July 2005 Board Meeting Report

Illinois Valley Community College announced at their Wednesday night board meeting that Dr. Charles Novak from DuQuoin, Illinois was appointed the interim president of Illinois Valley Community College. Dr. Novak is retired from Richland Community College formerly serving as president. Dr. Novak worked at Illinois Valley Community College as the Associate Dean of Instruction for Continuing Education from 1974-1977.

“Dr. Charles R. Novak comes to Illinois Valley Community College with a wealth of experience. He is a retired president from Richland Community College and served as interim president at Morton College in Cicero and is well respected throughout community colleges in the nation. We are honored to have him accept the appointment of interim president to address the needs of IVCC during our search for a new president,” said Deborah L. Sweeden board chair.

Dr. Jerry Corcoran, vice-president for business services and finance/treasurer, and Cheryl Roelfsema, controller, presented the tentative fiscal year 2006 budget to the Illinois Valley Community College board.

The operating budget of approximately $16 million is balanced and based upon the following assumptions: projected reimbursed credit hours of 78,933; a 1.8% decline in the district's equalized assessed valuation; continuing eligibility for equalization; level state apportionment; an increase in corporate personal property tax revenue; and tuition at $54 per credit hour.

The final budget will be submitted for approval at the August 24 board meeting.

In other action, the board authorized the administration to increase the tuition and fees for the truck driver training program from $2,756 to $3,200 per student effective at the start of the fall 2005 semester. This increase is consistent with other community colleges providing truck driver training.

The board gave authorization to begin negotiations with the American Federation of Teachers, Local 1810 for the faculty at the Sheridan Correctional Center for the 2005-2006 contract year and moved to ratify the three-year contact with the service employees international union local 138 as negotiated.

Dr. Robert P. Marshall, acting president, presented the president’s report noting campus events and activities. Highlights of the president’s report included the notation that the IVCC Foundation raised over $10, 400 for developmental education through their annual golf outing on June 23 in Mendota.

The business office was authorized to accept the proposal from Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers, Inc. as IVCC’s beverage sponsor for a five year agreement.

In other business, the board approved the intergovernmental agreement between the city of Oglesby and IVCC to extend the life of TIF I for 12 years as outlined in the agreement, adopted an agreement with LaSalle County regarding real estate valuation, approved the vice-president contracts and approved employee salary increases not to exceed 3.5%.

The board also:

  • Learned Russell G. Witte would serve as assistant men’s basketball coach; and Mark W. Tellkamp as head baseball coach.
  • Accepted the resignations of Michael R. Duffy, welding technology instructor and James Swisher, commercial custodian at the Sheridan Correctional Facility; and Meg Kowalczyk, counselor and Carol L. Ostrowski, administrative assistant to the project success program; and Brian Campbell, professor of English.