September 2006 Board Meeting Report

The Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees learned that the administration has effectively negotiated intergovernmental agreements with the city of LaSalle that support the creation of the planned LaSalle Waterpark Tax Increment Financing District and the LaSalle Industrial Park TIF district and with the village of North Utica on the creation of the Love’s Travel Stop TIF district at Wednesday night’s meeting. Since these TIF districts are located in IVCC’s district there is the possibility of a negative impact on the college’s real estate tax base without these agreements. At the recommendation of the administration and with the approval of the board, both the LaSalle and North Utica have agreed to reimburse the college for expenditures for capital costs, job training and advanced vocational and career education from the real estate tax increment created by the increase in the equalized assessed valuation for the life of the TIF districts.

In March of 2001, the Illinois Community College Board endorsed an initiative to enhance the role of community colleges in teacher preparation and quality improvements. As a result of this initiative and the approval of the board, IVCC will offer a new associate of arts in teaching/early childhood education. The AAT degree was developed jointly by a statewide steering committee to address the high need areas for teachers across the state. In addition to the AAT degree in early childhood education, statewide degrees have been approved for an AAT degree in science and an AAT degree in math with special education and English as a second language in development. The degree will provide students with the program equivalent of the first two years at Northern Illinois University and Eastern Illinois University in the early childhood teacher education program. IVCC transfer coordinator Jim Stevenson is working with other Illinois colleges and universities such as Illinois State University to expand the transferability of this degree. Students are encouraged to check individual transfer requirements before beginning the degree.

Dr. Harriet Custer, vice-president for academic affairs served on the steering committee responsible for developing the original AAT degree and model. Professor Diane Christianson, early childhood education program coordinator has been working with Illinois Community College Board and other community colleges in developing IVCC’s AAT in early childhood education degree. "The AAT in ECE will be a wonderful avenue for our students who have chosen IVCC and later decide to pursue a bachelor's degree in ECE. The IVCC ECE program provides students hands-on and real-life experiences in the field early on, allowing them to recognize and establish their future career goals. The seamless transfer with the AAT will introduce students with theory and practical experiences prior to commitment to the 4 year institution of choice. The AAT in ECE has been an ongoing process of collaboration with two year and four year institutions to assure students’ needs are met," stated Christianson.

In response to the needs of local hospitals and health care providers to address the significant medical staff shortage in the area of medical transcription, the board approved a new certificate in medical transcription. The 25 credit hour curriculum for the certificate will be offered completely online as IVCC will be entering into an Academic Partner Agreement with Career Step, LLC to provide the online medical transcription coursework.

The board approved an agreement between IVCC and the LaSalle County Health Department in the development of a cooperative plan that would designate the college as a mass medication dispensing and vaccination site whenever people have been exposed to a communicable disease. The college was selected given its location, size and wide range of exemplary services.

The board approved

  • A new position of a full-time Learning Ladder teaching position contingent on the continued contract agreement with Ace Hardware.
  • The entry of 8.4 acres, part of farm #8841 into a 15 year conservation reserve enhancement program.
  • Board policy 2021-repeating a class as presented.
  • Stipends for payroll ending Aug. 26 and Sept. 9.
  • The reinstatement of the current full-time instructional and academic support staff at the Sheridan Correctional Center with receipt of the signed contract with IDOC for IVCC services to be offered through June 30, 2007.

In other business the board authorized

  • The administration to seek requests for proposals for an insurance consultant and a compensation consultant.
  • The administration to remit $2,070 to Specialty Floors in Rockford for additional work performed on the gym floor.

The board heard

  • Robert Reese’s resignation as assistant women’s softball coach, Kelly S. Obermiller appointment as textbook buyer, Lynda M. Kasik as assistant volleyball coach and Barbara A. Downey as administrative assistant in truck driver training.
  • A presentation by Valery Calvetti, director on the function of the office of community relations and marketing.