August 2020 Board Report

Illinois Valley Community College’s board gave tentative approval to the 2021 budget Thursday – a plan that is not expected to result in a tax increase, Vice President for Business Services and Finance Cheryl Roelfsema said.

Overall, revenues are projected at $32.1 million, less than one percent over 2020. Expenditures of $32.5 million are up less than one percent over the previous year.

The general fund is $22.5 million, an increase of 1.4 percent. The fund, comprised of the education and operations and maintenance funds, includes a $600,000 contingency to protect the college against a potential enrollment drop during the pandemic and the possibility state support could decrease if the proposed income tax increase fails in the Nov. 3 election.

Final budget passage is expected Sept. 10 following a public hearing. The 80-page document is available for public viewing in the Business Office, Room C338, or online at https://www.ivcc.edu/businessservices/financial-budgets/Budget_FY21_tentative.pdf.

In other business, the board approved:

Purchase of $50,000 in fuel cards for the Truck Driver Training program from WEX Inc.
Expending $50,000 for OSHA training instruction for the Continuing Education Center. Costs are recovered through fees charged to CEC clients.
Expending $40,000 for janitorial supplies from Home Depot Pro, formerly Supply Works of Peoria, and nearly $30,000 in elevator maintenance services from ThyssenKrupp of Peoria.
Renewal of Microsoft software maintenance and support from CDW for $27,303.
The retirement request of Director of Nursing Programs Julie Hogue effective Dec. 31. Hogue taught nursing 12 years before being promoted to director four years ago. In her retirement letter, Hogue said, “I remain a devoted supporter of IVCC and the positive impact it has had on the surrounding communities.”
Renewal of premiums with Wright Specialty Insurance and Travelers for $137,822 and workers’ compensation insurance with Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust for $80,058.

The board also learned:

Erin Templeton has been hired as a full-time administrative assistant in Information Technology Services and Tracy Schwemlein as payroll and benefits coordinator.
Resignations have been submitted by academic support technologist Marty Makransky, Continuing Education program manager Cathy Buck and Writing Center interim coordinator Christine Stiel. Makransky’s resignation is effective Aug. 21.
Modifications were made to the fall calendar due to IVCC being closed for the Nov. 3 election.
In his report, IVCC President Jerry Corcoran credited facilities staff for the clean-up work they performed following Monday’s “derechco” storm. “Facilities takes pride in keeping everyone comfortable, safe and secure,” he said.
Adult Education’s July 23 drive-through recognition event attracted a dozen GED-High School Equivalency graduates, U.S. Citizenship passers, completers of the Bridge to Careers program and completers of the new ICAP program (Integrated Career and Academic Preparation System).
Therapeutic Massage hosted a ceremony for six graduates Aug. 7 in the Dr. Mary Margaret Weeg Cultural Centre.
Grand opening for the recently completed Agriculture Center is 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 at the site off Orlando Smith Road. The event is limited to 50 invitees.
Of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 1810 entitled “Full-time Counselor Alternative Service Delivery.”
Corcoran lauded LaSalle County Health Department Administrator Julie Kerestes for providing “tremendous feedback on IVCC’s COVID–19 Operations and Safety Plan.”
Corcoran commended employees for overcoming a myriad of impediments this spring and summer. “A lot of good people have worked hard on marketing, outreach and student support under difficult circumstances. Other than a pandemic, state directive to close the campus in the middle of a semester and move everything online, a cyberattack, derecho and two-day power outage, 2020 has been a routine year.”