November 14, 2019 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, November 14, 2019 in the Board Room (C307) at Illinois Valley Community College.

Members Physically Present

Jane E. Goetz, Chair
Everett J. Solon, Vice Chair
Angela M. Stevenson, Secretary
Amy L. Boyles
David O. Mallery
Jay K. McCracken
Maureen O. Rebholz

Members Absent

Matthew H. Klein, Student Trustee

Members Telephonically Present   

Others Physically Present:

Jerry Corcoran, President
Deborah Anderson, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Cheryl Roelfsema, Vice President for Business Services & Finance
Mark Grzybowski, Vice President for Student Services
Bonnie Campbell, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Leslie Hofer, Director of Human Resources
Walt Zukowski, Attorney

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

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

PUBLIC COMMENT

None

CAMPUS UPDATE – IVCC EMPLOYEE DEMOGRAPHICS

Leslie Hofer, Director of Human Resources, presented IVCC’s demographics for fiscal year 2019.  Ms. Hofer noted that IVCC employees in the white, non-Hispanic category has decreased from last year’s numbers at a greater percentage than our district population whereas our student population has a slight increase over last year. Our black/African American category shows our student population closely aligned with the district’s population and the employee population is trending up slightly. IVCC’s Hispanic employee category continues to reflect an increasing Hispanic population in our district and our student Hispanic population is also increasing. The percentage of our district population for the remaining race/ethnicity continues to increase along with the employee population by passing our district population numbers. IVCC makes a concerted effort to recruit a diverse pool of candidates for each open position. Supervisors and selection committee members are provided with training to ensure that the hiring process is handled fairly and the best candidates are selected for employment. In FY2019 the majority of our new hires were white females. Of the 13 full-time positions filled in FY19, seven were advertised nationally, which is IVCC’s practice when filling administrative, faculty, and traditionally hard-to-fill professional/technical positions. Part-or full-time support staff positions are not normally advertised outside of the local area as the local pool of qualified applicants for these positions is typically higher than the local pool for faculty and administrative positions. The top five recruitment sources from the Applitrack data are IVCC website (34%); other (23%); employee referral (10%); and Higher Ed Jobs (9%). Ms. Hofer noted that the HR department also focuses on new employee orientation, faculty and staff development days, training, wellness and diversity activities.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

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

The following items were approved in the consent agenda:

Approval of Minutes – October 10, 2019 Board Meeting and October 23, 2019 Board Planning Committee.

Approval of Bills - $1,665,476.01

Education Fund - $1,012,700.36; Operations & Maintenance Fund - $93,955.26; Operations & Maintenance (Restricted Fund) - $335,688.20; Auxiliary Fund - $115,622.04; Restricted Fund - $40,903.48; Audit Fund - $20,250.00; and Liability, Protection & Settlement Fund - $2,397.52.

Treasurer’s Report

Personnel

Approved the stipends for pay periods ending September 28, 2019; October 12, 2019; and October 26, 2019 & the Part-time Faculty and Staff Appointments of October 2019.

Bid Request

Authorized seeking bids for ten Amatrol PLC Troubleshooting Learning Systems and the software programs to run them at an estimated cost of $168,300.

Consortium Purchase

Approved the purchase of 280 tons of rock salt from Cargill Incorporated Salt Division through the Illinois Department of Central Management Services at $74.88 per ton, delivered, for a total of $20,966.40.

Purchase Request

Approved the renewal of 21 ccSpringboard Software licenses from Anaca Technologies, Ltd.in the amount of $11,445 for 2020.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Corcoran reported that Aseret Loveland, our assistant director of admissions and records, was named a “Woman of Distinction” by the Bureau County Republican recently and featured in a special edition of the Illinois Valley Living Magazine. He added that this led to her being honored at a very nice program on October 17 in Princeton. Dr. Corcoran thanked the BCR and our friends on the west side of the IVCC district for Aseret’s well-deserved recognition. Dr. Corcoran informed that on October 18, he was part of a group of five community college presidents that met with Dr. Jim Wolfinger, the new dean of the College of Education at ISU, as part of a teacher-education pipeline task force. Dr. Corcoran reported that the meeting went very well and he was encouraged by what he thought will lead to some impressive results. He noted that our initial purpose and charge was simply to discuss current articulation agreements for transfer programs, and to provide recommendations to enhance the pipeline to address the teacher shortage, especially in rural communities. Dr. Corcoran added that by working with our friends at ISU our hope is to develop strategies for high school-community college-ISU pathways to address the teacher shortage pipeline and especially strategies for returning adult to educator programs. Each of the college’s chief academic officers will be meeting soon to move the group’s agenda forward. Dr. Corcoran reported that the annual Results University Graduation program was held in our Dr. Mary Margaret Weeg Cultural Centre on October 19. He noted that this year we had 28 graduates and in three years that we have been hosting the event, we have granted 135 certificates to Results Companies employees. Dr. Corcoran congratulated Jen Sowers and Jennifer Scheri of our Continuing Education department on this corporate-training relationship. Dr. Corcoran noted that thanks to our excellent criminal justice program coordinator Kevin Hermes and Sherriff Tom Templeton, we are close to finalizing a partnership with the Central Illinois Police Training Center Mobile Training Unit #7 whereby their training office would be housed on campus along with a dedicated classroom in the Peter Miller Community Technology Center. He added that this new partnership will be good for the community in many ways especially by furthering our goal of recruiting more adult learners back to the campus for both continuing education and degree advancement purposes. Dr. Corcoran reported that we had representatives from more than 40 colleges and universities on campus on October 22^nd. The evening’s activities began with a financial aid seminar in the Cultural Centre followed by the main event in our gym. Dr. Corcoran noted that our Student Services division should be commended for their fine work as we had almost 400 attendees. Dr. Corcoran informed that the Manufacturing Expo held on October 29 was a big hit. He added that students began their day at one of 11 manufacturing sites in the district then visited our campus to see our manufacturing facilities and equipment and hear about how experts in the manufacturing world work closely with our college faculty to prepare students to enter exciting fields with great career advancement opportunities. Dr. Corcoran reported that the Community Relations and Foundation staff hosted a nice retiree’s reception on Nov. 7 in the cyber café which was well attended. Dr. Corcoran noted that last night’s Explore IVCC program in the Cultural Centre also went well with approximately 250 in attendance. He added that this is one of those events where it would be foolish and unfair to recognize one department or even one division for its success. Dr. Corcoran noted that although Quintin Overocker and Aseret Loveland took the lead, everyone pitched in and worked together to make the program a great success.

