August 13, 2015 Minutes of Regular Meeting

The Board of Trustees of Illinois Valley Community College District No. 513 convened a regular session at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 13, 2015 in the Board Room (C307) at Illinois Valley Community College.

Members Physically Present

Melissa M. Olivero, Chair
Michael C. Driscoll, Vice Chair
Larry D. Huffman, Secretary
Laurie A. Bonucci
Jane E. Goetz
Everett J. Solon
Austin M. Burnette, Student Trustee

Members Absent

David O. Mallery

Others Physically Present

Jerry Corcoran, President
Cheryl Roelfsema, Vice President for Business Services and Finance
Deborah Anderson, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Sue Isermann, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Mark Grzybowski, Associate Vice President for Student Services
Walt Zukowski, Attorney

PUBLIC HEARING

This being the time and place published for a Public Hearing regarding the FY2016 Budget, Board Chair, Melissa Olivero, called for questions and/or comments from the audience.  Since there were no questions and/or comments, Ms. Olivero called for a motion to close the Public Hearing.  It was moved by Dr. Driscoll and seconded by Ms. Goetz to close the Public Hearing.  Motion passed by voice vote.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

It was moved by Mr. Solon and seconded by Dr. Huffman to approve the agenda, as presented.  Motion passed by voice vote.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

CONSENT AGENDA

It was moved by Dr. Driscoll and seconded by Ms. Goetz to approve the consent agenda, as presented.  Motion passed by voice vote. 

The following items were approved in the consent agenda:

Approval of Minutes – July 9, 2015 Board Meeting. 

Approval of Bills - $1,428,693.58

Education Fund - $945,584.83; Operations & Maintenance Fund - $95,829.38; Operations & Maintenance (Restricted Fund) - $28,952.22; Auxiliary Fund - $59,042.79; Restricted Fund - $83,809.90; Audit Fund - $6,650.00; and Liability, Protection and Settlement Fund - $208,824.46

Treasurer’s Report

Personnel

Approved the stipends for the pay periods ending June 27, 2015; July 11, 2015; and July 25, 2015.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Corcoran congratulated Jamie Gahm, Kim Koehler and their colleagues in Continuing Education for effectively serving 246 students in youth camps this summer in a fun-filled-yet-instructive environment. This is great awareness across the community for what the college has to offer and a terrific first step forward in helping youth explore academic and career options. On April 9 Chris Herman provided a campus update on the history of the very effective Project Success program. At that time he stated that a grant application had recently been submitted to the U.S. Department of Education for another five-year commitment of funding. According to Chris, 1,700 colleges applied for grants but only approximately 1,000 would be funded. Fortunately, thanks to Chris and his team of Cynthia Cardosi, Diane Scoma, and Teresa Bowen and staff across the college, IVCC’s application received a score of 104 out of a possible 106 points (one of the highest scores in the nation!) and IVCC’s program, which serves 160 students per year, is good to go for another five year-funding cycle.  Dr. Corcoran congratulated and thanked everyone who helped with the application on a job well done. Last week Dr. Corcoran  received a thoughtful note from the director of development for Easter Seals of LaSalle and Bureau Counties regarding how impressed she was with students from IVCC’s Phi Theta Kappa Rho Omega Chapter who volunteered during a recent 5K Run/Walk for Kids and Riverfest fundraiser that ended up raising $10,000 to help children in the community. Dr. Corcoran noticed that the Easter Seals employee copied many of IVCC’s PTK officers on the correspondence, including student trustee, Austin Burnette, so Dr. Corcoran expressed congratulations to everyone who contributed to this very worthy cause.  Austin, PTK officers and faculty advisors—Eric Schroeder and Carmen Hartford—are a source of pride to all at IVCC.  Dr. Corcoran thanked them for their efforts and encouraged them to keep up the fine work.  Reed Wilson asked Dr. Corcoran to be sure to recognize Jeannette Frahm for the excellent job she did recently of facilitating a tour of the IVCC Ottawa Center for America in Bloom judges on July 20 and 21. According to Reed, the judges were impressed with the Center inside and out including the landscaping, expertly maintained by a number of volunteers like Trustee Jane Goetz and Foundation Board director Karen Nussbaum. Dr. Corcoran thanked Jeannette, Jane and Karen for always keeping the Ottawa Center facility on the east side of the district looking first-class.  Mark Grzybowski and many of his Student Service Division colleagues have held several express registration events lately, starting in Ottawa and ending in Princeton, which netted 183 credit hours. Dr. Corcoran wanted to be sure to mention how much everyone appreciated the hospitality shown to IVCC by folks at the Bureau County Metro Center Tuesday afternoon and evening. Everyone was very accommodating.  And finally, regarding a project that’s near and dear to Dr. Corcoran’s heart, he wanted everyone to know that an IVCC and University of Illinois Extension Agriculture Education Development Steering Committee has been formed and is scheduled to hold its first meeting on August 24. Twenty-nine individuals have agreed to provide feedback on the agriculture-educational opportunities in place and on the horizon at IVCC as it looks to expand its agriculture-educational offerings.  One of Dr. Corcoran’s goals for the new fiscal year was to design and implement a plan to increase student enrollment and he thinks (1) partnering with the University of Illinois Extension on the development of a comprehensive mix of agriculture-related course offerings and (2) entering into an agreement with Interact Communications for marketing and retention services for one year (an agenda item for Board consideration this evening) are two enormous steps forward in achieving that goal. With Dr. Anderson, Sue Isermann, Reed Wilson and Jill Guynn working together on Ag program course offerings while Fran Brolley and Mark Grzybowski provide leadership on marketing and outreach, this is an exciting time to be at IVCC. Dr. Corcoran hopes that one year from now everyone will be impressed with the results.  

