April 2014 Board Report

Noted Chicago artist John Adduci will construct a 14-foot tall stainless steel sculpture in front of Illinois Valley Community College’s Peter Miller Community Technology Center (CTC) this summer, trustees learned Thursday.

Adduci’s creation resembles a universal on/off switch and functions as a sundial. Resting on a 24-foot diameter concrete base, the 14-foot high by 12-foot wide arch will emerge from a 15-foot-diameter partial circle or sundial.

The “Art in Architecture” project is mandated by the Illinois Capital Development Board, the state agency that oversaw CTC construction. CDB requires .5 percent of state construction funds be used on art; IVCC received $22.8 million in capital funding for an art-in-architecture budget of $114,224.

Adduci was one of 37 Illinois artists submitting proposals to a selection committee consisting of representatives from La Salle County, City of Oglesby, the Illinois Arts Council, Illinois State Museum and project architects Basalay, Carey & Alstadt.

In a 2010 profile, Chicago Art Magazine said Adduci was one of the city’s best sculptors.

“Curving forms, energy, movement, and balance are key themes in Adduci’s work,” the magazine said. Working in the body shop of his father’s south side car dealership, Adduci learned welding, metal fabrication and painting from journeymen.

Adduci’s work is on display in Chicago, Milwaukee and as far north as Manitoba, Canada.

The magazine said, “Adduci has been working for a long time and his enthusiasm for sculpture remains undiminished.”

Adduci himself said, “I still physically like the action of working. I love wrestling with the metal …”

In other action, the board approved:

  • Purchase of 21 iMac computers and a Mac OS X server from Apple for the graphic arts lab at a cost of $39,256.
  • Purchase of 20 Dell laptops for Ottawa Center and five for Jacobs Library at a cost of $19,421. The computers will replace 20 used laptops donated by State Farm.
  • The resignation of health and wellness instructor and volleyball coach Julie Sherbeyn effective July 21. Sherbeyn, who began work at IVCC in 1999 as a fitness center instructor, was named head volleyball coach in 2009. She has accepted a position at Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington.
  • A resolution recognizing student trustee Taylor Gunia for her service to the board.
  • Temporary special assignments for Lynn Moore and Connie Skerston of the admissions office due to admissions director Mark Grzybowski being named Interim Associate Vice President of Student Services.
  • The tentative 2015 board of trustees’ budget.
  • An inter-district cooperative agreement with Joliet Junior College to better serve students in the Seneca school district. IVCC has similar agreements with Illinois Central, Sauk Valley and Heartland.
  • A three-year extension of the security services contract with G4S.
  • The $24,700 quote from Indicom Electric to replace the ground wire for the gym. Indicom will correct work done by Excel Electric in 2010 that did not comply with electrical code. Efforts to have Excel correct the problem were unsuccessful.

The board also learned:

  • Seven members of the Student Government Association visited area legislators at the State Capitol April 2 as part of Student Advocacy Day. In meetings with Sen. Sue Rezin and Rep. Frank Mautino, student leaders advocated for level funding for community colleges, prioritizing the Monetary Award Program (MAP) and setting aside 15-20 percent of the overall MAP appropriation for students who make their college plans in late spring or early summer. “This could be very beneficial to our students,” said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran.
  • The nursing department inducted 10 students in the Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society March 31. “When you learn of the time and work that went into being able to even establish a society here, it helps one realize how committed our faculty are to student success and why year-in – and year-out – our nursing students do so well in passing the NCLEX exam and meeting the needs of local healthcare providers,” Corcoran said.
  • Alex Boye’s March 29 concert in the Cultural Centre was a success, Corcoran said, adding “more culturally-enriching programs are on the horizon, especially with all of the facility enhancements that have taken place and are being planned.”