Southern Illinois News

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board of Trustees met July 20.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. Call to Order & Roll Call – Chairman Gary Carter called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. and directed the Board Secretary Sonja Wease to call the roll.

Susan Batchelor: Present

John Brooks: Present

Roger Browning: Present

Gary Carter: Present

Brenda Culver: Present

Jan Ridgely: Present

Barbara Shimer: Present

Jorri VanDyke: Absent

Present: 7, Absent: 0.

Also present at the meeting, in addition to trustees:

Ryan Gower, Chancellor

Jay Edgren, President of Frontier Community College/Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs

Tona Ambrose, President of Lincoln Trail College/Vice Chancellor Institutional Outreach

Chris Simpson, President of Olney Central College/Vice Chancellor Business Operations

Matt Fowler, President of Wabash Valley College/Vice Chancellor Student Affairs

Ryan Hawkins, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer

Andrea McDowell, Executive Director of Human Resources

Alex Cline, Chief Information Officer

Paul Bruinsma, Chief Academic Officer

Sonja Wease, Board Secretary

2. Welcome from the Chair – Chairman Carter welcomed all who were present for the meeting. 3. Recognition of Visitors and Guests

3.A. Visitors and Guests – Bill Sandiford, LTC Foundation Executive Director, Brandon Weger, Amber Malone, Steve & Nixie Hnetkovsky, and Phil Thorsen.

3.B. IECCEA Representative – On behalf of the IECCEA, Dr. Thorsen shared concerns about the relationship between the faculty association and administration. Among areas addressed including but not limited to were communication, compensation of faculty, and compensation of administration. He also addressed several concerns related to negotiations including faculty compensation, working terms and conditions of faculty, use of adjunct faculty in place of bargaining unit members, seniority, reduction in force, union right to representation, changes to overload hours, and engagement in mandatory subjects of bargaining. A full copy of Dr. Thorsen’s address is attached to these minutes.

4. Public Comments - None

5. Reports

5.A. Trustees - None

5.B. Chancellor – No additional information to his previously sent report.

5.C. Presidents & Divisions – Reports were presented by the Presidents & Vice Chancellors of each division.

5.D. Division Report: Accreditation Update – Paul Bruinsma provided a report on the progress of the accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission.

6. Approval of Consent Agenda

Motion to approve consent agenda as presented. This motion, made by Brenda Culver and seconded by Barbara Shimer, Carried.

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Roger Browning: Yea, Gary Carter: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea

Yea: 7, Nay: 0

6.A. Disposition of Minutes – Open meeting minutes as prepared for the regular meeting held on June 18, 2024 were presented for approval.

6.B. Affiliation Agreements - Chancellor Gower recommended approval of affiliation agreements with RehabFocus LLC dba Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers and Wabash & Ohio Valley Special Education District.

7. Action on Items Removed from Consent Agenda - None

8. Policy First Reading (and Possible Approval)

8.A. Policy 500.40 Housing

Motion to waive second reading and approve Policy 500.40 First-Year Housing as presented. This motion, made by Roger Browning and seconded by Brenda Culver, Carried.

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Roger Browning: Yea, Gary Carter: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea

Yea: 7, Nay: 0

9. Policy Second Reading - None

10. Staff Recommendations for Approval

10.A. B&I Testing Fee

Motion to approve the increase from $15 to $35 to the proctoring fee to allow IECC to recover costs associated with administering examinations in the Business & Industry Division. This motion, made by Susan Batchelor and seconded by Roger Browning, Carried.

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Roger Browning: Yea, Gary Carter: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea

Yea: 7, Nay: 0

10.B. REddy Consulting Services Contract

Motion to approve a $48,000 contract with REddy Consulting Services for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 as presented. This motion, made by Barbara Shimer and seconded by Susan Batchelor, Carried.

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Absent, John Brooks: Abstain (With Conflict), Susan Batchelor: Yea, Roger Browning: Yea, Gary Carter: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea

Yea: 6, Nay: 0, Abstain (With Conflict): 1

10.C. Olney/Richland/Newton/Jasper Enterprise Zone Amendment

Motion to approve an amendment to the Olney/Richland/Newton/Jasper Enterprise Zone that will include residential projects as presented. This motion, made by Jan Ridgely and seconded by Susan Batchelor, Carried.