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Ms. Olivero reported an AQIP Pathway Strategy Forum is scheduled on October 7 – 9, 2015 at the Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center.  It is important for a board member to attend at least one day, preferably Thursday, October 8.  Ms. Olivero believes she will be able to attend, but if another board member would like to attend, they are to contact Ms. Olivero.  October 8 is also the night of a board meeting.

Ms. Olivero also reported the Audit/Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday, September 29 at 5 p.m.

FISCAL YEAR 2016 BUDGET

It was moved by Dr. Huffman and seconded by Ms. Bonucci to approve the Resolution to adopt the FY2016 Budget, as presented. 

Student Advisory Vote:  “Aye” – Mr. Burnette.  Roll Call Vote:  “Ayes” – Ms. Bonucci, Ms. Goetz, Dr. Huffman, Dr. Driscoll, Mr. Solon, and Ms. Olivero.  “Naye” – None.  Motion carried.

FACULTY RESIGNATION – JENNIFER SAVOIA, NURSING INSTRUCTOR

It was moved by Mr. Solon and seconded by Dr. Driscoll to accept with deep regret Jennifer Savoia’s resignation effective August 12, 2015 and wish her success in her new endeavor.  Motion passed by voice vote.

STAFF RETIREMENT – JAMIE GAHM, DIRECTOR OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND BUSINESS SERVICES

It was moved by Dr. Huffman and seconded by Dr. Driscoll to accept with regret the retirement of Jamie Gahm, Director of Continuing Education and Business Services, effective December 31, 2015.  Motion passed by voice vote.

REQUEST FOR FULL-TIME ACCOUNTING CLERK POSITION, ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT, BUSINESS SERVICES & FINANCE DIVISION

It was moved by Ms. Goetz and seconded by Dr. Driscoll to restore the part-time accounting clerk position to a full-time accounting clerk position.  Motion passed by voice vote.

BID RESULTS – PROPERTY/CASUALTY AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE

It was moved by Dr. Huffman and seconded by Ms. Goetz to accept the proposal submitted by Arthur J. Gallagher with Hanover Insurance for property/casualty insurance and Forrest Sherer, Inc. for workers’ compensation insurance.  Motion passed by voice vote.

BID RESULTS – TREASURER’S BOND

It was moved by Ms. Bonucci and seconded by Mr. Burnette to accept the bond proposal from R. J. Galla through Liberty Surety First for three years at $29,743.  Motion passed by voice vote.

PROPOSAL RESULTS – ATHLETIC TRAINER SERVICES

It was moved by Dr. Driscoll and seconded by Ms. Bonucci to accept the proposal of Illinois Valley Community Hospital and St. Margaret’s Hospital to provide Athletic Trainer services to the College for the next two academic years at a total cost of $10,000 per year ($5,000 for each hospital).  Mr. Solon questioned the change since the two hospitals had been providing the service at no charge.  Mr. Grzybowski noted the hospitals approached the College because of an increase in costs.  They had partnered with a local high school and the charges are in line with that partnership and wanted to be fair with everyone.  Motion passed by voice vote.

PROPOSAL RESULTS – MARKETING CONSULTANT

It was moved by Ms. Goetz and seconded by Mr. Solon to enter into a one-year agreement with Interact Communications for marketing and retention services at a cost to the district of $70,500.  Motion passed by voice vote.

TRUSTEE COMMENT

Mr. Burnette thanked Dr. Corcoran for his recognition of Phi Theta Kappa’s work with the Easter Seals Run.  It reaffirmed PTK’s commitment to services, so much, that PTK has established an officer position for the sole purpose of coordinating service events. The person in this position is Matthew Phillips, a student worker in the counseling center and a tireless worker.  Mr. Burnette recently spoke with Dr. Corcoran regarding the recent discussions in Springfield about a potential property tax freeze.  The Board will have a property tax levy coming up in November.  After speaking with Cheryl Roelfsema, Mr. Burnette was assured that this would not affect the College much since it has reached the maximum levy in its education and operating funds.  Mr. Burnette does worry about the potential risk for relying on tuition increases to balance the budget.  He assumes there will be discussions on budget increases in the spring and he would like everyone to keep this in mind.  He would like to avoid using tuition increases as the first resort to balance the budget.

Ms. Goetz noted that there is another connection to the landscaping project at the Ottawa Center.  Jane Norem, retired IVCC librarian, has also participated in the project and is a good worker.