Southern Illinois News

Kaskaskia Community College District #501 Board of Trustees met Dec. 16.

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, December 16, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Lifelong Learning Center on the Kaskaskia College (College) main campus.

APPOINTMENT OF PRO-TEMPORE SECRETARY

Chair Bill Hawley appointed Linda Stover as Pro-Tempore Secretary in the absence of Laura Wedekemper.

Trustees present at the meeting in person were Craig Finke, Bill Hawley, Bryan Holthaus, Louis Kalert, and Linda Stover, and Student Trustee Connor Wademan. Trustees Jim Beasley and Laura Wedekemper were absent.

Matt Gardner, Legal Counsel from Robbins Schwartz attended the meeting in person.

College staff members attending in person were George Evans, Cary Day, Joy Fitts, Steven Foutch, Sara Hanks, Chris Holloway, George Kriss, Nichole Macon, Traci Masau, Julie Obermark, Staci Palm, Karol Potter, Lisa Ring, Craig Roper, Jeff Thomas, Nathan Wilkins, and Amy Zanton.

Media attending in person was Steven Stilt of WJBD radio.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Chairman Hawley led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

RECOGNITION

President Evans welcomed everyone and introduced Steven Stilt from WJBD; Matt Gardner from Robbins Schwartz; and Nichole Macon and Nathan Wilkins representing the Kaskaskia College Federation of Teachers union.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None

CONSENT AGENDA

Items on the Consent Agenda included

December 2, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes

Ratification and approval of disbursements and payrolls for November 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, Kaskaskia College Sports Association 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 Bryan Holthaus to accept the Consent Agenda.

Roll call:

Craig Finke yes          Louis Kalert yes

Bill Hawley yes          Linda Stover yes

Bryan Holthaus yes   Connor Wademan yes

Motion was approved.

OLD UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

CLOSED SESSION

A Closed Session was not held.

RESOLUTION 24-61

RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF ELLUCIAN CRM ADVISE STUDENT RETENTION SOFTWARE (37% TITLE III FUNDING, 63% INSTITUTIONAL FUNDING) Motion by Linda Stover to adopt Resolution 24-61 approving the purchase of Ellucian CRM Advise a student retention software from Ellucian Company, LLC of Reston, VA at a cost of $416,682.00 and authorizing College administration to finalize the agreement for these services.

Roll call:

Craig Finke yes          Louis Kalert yes

Bill Hawley yes          Linda Stover yes

Bryan Holthaus yes   Connor Wademan yes

Motion was approved.

RESOLUTION 24-62

RESOLUTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE OF ACCESS POINTS AND SWITCHES (100% INSTITUTIONAL FUNDING)

Motion by Bryan Holthaus to adopt Resolution 24-62 approving the purchase of access points and network switches from ITSaavy of Oak Park, Illinois, in an amount of $55,294.84.

Roll call:

Craig Finke yes          Louis Kalert yes

Bill Hawley yes          Linda Stover yes

Bryan Holthaus yes   Connor Wademan yes

Motion was approved.

APPROVAL OF REVISION TO 2025 BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING CALENDAR Motion by Bryan Holthaus to approve the revision to the 2025 Board of Trustees meeting calendar as presented.

Roll call:

Craig Finke yes          Louis Kalert yes

Bill Hawley yes          Linda Stover yes

Bryan Holthaus yes   Connor Wademan yes

Motion was approved.

APPROVAL OF NEW STUDENT CLUB CHARTER - WELLNESS CLUB Motion by Linda Stover to approve the charter and formation of the Wellness Club.

Roll call:

Craig Finke yes          Louis Kalert yes

Bill Hawley yes          Linda Stover yes

Bryan Holthaus yes   Connor Wademan yes

Motion was approved.

RESOLUTION 24-63

FIRST-YEAR PROBATIONARY FACULTY TO SECOND-YEAR STATUS, SECOND-YEAR PROBATIONARY FACULTY TO THIRD-YEAR STATUS, THIRD-YEAR PROBATIONARY FACULTY TO TENURED STATUS, AND CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OF TENURED FACULTY

Motion by Bryan Holthaus to adopt Resolution 24-63 approving the following recommendations of Julie Obermark, Provost & Vice President of Instructional Services, and George Evans, President of Kaskaskia College:

The following first-year probationary faculty members were recommended for second-year probationary employment effective with the 2025 calendar year, which begins January 2, 2025.

Arts and Sciences • Stephanie Burgher

Health Sciences • Kendra Mueller

The following second-year probationary faculty members were recommended for third-year employment effective with the 2025 calendar year, which begins January 2, 2025.

Arts and Sciences • Sarah Foley

Health Sciences • Shelby Guthrie

The following third-year probationary faculty members were recommended tenured employment effective with the 2025 calendar year, which begins January 2, 2025.

Arts and Sciences • Aryashree Kharel

Career and Technical Education • Connor Pollmann

Health Sciences • Whitney Wadkins

The following tenured faculty were granted continued employment effective with the 2025-26 academic year, which begins August 13, 2025.

