March 2016 Board Report

The Illinois Valley Community College board Thursday approved hiring a Rockford attorney to defend the college in a lawsuit filed by a New Jersey real estate appraisal company. Following closed session, the board approved entering into an “engagement letter” with attorney Stephen E. Balogh to defend the college in a suit brought by Federal Appraisal Consulting (FAC). 

IVCC President Jerry Corcoran said, “It is FAC’s position that we breeched an agreement from 2012 for FAC to provide an appraisal of the Marquis Energy Ethanol Plant for $25,000 plus reasonable expenses.

“Although the college did make the necessary payment for the appraisal, FAC has incurred additional litigation expenses for its own purposes. The college disagrees with their interpretation and we believe we have various defenses to their allegations,” Corcoran said.

In other business, trustees approved:

  • Awarding tenure for nursing instructors Samantha Whiteaker and Karie J. Stecken.
  • The college is joining with the University of Illinois Extension on cooperative field research projects on IVCC property. “The use of college land for Extension research is the result of our partnering with the Extension to significantly expand our agriculture program and better serve the needs of students and employers,” said Corcoran. Jill Guynn, Daryle Wragge and Russ Higgins of the Extension will work with the college’s tenant farmer Chris Kolodziej on the projects.
  • Purchase of $100,885 in Dell computers including 28 laptops for library instructional space, 111 computers for various classrooms and the Learning Commons, and 18 monitors.
  • Seeking proposals for a banking depository and services for the operating account in compliance with the college’s policy to seek proposals every four years. The current agreement with Centrue Bank expires June 30.
  • The $49,660 bid of Luse Companies of Aurora for asbestos abatement in the renovation of lecture hall D225. The renovation is expected to be finished before fall semester classes begin.
  • The $842,175 bid of John’s Service and Sales of Oglesby for the Building B chiller/air handler replacement.
  • Nominating nursing instructor Patricia Pence for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Outstanding Faculty Award. Dr. Pence, who has been teaching at IVCC for 15 years, was nominated by the entire nursing faculty.
  • Nominating speech instructor Andrea Kowalski for the ICCTA’s Outstanding Part-time Faculty Award. Kowalski has also taught developmental English in her 15 years at the college.

The board also learned:

  • Non-tenured faculty having contracts renewed for 2016-17 include Amber Knowlton, nursing, Tracy Lee, English and creative writing, Emily Lesman, lab instructor for developmental math, Andrew Seeger, world languages, Heather Seghi, dental assisting, and Dan Serafini, math.
  • The following individuals have resigned: recruitment and dual credit/dual enrollment coordinator Danielle Stoddard, and part-time staff Ottawa Center information specialist Ed Decker, academic support technologist Steven Palmesano, and Reading, Writing, and Study Skills Lab instructor Laura Kilmartin.
  • To be closer to water and easier to maintain, IV Sustainability Club’s organic garden will move to the east campus. The acre used previously for the garden near the track will go back into crop rotation.
  • IVCC’s main campus will be the site of rapid response training for Oglesby Police Friday, April 1, a day the college is closed for spring break. La Salle Police trainer Jim Strand will be instructing Oglesby officers in rapid response work at the all-day session. Strand received his training from the Department of Homeland Security and has conducted similar training exercises throughout the Illinois Valley.
  • IVCC’s 20th annual employee recognition event Friday, April 29, at Grizzly Jack’s Grand Bear Resort will feature over 100 honorees including 16 award nominees and/or recipients and 16 retirees.
  • The March 3 Etiquette Dinner, facilitated by Leeann Piano and coordinated by career services coordinator Susan Monroe and administrative assistant Lisa Witalka, attracted a number of employers and students, said Corcoran.