Southern Illinois News

Kaskaskia Community College District #501 Board of Trustees met July 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

ROLL CALL/ATTENDANCE

Chair Bill Hawley convened a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees (Board) on Monday, July 22, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Wedekemper Board Room on the Kaskaskia College (College) main campus. Trustees present at the meeting in person were Jim Beasley, Craig Finke, Bill Hawley, Bryan Holthaus, Louis Kalert, Linda Stover, Laura Wedekemper, and Student Trustee Connor Wademan.

Christopher Gorman, Legal Counsel from Robbins Schwartz attended the meeting in person.

College staff members attending in person were George Evans, Cary Day, Joy Fitts, Sara Hanks, Chris Holloway, George Kriss, Traci Masau, Julie Obermark, Connor Pohlman, Karol Potter, Shawn Richards, Lisa Ring, Craig Roper, Nathan Wilkins, and Amy Zanton.

Media attending in person was Steven Stilt of WJBD radio.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Chair Hawley led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

RECOGNITION

President Evans welcomed everyone and introduced new employees Tori Lueke - Assistant Professor of Nursing; Janelle Lyons - Buildings and Grounds Technician; Dean Meredith - Buildings and Grounds Technician; Juliana Weiner - Children’s Learning Center Teacher.

President Evans recognized members of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Madison Johnson, Isabelle Highfield, and Tyson Thompson and their sponsor Professor of Office Systems Technology Kerri Richards. Professor Richards introduced the members and provided the Board with an update of the team’s winning results at the national competition held in Florida and the appointment of the members to different State positions with FBLA.

PUBLIC COMMENT

No public comment.

CONSENT AGENDA

Items on the Consent Agenda included

June 24, 2024, Regular Meeting Minutes

July 9, 2024, Community Engagement Meeting – Nashville Education Center

July 11, 2024, Community Engagement Meeting – Salem Education Center

Ratification and approval of disbursements and payrolls for June 2024 which includes travel reimbursements for board members and College employees if any requested reimbursement exceeds maximum allowable costs, Treasurer Report, Budget Report,

Personnel Report, Kaskaskia College Foundation Report, and Kaskaskia College Friends of Fine Arts Report. Administrative Reports include the Executive Services Report, Administrative Services Report, Institutional Support and Technology Services Report, Instructional Services Report, and Student Services Report.

Motion by Jim Beasley to accept the consent agenda.

Roll call:

Jim Beasley yes         Louis Kalert yes

Craig Finke yes          Linda Stover yes

Bill Hawley yes           Laura Wedekemper yes

Bryan Holthaus yes    Connor Wademan yes

PRESENTATION OF PROGRAM REVIEW

Provost and Vice President of Instructional Services Julie Obermark presented an overview of an enrollment analysis and program review.

OLD UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

CLOSED SESSION

There was no closed session.

APPROVAL OF COLLEGE PRESIDENT TO PROCEED WITH PROCURING SERVICES OF LOBBYIST IN PURSUIT OF CAPITAL FUNDS FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS

Motion by Bryan Holthaus to approve the College President to proceed with procuring services of Eric Madiar of Madiar Government Relations, not to exceed $60,000 per year to assist Kaskaskia College in securing state and federal capital funds for deferred maintenance and institutional modernization projects.

Roll call:

Jim Beasley yes         Louis Kalert yes

Craig Finke yes          Linda Stover yes

Bill Hawley yes           Laura Wedekemper yes

Bryan Holthaus yes    Connor Wademan yes

RESOLUTION 24-36

RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE FY2026 RESOURCE ALLOCATION MANAGEMENT PLAN (RAMP) APPLICATION

Motion by Bryan Holthaus to approve the submittal of a Resource Allocation Management Program (RAMP) capital request for Fiscal Year 2026 to the Illinois Community College Board to seek funding for the following proposed projects:

▪ Exterior Main Water Line Replacement as priority #1 at an estimated cost of $1,410,000

▪ Elevator Replacement as priority #2 at an estimated cost of $870,160

▪ Harry L. Crisp Technology Center Roof Replacement Project as priority #3 at an estimated cost of $1,138,680

▪ Harry L. Crisp Technology Center Parking Lot Replacement as priority #4 at an estimated cost of $390,000.

In accordance with the RAMP application process.

Roll call:

Jim Beasley yes         Louis Kalert yes

Craig Finke yes          Linda Stover yes

Bill Hawley yes           Laura Wedekemper yes

Bryan Holthaus yes    Connor Wademan yes

RESOLUTION 24-37

RESOLUTION TO RATIFY THE PURCHASE OF THE JANE KNIGHT AUDITORIUM AV EQUIPMENT UPGRADES (100% TITLE III FUNDING)

Motion by Linda Stover to ratify the purchase of the Jane Knight Auditorium AV equipment upgrades from Technical Productions, Inc. of St. Louis, MO in the amount of $88,272.86.

Roll call:

Jim Beasley yes         Louis Kalert yes

Craig Finke yes          Linda Stover yes

Bill Hawley yes           Laura Wedekemper yes

Bryan Holthaus yes    Connor Wademan yes

APPROVAL OF HEALTH, DENTAL, AND VISION INSURANCE RENEWAL WITH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ILLINOIS

Motion by Bryan Holthaus to approve the renewal of the Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance coverage at an increase of 8.1% for the health, dental, and vision insurance effective September 1, 2024. Approximately 20% of the premium cost is paid through employees’ payroll contributions.

