March 9, 2023 Minutes of Regular Meeting
The Board of Trustees of Illinois Valley Community College District No. 513 convened a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 9, 2023 in the Board Room (C307) at Illinois Valley Community College.
Members Physically Present
Everett J. Solon, Chair
Amy L. Boyles
William F. Hunt
Maureen O. Rebholz
Members Virtually Present
Jay K. McCracken, Vice Chair (left the meeting at 6:11 p.m.)
Angela M. Stevenson, Secretary
Ashton F. Dille, Student Trustee
Members Telephonically Present
Members Absent
Jane E. Goetz
Others Physically Present
Jerry Corcoran, President
Matthew Seaton, Vice President for Business Services & Finance
Mark Grzybowski, Vice President for Student Services
Mary Beth Herron, Director of Human Resources
Tracy Morris, President-Elect
Walt Zukowski, Attorney
Others Virtually Present
OPENING REMARKS
Mr. Solon informed of the following: Provisions within Section 7(e) of the Open Meetings Act, allowing for Board meetings to be virtual and without requiring the physical presence of a quorum of the members, continue to apply to our Board meetings due to (a) Governor Pritzker’s most recent disaster proclamation; and (b) my determination that in-person meetings are not practical or prudent (for all board members and members of the public) because of the disaster. It is the custom and practice of the college to record Board meetings and the meeting was being recorded both audio and video. Anyone joining the meeting virtually, please mute until you are ready to speak.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
It was moved by Mr. Hunt and seconded by Dr. Rebholz to approve the agenda.
Student Advisory Vote: “Aye” – Ms. Dille. Roll Call Vote: “Ayes” – Mr. Hunt, Ms. Stevenson, Mr. McCracken, Dr. Boyles, Dr. Rebholz and Mr. Solon. “Nay” – none. Motion carried.
APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY PRO-TEM
Mr. Solon appointed Dr. Boyles as secretary pro-tem in the physical absence of Ms. Stevenson.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
It was moved by Dr. Boyles and seconded by Dr. Rebholz to approve the consent agenda, as presented.
Student Advisory Vote: “Aye” – Ms. Dille. Roll Call Vote: “Ayes” – Mr. Hunt, Ms. Stevenson, Mr. McCracken, Dr. Rebholz, Dr. Boyles and Mr. Solon. “Nay” – none. Motion carried.
The following items were approved in the consent agenda:
Approval of Minutes – February 9, 2023 Audit Finance Committee Meeting and February 9,2023 Board Meeting
Approval of Bills - $2,712,064.86
Education Fund - $2,057,123.74; Operations & Maintenance Fund - $104,904.29; Operations & Maintenance (Restricted Fund) - $285,104.12; Auxiliary Fund - $125,161.31; Restricted Fund - $89,216.80; Liability, Protection & Settlement Fund - $50,222.94; and Grants, Loans & Scholarships - $331.66.
Treasurer’s Report
Personnel
Approved stipends for pay periods ending February 11, 2023 and February 25, 2023 & Part-time Faculty and Staff Appointments February 2023.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Dr. Corcoran reported that the college’s annual employee recognition event will be held on Friday, April 28 at Grand Bear Resort where we will be honoring people for years of service, awarding of tenure, distinguished service and retirees. The social hour will begin at 4 p.m., with hors d’oeuvres at 4:30 and the presentation of awards beginning at 5:30 p.m. Trustees are encouraged to join us if you can. Dr. Corcoran thanked the recognition event committee made up of Gerilynn Smith, Crystal Credi, Tina Hardy, Paula Hallock, Taylor Burden, and Mary Beth Herron for their work and attention to details. Please RSVP directly to Judy Day. Dr. Corcoran informed that the governor’s budget address delivered on February 15 was very encouraging; highlights to higher education include an increase of $100 million to the Monetary Award Program; a 7%, or $20 million, increase to the community college system operating budget; $10 million for a new grant to develop noncredit programs in Advanced Manufacturing and Electric Vehicle Technologies; $1 million for data center curriculum development; $3.2 million for a new community college dual credit program; $5.2 million for new noncredit workforce training grants; $2 million for digital instruction in adult education programs; and $0.75 to expand ESL programs. He noted that the increase to MAP is especially exciting because it will make community college free to nearly all Illinois residents at or below the median-income level. Dr. Corcoran reported that we had a number of folks who contributed to the college’s Celebrate IVCC Development Day program on March 3rd. As usual Dr. Patrice Hess took the lead in pulling the day’s activities together that began with a nice address to all college employees by President-Elect Dr. Tracy Morris and followed with HLC Student Success Academy Team Facilitators Crystal Credi, Mark Grzybowski, Jon Hubble, Missy Killian, Dr. Gary Roberts and Dawn Watson engaging employees in discussion on what we are doing well and opportunities for improvement. Dr. Corcoran noted that two days ago the college received excellent news that our Popular Annual Financial Report earned the coveted GFOA Certificate of Achievement for excellence in financial reporting. He added that administrative assistant Nikki Vannielen, controller Kathy Ross and vice president Dr. Seaton deserve all the credit in the world for this achievement. Dr. Corcoran noted he could not be any prouder of this awesome team. Dr. Corcoran thanked Jane Goetz for attending the regional trustees meeting with him that was held at Heartland Community College on The Future of Work by Dr. Barbara Endel. He added that the slides Dr. Endel used and an entertaining video clip will be sent to the Board shortly.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mr. Solon noted that the February 9th Audit Finance Committee meeting minutes are in the Board book.
