May 2013 Board Report

After three year-end events in three days, including Saturday’s commencement, Illinois Valley Community College trustees met yet again Tuesday night for their monthly meeting.

IVCC President Jerry Corcoran announced the “date of substantial completion” for the Peter Miller Community Technology Center has been moved up two weeks to Sept. 1 and a grand opening is tentatively planned for early November. Classes will begin there in January.

Regarding construction specifics, Corcoran said concrete curbs will be poured soon and storm piping installation has begun. Second floor ceiling and floor tile installation is underway. Water source heat pumps are up and running and lighting control programming and low voltage cable testing will begin in early June.

On east campus and the east addition to the auto/ag building, drywall and painting continue, air conditioner pads are poured and water lines and HVAC duct work are being installed. On the west addition, concrete block walls are being laid and plumbing and electrical are being roughed-in.

In other business, the board approved:

  • Seeking bids for a TESA Micro-Hite 3D coordinate measuring machine for use in the manufacturing and CNC programs. The machine, estimated at $25,000, will be paid for through the Department of Labor iNAM (Illinois Network for Advanced Manufacturing) Grant.
  • Purchase of an Exmark Lazer X mower for $7,278 (after trade-in) from Smith’s Sales and Service of Peru and $43,600 in janitorial equipment from Interline Brands of Peoria.
  • A three-year extension of the contract with Pepsi Beverages Company.
  • The $40,225 bid of Trovero Construction of La Salle for asphalt pavement improvements to the roadway near buildings C and G and the $393,700 bid of Vanguard Contractors of Pekin for door hardware and keying upgrades and exterior concrete stairway replacement.

The board also learned:

  • A total of 62 newly minted RNs were honored at the annual nurse pinning May 18 and approximately 175 graduates walked later that day at IVCC’s 47th annual commencement keynoted by Congressman Adam Kinzinger. Finally, out of 145 students who earned their GED this year, about 30 students participated in the May 20 GED graduation ceremony and 25 students were honored at the Project Success year-end event May 15.
  • Students saved $369,456 in academic year 2012-13 through IVCC’s textbook rental program. “Lauren Sandberg and her bookstore staff should be commended for developing such a successful book rental program,” said Vice President for Business Services and Finance Cheryl Roelfsema.
  • IVCC instructor Steve Swett has led IVCC’s drive to aid victims of the mid-April flooding that devastated several communities, especially Marseilles and Utica. Swett’s flood-assistance team, comprised of student clubs, organizations and employees, is working with the Red Cross, churches and community leaders.
  • Diane Lane of Peru has been hired as a programmer/analyst for the Information Technology department.
  • Resignations have been accepted from help desk specialist Todd Stash of Oglesby, administrative assistant for the Small Business Development Center Nancy Jo Yundt of DePue and programmer Toni-Lynn Battaglia of Peru.
  • Vice President for Learning and Student Development Lori Scroggs of Princeton has been recognized by the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program in Gaithersburg, Md., for serving as an examiner on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
  • IVCC softball pitcher Katie Nauman of Amboy has earned Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention from the National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators of Westlake, Ohio. Nauman was nominated for the award by IVCC Athletic Director Tommy Canale.
  • Corcoran and trustee David Mallery of Hennepin met with Sen. Sue Rezin and Representatives Tom Dammer (Rochelle), Frank Mautino (Spring Valley), Don Moffitt (Galesburg), and Ken Dunkin (Chicago) at the annual Illinois Community College Trustees Association Lobby Day in Springfield May 1.
  • Director of student activities Cory Tomasson and student trustee Taylor Gunia organized a team of students and staff to attend the April 28 suicide prevention awareness walk in Peru and English instructors Nora Villarreal and Adam Oldaker coordinated the May 8 Honorspalooza.
  • More than 150 employees and guests attended the annual employee recognition program April 19at Senica’s Oak Ridge Golf Club.
  • Eight members of the men’s tennis team, head coach Julie Milota and assistant Lyle Guenther attended the meeting to thank the board for allowing them to compete this spring. The players hail from Princeton, La Salle, Ottawa and Streator.