November 2015 Board Report

Illinois Valley Community College’s board Thursday adopted an $11.4 million tax levy for 2015 and learned the college will pay off all bonds in the coming year and be debt-free.

IVCC Vice President for Business Services and Finance Cheryl Roelfsema said the levy will remain in the 37-cent range and would result in a slight increase to the average homeowner.

IVCC’s portion of taxes on a home valued at $150,000 would increase $3.58 cents to $188.76, she said.

The college will receive an $882,000 increase in the equity tax that is based on the average operating fund levies for community colleges. The “additional tax” is used exclusively for educational purposes and will help offset the shortfall in state funding.

“We are trying to be fair to taxpayers and trying to be fair to students also,” Roelfsema said.

IVCC President Jerry Corcoran added, “Levying the full allowable equity tax for operations allows us to stay at the state average and control the cost of tuition so that we maintain affordability.”

In total, the levy is increasing $328,026, a 3 percent increase over 2014. EAV is expected to increase one percent to $3,024,327,000. The increase in the special purpose property taxes will be largely offset by retirement of a $5 million bond issue the college used for part of its 25 percent match to construct the Community Technology Center.

“We’re proud to be able to pay off our bonds and be debt-free. That’s a heck of an accomplishment for any community college, especially during tough economic times,” said Corcoran.

The levy will require a public hearing prior to the 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 meeting.

The meeting began with a moment of silence for 20-year librarian Joanne Jalley who died Oct. 31.

The board also approved:

  • Purchase of a Pyramid upgrade for the Blackboard Analytics system and installation, support and startup services from Blackboard Incorporated for $36,395.
  • Contracting with Burwood Group for the hardware and software upgrade, installation and startup services for the Cisco IP phone system for $65,423.
  • The base bid from EHC Industries of Wauconda for $13,000 for asbestos abatement for the Building A chiller/air handler replacement.
  • Continuation of the current employee health insurance coverage through the community college insurance cooperative. In a related move, the board authorized continuing contributions to employee health savings plans and health reimbursement accounts beginning Jan. 1.

The board also learned:

  • Athletics is researching the possibility of adding soccer as a team sport. Corcoran said 10 district high schools and 20 Illinois community colleges have soccer programs and a survey of 140 district high school players revealed 120 have an interest in playing at IVCC. Though no formal recommendation was made Thursday, Corcoran said, “Adding soccer, just like adding to our agriculture program, could result in more students enrolling.”
  • Sue Mertel of the learning technologies department will retire Dec. 1. In her retirement letter, Mertel said, “I have been at IVCC for a long time and will miss interacting with the students and the amazing group of people who make up the IVCC family.”
  • Mary Ann Wisniewski was hired as accounting clerk-payables/cashier.
  • Connie Sprong resigned her position in the admissions office effective Nov. 6.
  • Accreditors from the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) visited IVCC in mid-October to review the early childhood education program. “A final report will not be issued until spring but it was obvious to everyone during the exit meeting that the accreditors were impressed with the fine work of Diane Christianson and her part-time faculty Tammy Landgraf and Lynne Weber,” Corcoran said.
  • IVCC continues to work toward expanding its agriculture program. The college has met with a number of high school agriculture program coordinators and a steering committee will meet for the third time Dec. 14. The group will assess ways to strengthen the transfer program and explore potential niche markets such as precision agriculture, the business of agriculture, and sustainable, small-farm agriculture.
  • Dean Jason Emmert of the University of Illinois’ College of ACES will be at IVCC at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16 to discuss IVCC’s partnership with ACES -- including ag career opportunities, financial aid and ag student organizations.
  • The athletic department’s first Eagles Trivia Night Oct. 24 raised over $8,500 and attracted 286 participants and 76 sponsors.
  • The Oct. 22 Manufacturing Career Expo drew 370 students from13 high schools.  Before coming to IVCC, students toured facilities such as Allegion, Black Bros., Carus Corporation, Eakas Corporation, Flint Hills Resources, James Hardie Building Products, SABIC Innovative Plastics, and Vactor Manufacturing.