TUITION ADJUSTMENT
It was moved by Dr. Rebholz and seconded by Mr. McCracken to approve to keep tuition flat and increase fees by $2.00, for a total of $133.00 to $135.00 per credit hour beginning with the summer 2023 semester.
Student Advisory Vote: “Aye” – Ms. Dille. Roll Call Vote: “Ayes” – Mr. Hunt, Ms. Stevenson, Mr. McCracken, Dr. Rebholz, Dr. Boyles and Mr. Solon. “Nay” – none. Motion carried.
Dr. Corcoran noted that this is the sixth consecutive year that Illinois Valley Community College has not increased tuition.
FACULTY RETIREMENT – DR. MARJORIE FRANCISCO, NURSING INSTRUCTOR
It was moved by Dr. Rebholz and seconded by Mr. Hunt to accept with regret the retirement of Dr. Marjorie Francisco, Nursing Instructor, effective May 31, 2024, as submitted through the Retirement Planning Program.
Student Advisory Vote: “Aye” – Ms. Dille. Roll Call Vote: “Ayes” – Mr. Hunt, Ms. Stevenson, Mr. McCracken, Dr. Rebholz, Dr. Boyles and Mr. Solon. “Nay” – none. Motion carried.
Dr. Corcoran thanked Dr. Francisco for her years of service and all that she has done for the College and wished her well in her retirement.
BID RESULTS – HANDHELD/PORTABLE XRF ANALYZER FOR AG PROGRAM
It was moved by Dr. Boyles and seconded by Mr. McCracken to accept the bid from evident Scientific, Inc., Waltham, MA for a Handheld/Portable X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analyzer at a cost of $30,770.
Student Advisory Vote: “Aye” – Ms. Dille. Roll Call Vote: “Ayes” – Mr. Hunt, Ms. Stevenson, Mr. McCracken, Dr. Rebholz, Dr. Boyles and Mr. Solon. “Nay” – none. Motion carried.
PURCHASE REQUEST – BOOKSTORE REMODEL PROJECT
Motion made by Mr. Hunt and seconded by Ms. Stevenson to accept the proposal for the Bookstore Remodel project from Franklin Fixtures Cookeville, TN at a cost of $48,455.
Student Advisory Vote: “Aye” – Ms. Dille. Roll Call Vote: “Ayes” – Mr. Hunt, Ms. Stevenson, Mr. McCracken, Dr. Rebholz, Dr. Boyles and Mr. Solon. “Nay” – none. Motion carried.
Dr. Boyles pointed out that the project for the bookstore remodeling would be paid for by Federal HEERF funding.
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
Mr. Solon pointed out the information items on pages 40-47 of the Board book.
TRUSTEE COMMENT
Mr. Hunt congratulated the Business Office team for its fine work.
CLOSED SESSION
Mr. Solon requested a motion and a roll call vote at 5:44 p.m. to enter into a closed session to discuss: 1) the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body; 2) collective negotiations; 3) complaint lodged against an employee of the public body; and 4) closed session minutes. Motion made by Dr. Rebholz and seconded by Ms. Stevenson to enter into a closed session.
Student Advisory Vote: “Aye” – Ms. Dille. Roll Call Vote: “Ayes” – Mr. Hunt, Ms. Stevenson, Mr. McCracken, Dr. Rebholz, Dr. Boyles and Mr. Solon. “Nay” – none. Motion carried. The Board immediately entered closed session at 5:45 p.m.
Motion made by Dr. Rebholz and seconded by Dr. Boyles to return to the regular meeting.
Student Advisory Vote: “Aye” – Ms. Dille. Roll Call Vote: “Ayes” – Mr. Hunt, Ms. Stevenson, Dr. Rebholz, Dr. Boyles and Mr. Solon. “Nay” – none. Motion carried. The regular meeting resumed at 6:38 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION MINUTES
It was moved by Dr. Rebholz and seconded by Mr. Hunt to approve and retain the closed session minutes of the February 9, 2023 Board Meeting.
Student Advisory Vote: “Aye” – Ms. Dille. Roll Call Vote: “Ayes” – Mr. Hunt, Dr. Rebholz, Dr. Boyles and Mr. Solon. “Nay” – none. “Abstain” – Ms. Stevenson. Motion carried.
OTHER
None
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Solon declared the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.