Mr. McCracken thanked Dr. Corcoran for his work in addressing the state-wide teacher shortage issue. He noted that the teacher shortage in Illinois is very real and we feel it often in our rural districts.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

The minutes from the October 23, 2019 Board Planning Committee Meeting are in the board book.

PHS PROJECTS

Motion made by Mr. Solon and seconded by Dr. Rebholz to approve the Protection, Health, and Safety projects as presented for a cost of $1,367,270 and authorize the administration to include $1,367,270 in the tax year 2019 levy. Motion passed by voice vote.

2019 TENTATIVE TAX LEVY

It was moved by Mr. McCracken and seconded by Dr. Boyles to adopt the Resolution approving a Tentative Tax Levy and Tentative Certificate of Tax Levy, as presented. Mr. Mallery commented that a decreased levy rate is much appreciated and he thanked the administration for its efforts in this direction. Motion passed by voice vote.

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

It was moved by Ms. Stevenson and seconded by Mr. Mallery to approve an increase of student worker wages to $9.25 per hour by Public Act 101-0001 effective January 2020.  Ms. Roelfsema confirmed that the wage increase would affect all student workers at IVCC across the board. Motion passed by voice vote.

BID RESULTS – PHASE I AGRICULTURE COMPLEX

It was moved by Mr. Solon and seconded by Ms. Stevenson to accept the bids for general contracting from Vissering Construction for $521,100 for the construction of an agriculture program equipment storage building. Motion passed by voice vote.

It was moved by Dr. Rebholz and seconded by Dr. Boyles to accept the bids for electrical contracting from JB Contracting Corporation for $63,653 for the construction of an agriculture program equipment storage building. Motion passed by voice vote.

BID RESULTS – UTILITY VEHICLE

It was moved by Ms. Stevenson and seconded by Mr. McCracken to accept the bid from German-Bliss Equipment, Princeville, Illinois as the lowest, most responsible bid for a Full-Sized 4 x 4 Utility Vehicle in the amount of $17,350. Motion passed by voice vote.

TRANSFER OF FUNDS

It was moved by Ms. Stevenson and seconded by Dr. Rebholz to approve the transfer of $66,190 to the Capital Development Board trust account at Midland States Bank to cover anticipated construction costs for Project No. 810-046-018. Motion passed by voice vote with Mr. Solon abstaining.

BOARD POLICIES

It was moved by Dr. Boyles and seconded by Mr. Solon to approve the changes in Board Policy 1.21 - Policy Formulation and Adoption and Policy 5.1 - Institutional Planning, as presented. Motion passed by voice vote.

TRUSTEE COMMENT

Ms. Goetz thanked Dr. Boyles for attending the ICCTA meeting on November 8 with her. Ms. Goetz shared a schedule of future ICCTA meeting dates with the Board. Dr. Boyles reported that she had tried the IVCC Podcast through Apple iTunes and found it to be a useful source.  She encouraged others to check it out as well.

CLOSED SESSION

Ms. Goetz requested a motion and a roll call vote at 7:02 p.m. to enter into a closed session to discuss: 1) collective negotiations; 2) appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body; and 3) closed session minutes.  Motion made by Mr. McCracken and seconded by Ms. Stevenson to enter into a closed session.

Roll Call Vote: “Ayes” – Ms. Stevenson, Mr. Mallery, Mr. McCracken, Dr. Rebholz, Dr. Boyles, Mr. Solon and Ms. Goetz.  “Nay” – none.  Motion carried. After a brief break the Board entered closed session at 7:10 p.m.

Motion made by Dr. Boyles and seconded by Mr. Solon to return to the regular meeting.

Roll Call Vote: “Ayes” – Ms. Stevenson, Mr. Mallery, Mr. McCracken, Dr. Rebholz, Dr. Boyles, Mr. Solon and Ms. Goetz.  “Nay” – none.  Motion carried. The regular meeting resumed at 7:25 p.m.

LETTER OF AGREEMENT – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING

It was moved by Mr. Solon and seconded by Mr. McCracken to approve the Letter of Agreement on Professional Development Funding, as presented. Motion passed by voice vote.

FACULTY APPOINTMENT – KATHRYN R. GRISWOLD, MEDICAL ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

It was moved by Ms. Stevenson and seconded by Mr. Solon to appoint Kathryn R. Griswold as Medical Assistant Instructor at A-7 with an annualized salary of $51,117 prorated January 8 through May 16, 2020 on the 2019/2020 faculty salary schedule. Motion passed by voice vote.

APPROVAL OF CLOSED SESSION MINUTES

It was moved by Dr. Rebholz and seconded by Ms. Stevenson to approve and retain the closed session minutes of the October 10, 2019 Closed Session Meeting. Motion passed by voice vote.

OTHER

None