June 2016 Board Report

A pair of national tournament qualifying teams were honored at Thursday’s Illinois Valley Community College board meeting.

Members of IVCC’s first softball team to advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament were recognized along with men’s tennis.

Coach Cory Tomasson’s softball team finished 26-13 and won the Arrowhead conference and Region IV title on their way to the NJCAA Division II tournament in Clinton, Miss., May 18-19. The tournament featured the top 16 teams from 147 Division II programs.

 “Even more impressive,” Tomasson said, “our team GPA was 3.54 and 11 of our 13 players made the Academic All-Conference team. Brenna Faletti, Becca Herrmann, Allison Korsan and Annie Miller were named Academic All-Americans.”

Faletti, Taylor Tjaden and Tracy Ellis were named All-Region IV and Tjaden a third team All-American.

Coach Julie Milota’s tennis team placed fifth at the Division III tournament in Collin, Tex., May 16-20. IVCC finished the season 6-3 with two of its losses to four-year schools. Sophomore Gustavo Lozado was the consolation champion at nationals in No. 1 singles and doubles.

Second team All-Americans were Alex Koziel, Zach Giovanine, Nick Munson and Krueger Keene. Freshman captain Joey Meyer was the consolation champ at No. 1 doubles.

In other business, the board approved:

  • A three-year employment contract for President Jerry Corcoran with a 2.5 percent salary increase for fiscal 2017 and 2 percent salary increases in 2017 for Vice President for Business Services and Finance Cheryl Roelfsema and Vice President for Academic Affairs Deborah Anderson.
  • Pay increases of 2 percent for all support staff and administrators not affected by a negotiated labor agreement effective July 1 and for part-time faculty effective for fall semester.
  • Expending up to $50,000 for fuel for the Truck Driver Training program using WEX fuel cards.
  • Continuing Education Center OSHA safety training for $30,000 from 2B Safe and $13,500 for supervisor and leadership development from Riffle, Inc.
  • The expenditure of $71,274 for annual radio, billboard and television contracts for fiscal 2017 from NRG Media, La Salle County Broadcasting, Studstill Media, WZOE and Comcast Spotlight.
  • Authorization to continue operating the college from July 1 through adoption of the 2017 budget and adoption of the prevailing wage resolution.
  • The appointment of nursing instructor Heather Knoblauch to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Tina Nink. Knoblauch, a graduate of IVCC’s Associate Degree Nursing program and a part-time instructor, has 23 years nursing experience.
  • Accepted with regret the retirement of Harold Barnes, director of information and technology services, effective Dec. 31. Barnes began his career at IVCC in 1986 as an instructor and was later appointed director of engineering and manufacturing. In 1993, he moved to his current position. In a retirement letter, Barnes said during his tenure the number of campus computers increased from 40 to over 1,300 and network speeds are now 2,500 times faster. “It has brought me great joy to be involved in the advancement of technology at the college,” Barnes said.
  • Transfer of $200,000 from the working cash fund to the Education fund to cover operating expenses and authorization to seek proposals for IT Security Services.
  • Seeking proposals for a wireless “duress system” with 50 buttons placed throughout campus to ensure safety and immediacy in an emergency.
  • Purchase of 54 computers and monitors from Dell for $38,340, tables and chairs for A209 from Henrickson for $11,919, and a 2” Weld Coupon Station from E.H. Wachs for $6,250. Welding students will use the station to prepare pipe coupons in lab and AWS Certification.
  • Seeking bids for a Hunter Alignment System for an estimated $28,000 for the automotive department.
  • Academic calendars for 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2018 and 2019 summer sessions.
  • A one-year agreement with Interact Communications of La Crosse, Wis., for marketing collaterals for $36,350. Interact, the firm that provided IVCC a comprehensive marketing plan in 2016, will produce advertising and recruitment materials such as videos, television commercials, radio ads and web pages.
  • An $11,550 change order from Luse Companies for lecture hall D225 due to the need for additional asbestos removal. The project now totals $61,210.
  • A one-year extension of the food vending contract with Tri-City Vending and Foodservice.

The board also learned:

  • Corcoran credited various administrators for the successful commencement and nursing pinning May 21 and the Project Success End of Year Recognition Luncheon May 19. Streator Mayor Jimmie Lansford, an IVCC alumnus, keynoted the 50th annual commencement.
  • Part-time truck driver training instructor Steve McConville announced his resignation.
  • A total of 467 graduates earned 542 degrees and certificates this spring compared to 467 graduates earning 550 degrees and certificates in spring 2015.
  • Marquette Academy Running Start participants Kylie Jewett, Alexandra “Alex” Kissel and Allison Nona earned Associate degrees along with their high school diplomas at Marquette’s May 29 graduation. At that ceremony, IVCC board vice chair Mike Driscoll was inducted into the Academy’s Hall of Fame.
  • The overall student athlete GPA for spring was 3.129, Corcoran said.
  • The annual event honoring students who passed their High School Equalivency (HSE) exam, graduates of the bridge to manufacturing program and students becoming citizens is 6 p.m. Thursday, June 16 in the Cultural Centre.
  • Corcoran has received a verbal commitment from the Business Employment Skills Team (BEST) to relocate their operation and at least six employees to IVCC by year-end.
  • Following closed session, Corcoran commented on a proposed TIF district in Streator saying, “It has been our custom and practice to always work collaboratively with school districts when TIF districts are established or extended and intergovernmental agreements are being considered. In the case of the new TIF district in Streator, the college has been asked to support having the TIF documents reviewed by an outside expert and having them comment on areas in which everyone can possibly benefit. We’ve been told the cost to the college for the review by Kane McKenna would be between $200 and $700.”
  • The meeting began with a moment of silence for Gail Kathleen Bonucci who died June 1. She was the step-mother-in-law of trustee Laurie Bonucci.