Roll call:

Jim Beasley yes         Louis Kalert yes

Craig Finke yes          Linda Stover yes

Bill Hawley yes           Laura Wedekemper yes

Bryan Holthaus yes    Connor Wademan yes

APPROVAL OF EMPLOYMENT OF DEVELOPMENT AND GRANT COORDINATOR (REPLACEMENT POSITION)

Motion by Linda Stover to approve the hire of James Patrick as the Development and Grant Coordinator, with a tentative effective date of August 5, 2024, at a salary of $70,000 with eligibility for fringe benefits.

Roll call:

Jim Beasley yes         Louis Kalert yes

Craig Finke yes          Linda Stover yes

Bill Hawley yes           Laura Wedekemper yes

Bryan Holthaus yes    Connor Wademan yes

APPROVAL OF EMPLOYMENT OF DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS (REPLACEMENT POSITION)

Motion by Bryan Holthaus to approve the hire of James Anderson as the full-time Director of Institutional Effectiveness, with a tentative effective start date of August 5, 2024, at an annual salary of $63,000.

Roll call:

Jim Beasley yes         Louis Kalert yes

Craig Finke yes          Linda Stover yes

Bill Hawley yes           Laura Wedekemper yes

Bryan Holthaus yes    Connor Wademan yes

APPROVAL OF EMPLOYMENT OF ENGLISH TRANSITION SUCCESS COACH (NEW POSITION)

Motion by Bryan Holthaus to approve the hire of Brittani Miller as English Transition Success Coach at the listed salary of $48,000. A suggested start date is August 5, 2024.

Roll call:

Jim Beasley yes         Louis Kalert yes

Craig Finke yes          Linda Stover yes

Bill Hawley yes           Laura Wedekemper yes

Bryan Holthaus yes    Connor Wademan yes

APPROVAL OF EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN’S LEARNING CENTER TEACHER (REPLACEMENT POSITION)

Motion by Linda Stover to approve the employment of Vanessa Burgess as a Children’s Learning Center Teacher, effective upon approval by the Board of Trustees, and completion of the DCFS background check and verification of qualifications, at an hourly rate of $18.23 per hour.

Roll call:

Jim Beasley yes         Louis Kalert yes

Craig Finke yes          Linda Stover yes

Bill Hawley yes           Laura Wedekemper yes

Bryan Holthaus yes    Connor Wademan yes

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

A. Approval of Contractor for Storage Shelter (100% Community Project Funding/Congressional Directed Spending Grant)

B. Resolution to Establish the Dollar Limit Threshold for the Requirement of a Performance Bond

C. Resolution to Approve the Purchase of Workstations and Storage Cabinets for the Automotive Technology Lab

TRUSTEE AND PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS AND REPORTS

STUDENT TRUSTEE REPORT

Student Trustee Connor Wademan presented an oral report to the Board which summarized the following:

• Members of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) attended the National Leadership Conference placing ninth in Emerging Business Issues.

• On July 1, 2024, students were recognized for their academic achievements on the President’s and Dean’s list for the Spring 2024 semester.

• The Kaskaskia College Foundation held its annual golf scramble on July 8, 2024, raising over $37,000 for future scholarship recipients.

• Kaskaskia College hosted seven career exploration workshops over the summer at the main campus, Trenton Education Center, and Crisp Technology Center. The workshops highlighted careers in architecture, engineering, criminal justice, cosmetology, drafting/project management, STEM, and welding/fabrication.

• Summer semester ends on July 26, 2024.

• Student Trustee Wademan attended the Community Engagement Meetings in Nashville and Greenville and commented on how many aspects of the community Kaskaskia College is able to reach.

• Student Trustee Wademan congratulated students and instructors in the Physical Therapy Assistant Program on finishing with a 100% first-time pass rate on the licensing exam. This is the second year in a row the students have completed this achievement.

• The Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) Pinning will be held on July 24, 2024.

• The Dental Assisting Pinning will be held on July 25, 2024.

• An Industrial Trades open house will be held at the Crisp Technology Center from 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on August 1, 2024.

• New Student Orientation will be held on August 2, 2024.

• The Blue Classic 5K race is scheduled for August 3, 2024.

• Fall semester begins on August 19, 2024.

PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS

• The Community Engagement Meetings held to date have been well attended.

• The quarterly updates on the Strategic Plan and Annual Plan will be presented to the Board in August.

• The Campus Operations Report has been revamped and will be presented as a quarterly report moving forward with the first quarterly report to be presented to the Board in August.

• The bid documents for the Gymnasium have been issued. The pre-bid meeting for contractors interested in submitting a bid for the project is scheduled for July 23, 2024.

The recommendation to accept the bids for the Gymnasium should be presented to the Board at the August meeting.

• The institution is in really good shape enrollment wise specifically when you look at the combination of dual credit, KC Now, and Head Count enrollment. The College has been able to maintain and increase enrollment in most areas. The state-wide trend for community college enrollment is a decrease in enrollment as documented through the Illinois Community College Board.

• President Evans congratulated everyone who worked so hard on the application for the Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) grant. The College was awarded around $850,000 in grant funds to be used for wages, equipment and items needed for the program, and tuition assistance for students in the program.

• The Consolidated Election will be held on April 1, 2025. There has been a change to the election process. The schedule for circulating and filing petitions is one month earlier than previous election years. Candidates will now be able to start circulating petitions in August.

• President Evans played the Kaskaskia College commercial for the Board. The commercial is running on the Internet, streaming services, and cable networks. The commercial focuses on future, current, and former students. Marketing is working with BAM Marketing on the production of a new commercial focused on the Career Pathways tool.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Jim Beasley to adjourn. All members voted yes by voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 7:34 p.m.

https://www.kaskaskia.edu/media/web-assets/documents/board-minutes-amp-agendas/07-22-24-APPROVED-Minutes-w-Resolutions.pdf