May 2007 Board Meeting Minutes
The Board of Trustees of Illinois Valley Community College District No. 513 convened a regular session at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 in the Board Room (C307) at Illinois Valley Community College.
Members Physically Present
David L. Wilcoxson, Board Chair
Dennis N. Thompson, Vice Chair
Lori E. Scroggs, Secretary
Paula J. Endress
David O. Mallery
Deborah L. Sweeden
Elizabeth Kunkel, Student Trustee
Members Absent
Thomas C. Setchell
Others Physically Present
Larry D. Huffman, President
Jerry Corcoran, Vice President for Business Services and Finance
Harriet Custer, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Bob Marshall, Vice President for Student Services
Walt Zukowski, Attorney
APPROVAL OF AMENDED AGENDA
It was moved by Mr. Thompson and seconded by Dr. Scroggs to add an agenda item – Appointment of Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and change the wording on Agenda Item 17 – Compensation for FY08, Employees not affected by collective bargaining agreements. Motion passed by voice vote.
PRESENTATION – INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIC PLAN
Harold Barnes, Director of Information and Technology Services and Chris Dunlap, Associate Director of Networked Systems presented the Strategic Plan for Information Technology. The FY07 update included information on the Storage Area Network, NetStorage, Wireless Network, Print Management, Smart Classrooms, Distance Learning, and Resource25. The focus for FY08 will be eCommerce and Instant Enrollment, Information Security, Enhance Reporting Capabilities, Website Content Management System, Expanding use of the Colleague Financial Aid Module, rebuilding of the Server Room and Upgrading the Telephone System.
PRESENTATION – AQIP SYSTEMS PORTFOLIO
Dr. Harriet Custer, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Jamie Gahm, Director of Continuing Education and Business Services presented on IVCC’s System Portfolio, a required document as an Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) institution. Board members received the Institutional Overview prior to the Board meeting. The AQIP Systems Portfolio will be submitted to the Higher Learning Commission by June 1, 2007. IVCC will receive an appraisal team report in the fall of 2007 with a quality check-up visit in two to three years.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mrs. Endress requested Item 6.4.1 - Staff Resignation – Dr. Harriet H. Custer, Vice President for Academic Affairs be removed from the consent agenda.
It was moved by Dr. Scroggs and seconded by Mrs. Sweeden to approve the consent agenda as presented with the removal of agenda item 6.4.1. Motion passed by voice vote.
The following items were approved in the consent agenda:
Approval of Minutes –Board Minutes of April 25, 2007.
Approval of the Bills - $1,002,941.43
Education Fund - $723,255.27; Operation and Maintenance Fund - $72,242.83; Operation & and Maintenance Fund (Restricted Fund) - $118,696.18; Auxiliary Fund - $31,171.15; Restricted Fund - $54,820.17; Liability, Protection and Settlement Fund - $2,755.83.
Treasurer’s Report
Personnel
Approved the appointment of Dr. Manuel N. Gomez as the Dean of Humanities, Fine Arts & Social Sciences Division at an annual salary of $63,000.
Approved the appointment of Ms. Elizabeth A. Klopcic as Psychology Instructor assigned to the Division of Humanities, Fine Arts and Social Sciences for the 2007-2008 academic year, with placement on the salary schedule at Step B-8 - $43,373, based on the 2006-2007 salary schedule, terms of the 2007-2008 salary to be approved.
Approved the appointment of Ms. Christine E. Dove as the Sociology Instructor assigned to the Division of Humanities, Fine Arts and Social Sciences for the 2007-2008 academic year, with placement on the salary schedule at Step B-3 - $36,607, based on the 2006-2007 salary schedule, terms of the 2007-2008 salary to be approved.
Approved the stipends for the pay period ending April 21, 2007 as presented.
Bid Request – Haas EC-300 Horizontal Machining Center
Authorized the Business Office to purchase a 2005 HAAS EC-300 CNC Horizontal Machining Center in the amount of $92,582. This price includes freight and rigging costs.
Bid Request – Clean and Paint Automotive Technology Shop and Paint Overhead Doors
Authorized the Business Office to seek bids to clean and paint the automotive technology shop and overhead doors at an estimated cost of $11,000.
Bid Approval – Carpet Room D225
Approved the bid from Trainor Flooring - Streator, Illinois in the amount of $11,210 for the purchase and installation of carpeting in Room D225.
Bid Approval – Window Blinds
Approved the bid from Impact Interiors – Bourbonnais, Illinois in the amount of $9,506.99 for the purchase and installation of Louver Drape window blinds.