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Roger Browning: Yea, Gary Carter: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea

Yea: 7, Nay: 0

10.D. FY25 Budget

Motion to approve the FY25 Budget as presented. The Board projects revenues of $34,851,944 and expenses of $34,481,671 for the upcoming year. This motion, made by Roger Browning and seconded by John Brooks, Carried.

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Roger Browning: Yea, Gary Carter: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea

Yea: 7, Nay: 0

11. Bid Committee Report

Motion to approve the Bid Committee recommendation for acceptance of the bid From Spear Aquatics LLC of Roachdale, Indiana in the amount of $212,604 for the replacement of the pool liner at the Lincoln Trail College Natatorium. $146,000 of this cost is covered by a DCEO grant received in 2018 that must be spent down by March 2025. This motion, made by John Brooks and seconded by Barbara Shimer, Carried.

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Roger Browning: Yea, Gary Carter: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea

Yea: 7, Nay: 0

12. District Finance

12.A. Financial Report

Motion to approve payment of district financial obligation for July 2024 in the total amount of $2,115,864.02. This motion, made by Jan Ridgely and seconded by Susan Batchelor, Carried.

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Roger Browning: Yea, Gary Carter: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea

Yea: 7, Nay: 0

13. Executive Session

Motion to enter Executive Session under OMA Exception 2(c)(2) Collective Negotiating Matters at 7:53 p.m. This motion, made by Brenda Culver and seconded by Barbara Shimer, Carried.

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Roger Browning: Yea, Gary Carter: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea

Yea: 7, Nay: 0

Motion to adjourn executive session at 8:20 p.m. This motion, made by Brenda Culver and seconded by Roger Browning, Carried.

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Roger Browning: Yea, Gary Carter: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea

Yea: 7, Nay: 0

14. Approval of Executive Session Minutes

14.A. Written Executive Session Minutes

14.B. Audio Executive Session Minutes

Motion to approve the executive session minutes and audio recording from the meeting held on June 18, 2024. This motion, made by Susan Batchelor and seconded by Jan Ridgely, Carried.

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Roger Browning: Yea, Gary Carter: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea

Yea: 7, Nay: 0

14.C. Semi-Annual Review of Executive Session Minutes

Motion to approve the semi-annual review as presented. This motion, made by Barbara Shimer and seconded by Brenda Culver, Carried.

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Roger Browning: Yea, Gary Carter: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea

Yea: 7, Nay: 0

15. Approval of Personnel Report

400.1 Change in Status

A. Professional, Non-Faculty, Exempt

1. Tana Coleman, Part-Time Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach to Interim Women’s Head Basketball Coach, LTC, effective July 22, 2024

2. Brittany Biddle, Retention Specialist to College & Career Center Specialist, IECC, effective July 22, 2024

400.2 Dismissal of Personnel

A. William Lamb, Custodian, OCC, effective July 8, 2024

400.3 Resignation Ratification

A. Emily Rivera, Coordinator of International Students, Athletics, & Student Activities, FCC, effective June 18, 2024

B. Dane Inman, College Admissions Representative, WVC, effective July 5, 2024

C. Jodi Robinson, Coordinator of Academic Affairs, FCC, effective August 9, 2024

D. Cathy Ziegler, Student Services Specialist, LTC, effective June 20, 2024

E. Linda Ryan-Catt, TRIO Student Support Services Academic Counselor, LTC, effective August 4, 2024

F. Dana Goodwin, Academic Advisor and Athletic Director, LTC, effective August 2, 2024

Motion to approve the foregoing personnel report as presented. This motion, made by Jan Ridgely and seconded by Barbara Shimer, Carried.

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Roger Browning: Yea, Gary Carter: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea

Yea: 7, Nay: 0

16. Other Items - None

17. Adjournment

Motion to adjourn at 8:43 p.m. This motion, made by Susan Batchelor and seconded by Jan Ridgely, Carried.

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Roger Browning: Yea, Gary Carter: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea

Yea: 7, Nay: 0

https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2652?meeting=650340