May 2002 Board Meeting Report

Illinois Valley Community College could take an almost 13 percent cut in state funding compared to its 2002 budget, the college’s Board of Trustees learned Wednesday.

IVCC President Jean Goodnow told board members that the Illinois Community College Board has notified community colleges statewide that because of an anticipated $1.35 billion shortfall in state revenues, lawmakers will probably cut funding in a number of areas, including education.

For IVCC, that could mean a projected loss of $500,000 from its fiscal year 2002 state revenue.

"This makes a tight budget situation here even more precarious," Goodnow said. "The uncertainty of state financial support for education underscores our need for a consistent revenue base."

IVCC is expected to know exactly how much state cuts to education will total in the next two weeks as lawmakers finalize the state budget.

"We have been in contact with our legislators to let them know how much the state funding means to our community college and our community," Goodnow said. "However, when the state is looking at such a monumental deficit, I do still expect that education will take a serious financial blow."

IVCC had anticipated a loss of at least 2-3 percent of state revenue, which led trustees to pass a $3 tuition increase at the April board meeting. The tuition increase is expected to generate about $210,000 for the college; however, it will not be enough to make up for state cuts and increasing costs.

If the college is hit with a 13 percent cut, the administration will have to cut deeper into the 2003 budget. Goodnow has already instituted a freeze on hiring of non-grant positions and cuts would likely be made in instructional equipment, staff development and potentially programs and staff.

The board also accepted the resignation of Mary Prentice, division chair of social science and public service, effective Aug. 6. Prentice, who joined IVCC last fall, has accepted a position at New Mexico State University where she will be teaching future community college administrators.

In other business, the board:

• Decided to seek bids for printing 86,000 copies of the fall schedule. The copies will be mailed to all homes in the IVCC district in mid-July. The fall semester starts Aug. 19.
• Accepted the $27,906 bid from CDW Government of Vernon Hills for printing supplies and the bid of $15,337 from Unisource Worldwide of Addison for paper.
• Accepted the $30,467 bid of Bradford Systems of Peoria to relocate the existing library shelving and to purchase additional library shelving. The shelves need to be moved because of asbestos abatement work that will begin Aug. 5 in the college’s main building.
• Authorized a new insurance carrier — the Community College Insurance Consortium — to provide health insurance for college employees during fiscal year 2003.
• Learned repairs to campus parking lots and roads are being completed by Universal Contracting of Peru. The company submitted the low bid of $21,010
• Learned Allison Lourash has been appointed Bridges to Success Program coordinator. The position is funded through a state grant.
• Learned the state had approved the certificate program for Graphic Design Technology.
• Met new student trustee Rebekah Peterson.