Bid Approval – Buildings 5 and 10 Exterior Upgrades
Approved the bid from Argubright Construction – Spring Valley, Illinois in the amount of $39,600 for upgrades to Buildings 5 and 10.
STAFF RESIGNATION – DR. HARRIET H. CUSTER, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
It was moved Mrs. Endress and seconded by Mr. Thompson to accept with regret the resignation of Dr. Harriet H. Custer, Vice President for Academic Affairs effective July 12, 2007.
Mrs. Endress cited a number of Dr. Custer’s accomplishments at IVCC – added nine new associates degrees and over ten new certificate programs including therapeutic massage, horticulture, truck driver training, HVAC, welding technology and warehousing and distribution, just to name a few. President Huffman concluded with, "It is a wide and varied area and Dr. Custer has done a great job during her time here." Dr. Custer stated she had mixed feelings about this move because she has been very committed to IVCC. She stated she has worked with wonderful people and thanked Mrs. Endress and Dr. Huffman for their comments. Motion passed by voice vote.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
The Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry sent a letter expressing their gratitude to Ms. Francie Skoflanc, graphic design instructor, and her graphic design students for coordinating two design projects with the Ottawa Chamber.
Dr. Huffman was pleased to announce a cooperative agreement with the six in-district hospitals has been reached to resume the collaboration in supporting the employment of an additional nursing faculty member to allow IVCC to accept additional nursing students into the program. This will become effective the second semester of FY08. Dr. Huffman appreciates the partnership with the area hospitals in supporting the nursing program.
Depending on what happens in the next 30 days, Dr. Huffman maybe bringing a recommendation to the Board regarding the Sheridan Correctional Center at its June Board meeting. IVCC has been providing training programs at the Sheridan Correctional Center since it reopened in 2004. There has only been one salary increase for IVCC individuals in the last five years through the Department of Corrections (DOC). These are the only people in the DOC who have had only one salary increase in the last five years. The cost to manage and supervise the programs is inadequate under the current contractual processes. The contract is year by year from July 1 through June 30. Sue Isermann, Associate Vice President for Career Education and Peggy Blair, Program Director at Sheridan Correctional Center have attended contract meetings for next year. They were told there will be no money for salary increases, no money for capital equipment, and any anticipated unexpended funds from this year will be used for consumable supplies for next year. Dr. Huffman spoke with Warden Rothwell and told him unless something changes in the next 30 days and the DOC is willing to agree to reasonable requests for adequate salary increases for the staff who teach and sufficient administrative support monies for doing business at the Sheridan Correctional Center, he would be recommending to the Board that the College not contract with the DOC at Sheridan Correctional Center beginning July 1. Basically, it is in the hands of DOC. If an agreement is not reached, the DOC will need to look for another contractor to continue the programs. The reasonable thing for IVCC to do is to work on a transitional plan for the first quarter of the contract year so neither the staff nor the inmates would be placed at a disadvantage. The College will wait to see what happens in the next 30 days.
TRUSTEES’ REPORT
Elizabeth Kunkel distributed the May 3, 2007 edition of the IVLEADER along with issues discussed with Mr. Mautino on Lobby Day which were relevant to IVCC. She reported most organizations are winding down the activities for the year. Ms. Kunkel will be attending the ICCB Student Leadership Institute in Chicago from June 7 through June 9.
Mr. Mallery reported on Senate Bill 17 which amends the Property Tax Code and adds a division concerning the valuation of unimproved land. The Bill provides that unimproved land of 5 acres or more that is subject to a conservation management plan is valued at 5% of its fair cash value. Mr. Mallery was concerned about the decrease in the amount of revenue for the IVCC district. Mr. Wilcoxson did not expect this to be any significant affect on IVCC.
APPOINTMENT OF ICCTA REPRESENTATIVE AND ALTERNATE
Mr. Wilcoxson as Board Chair appointed Mr. Mallery as the Representative to the Illinois Community College Trustees Association and Dr. Scroggs as the Alternate Representative to the Illinois Community College Trustees Association.
FY08 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIC PLAN
It was moved by Mrs. Sweeden and seconded by Mr. Thompson to approve the Information Technology Strategic Plan for FY08 and the recommended equipment and software purchases required to carry out the plan. Purchases will be made according to approved purchasing practices, contingent on the inclusion in and the adoption of the FY08 budget. All quotes for new purchases over $10,000 will be brought to the Board for approval. Motion passed by voice vote.
