, the board accepted the retirement request of math lab instructor Linda Mudge effective Dec. 31. An IVCC graduate, Mudge began as a part-time instructor in 1988 before going full-time in 2000.
The resignation of Dean of Health Professions Michael Gorman effective Aug. 11 and the appointment of Ron Groleau, Dean of Natural Sciences and Business, as the interim replacement. Gorman played an integral role in assessing nursing admission criteria, collaborating with the EMS community and reducing division expenses.
The appointment of Diane Kreiser as interim payroll and benefits coordinator. Kreiser is an accounting clerk in the business office.
Renewal of all lines of insurance coverage at a cost of $335,464.

The board learned:

After four years of credit hour increases averaging five percent, this fall’s credit hours are expected to drop five percent and headcount 2.5 percent. “This is consistent with statewide trends,” said Corcoran. The president said 51 students took advantage of a financial aid extension, a contract initiative to spur fall enrollment.
Michelle Carboni has been hired as purchasing director. Carboni worked formerly as a senior buyer for Martin Engineering of Neponset and has 15 years of purchasing experience. Carboni replaces Patricia Reed.
The resignations of Bill King after 20 years on the facilities staff, part-time cashier Judy Meling, purchasing director Reed, Waubonsee truck driver training instructor Steven Kenyeri and CNA instructor Karen Rios.
There were 342 summer graduates earning 377 degrees and certificates compared to 301 graduates in summer 2010.
Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon will visit IVCC from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27 as part of her statewide tour of all Illinois’ 48 community colleges to promote college completion initiatives.