PROPOSED BOARD POLICY 2020 – REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION OF RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES
Dr. Huffman reported The University Religious Observance Act obligates all institutions of higher education to adopt a policy which provides for reasonable accommodation of students in practice of their religion. The policy presented addresses that act and was presented for the first reading. Any comments or suggestions were to be directed to Dr. Marshall. No action was taken.
HONORS PROGRAM TRUSTEE TUITION WAIVERS
It was moved by Mrs. Sweeden and seconded by Mr. Mallery to approve a Trustee Tuition Waiver program for Honors Program students under the conditions outlined, beginning in the 2007-2008 academic year, with the equivalent of up to 14 full waivers (448 semester hours) being available each academic year. The motion passed by voice vote.
BOARD RETREAT
It was moved by Mr. Thompson and seconded by Dr. Scroggs to schedule a Board Retreat on Saturday, June 23 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Board Room with Mike Monaghan, Executive Director of ICCTA as the facilitator. The motion passed by voice vote.
CLOSED SESSION
It was moved by Mrs. Endress and seconded by Dr. Scroggs to convene a closed session to discuss 1) the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body; 2) minutes of a closed session meeting. The motion passed by voice vote.
On a motion by Dr. Scroggs, seconded by Mr. Thompson and carried unanimously, the regular meeting resumed at 9:54 p.m.
2007-2008 FACULTY SALARY SCHEDULE AND LONGEVITY ADJUSTMENT
It was moved by Mrs. Sweeden and seconded by Mr. Thompson to approve the 2007-2008 Faculty Salary Schedule (page 29a) and Longevity Adjustment (page 26a) between Illinois Valley Community College District No. 513 and the American Federation of Teachers Local 1810 as presented. The motion passed by voice vote.
COMPENSATION FOR FY08 – EMPLOYEES NOT AFFECTED BY A NEGOTIATED LABOR AGREEMENT
It was moved by Mr. Thompson and seconded by Dr. Scroggs to approve a 3.5% general increase for all employees not affected by a negotiated labor agreement, contingent on acceptable performance evaluations and support from grants and outside contracts as presented. The motion also included approval of range adjustments for all employees not affected by a negotiated labor agreement and employees maintaining their proximity to each range midpoint, assuming acceptable performance evaluations and support from grants and outside contracts as presented. In some cases, individual adjustments will occur over multiple years. In addition, the motion included approval of benefits for part-time, nonexempt support staff who work a regular schedule as presented. The motion passed by voice vote.
FY08 EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS FOR VICE PRESIDENTS
It was moved by Dr. Scroggs and seconded by Mrs. Endress to approve FY08 employment contracts for Jerome M. Corcoran, Vice President for Business Services & Finance and Robert P. Marshall, Vice President for Student Services, with 3.5% salary increases and duties, benefits, and other conditions as outlined in their individual contracts. In addition, this motion approved a contract for Harriet H. Custer, Vice President for Academic Affairs for the period July 1 through July 12, 2007 at her FY07 compensation rate. The motion passed by voice vote.
MODIFICATION TO ATHLETIC DIRECTOR POSITION
It was moved by Dr. Scroggs and seconded by Mr. Mallery to reduce the position of Director of Athletics and Coordinator of Admissions to a half-time, 12-month, non-teaching position for the management/administration of the College’s athletic programs and intramurals. The position will be re-titled to Athletic Director. The motion passed by voice vote.
APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
It was moved by Mrs. Sweeden and seconded by Mrs. Endress to appoint Sue Isermann as Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, effective July 16, 2007 at an annualized salary of $86,000 and continuing until such time as a new Vice President for Academic Affairs reports to duty at which time Ms. Isermann’s salary would revert back to her Associate Vice President for Career Education salary as of July 1, 2007. The motion passed by voice vote.
RESIGNATION
It was moved by Mrs. Sweeden and seconded by Mr. Mallery to accept with regret the resignation of Larry D. Huffman, President, effective June 29, 2007. Dr. Huffman stated that Illinois Valley Community College has a long, proud history, and it has been a privilege for him to be associated with the College on two separate occasions. Even so, because of personal reasons, he decided to submit his resignation effective June 29, 2007. Mr. Wilcoxson stated that IVCC was fortunate to have the benefit of Dr. Huffman’s leadership this year. The Board will schedule a special meeting to plan for his succession. The motion passed by voice vote.
ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Dr. Scroggs, seconded by Mrs. Endress, and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:02 p.m.