Arts and Sciences • Michael Geiger • Peter Vig • Brandi Wilkins

Health Sciences • Marsha Baro • Sharon Elwood • Nichole Macon • Tessa Opfer • Cheryl Rushing • Lori Schmidt

Career and Technical Education • Charles DeBernardi • Aaron Heinzmann • Robert Jervis • Kerri Richards

Industrial Trades • Mark Litteken

Roll call:

Craig Finke yes          Louis Kalert yes

Bill Hawley yes          Linda Stover yes

Bryan Holthaus yes   Connor Wademan yes

Motion was approved.

LAB FEE CHANGES – INFORMATIONAL ONLY

The document outlining proposed changes in course lab fees for 2025-2026 was submitted for review. The proposed changes will be presented for approval at the January 2025 meeting.

RECLASSIFICATION OF AUTOMOTIVE WORK-BASED LEARNING FACILITATOR TO PROBATIONARY FACULTY MEMBER

Motion by Bryan Holthaus to approve the reclassification of Kevin Wheeler to Assistant Professor of Automotive Technology, effective January 2025, at the annual salary placement schedule of LTM Level 10 at $58,966. The FY24 Rev Up EV grant will cover 49 percent of the salary from January to June 2025, in the amount of $14,446.66.

Roll call:

Craig Finke yes          Louis Kalert yes

Bill Hawley yes          Linda Stover yes

Bryan Holthaus yes   Connor Wademan yes

Motion was approved.

RESOLUTION 24-64

RESOLUTION FOR APPROVAL AND NEED TO KEEP CONFIDENTIAL CLOSED SESSION MINUTES

Motion by Bryan Holthaus to adopt Resolution 24-64 determining that with regard to closed session minutes from the June 24, 2024; August 26, 2024; September 23, 2024; and October 28, 2024, meetings, the need for confidentiality still exists as to all or part of those minutes and such minutes shall remain confidential.

Roll call:

Craig Finke yes          Louis Kalert yes

Bill Hawley yes          Linda Stover yes

Bryan Holthaus yes   Connor Wademan yes

Motion was approved.

RESOLUTION 24-65

RESOLUTION FOR ACTION ON CLOSED SESSION AUDIO RECORDINGS Motion by Bryan Holthaus approving the destruction of the audio recording from the March 20, 2023, meeting; and authorizing the Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Karol Potter, to destroy such recording, pursuant to normal procedures.

Roll call:

Craig Finke yes          Louis Kalert yes

Bill Hawley yes          Linda Stover yes

Bryan Holthaus yes   Connor Wademan yes

Motion was approved.

FIRST READING – REVISIONS TO AUDITING OF A COURSE POLICY 6.1200 The First Reading of revisions to the Auditing of a Course Policy 6.1200 was presented. The final reading and approval will be at the January 2025 meeting.

SECOND READING – NEW RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES ACT POLICY 5.1001 Motion by Bryan Holthaus to approve the second and final reading of the new Religious Observances Act Policy 5.1001.

Roll call:

Craig Finke yes          Louis Kalert yes

Bill Hawley yes          Linda Stover yes

Bryan Holthaus yes   Connor Wademan yes

Motion was approved.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

A. Approval of Bids to Repair Nashville Education Center

B. Approval of Bids to Repair Roof at Trenton Education Center

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

D. Approval of Employment of Instructional Services Precision Agriculture Facilitator

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:

• The Fall semester was enjoyable for students. Student activities included a successful indoor fall picnic, an engaging student forum, and the wrap-up of finals.

• Student Trustee Wademan thanked President Evans and his many helping hands for the annual Christmas party. It was a wonderful time and the food was amazing.

• Mr. Wademan also commented on how wonderful the hallway decorations looked in the participating departments.

PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS

• President Evans received notification there will be a lame duck session. The General Assembly has been called back January 4, 2025. There is anticipation of a lot more line-item discussions for the department heads because of the fiscal problems the State is currently facing. The City of Chicago did pass a budget which may help; however, there are two big unanswered questions. The fiscal cliff of the Chicago Transit Authority of $750 million is set to expire July 1, 2025, and some type of action will need to be taken. A $350 million pension payment must be made on behalf of the Chicago Teachers Union. If State assistance is provided, there will be a ripple effect through southern Illinois and the college system which means there will probably be less money for higher education. An internal memo was circulated to the department heads from the Governor’s office anticipating budget cuts across the board for all department heads. As of today, the Illinois Community College Board has not received that request. President Evans feels the Governor’s office and the current administration recognize the strife the higher education system went through during the budget impasse, and they do not intend on repeating that.

• President Evans and Vice President Amy Zanton will be representing the College at the Higher Education Futures Table meeting on Tuesday – December 17, 2024.

• President Evans announced the ICCB Equity and Adequacy Funding Group Committee finished most of the Committee work. The subcommittees will be finishing their work in January and February. A recommendation will be made to the Illinois Community College Board in March. The Illinois Community College Board will then make a recommendation to the General Assembly and the Governor’s office in April. President Evans stated he feels the recommendation will just be a recommendation this year without any type of changes due to the $3 billion deficit the State is facing. The plan, however, is for the recommendation to go on record in some type of a phased approach. The Committee has representation from downstate, rural, and smaller enrollment institutions. Progress is being made in this area and the voice of the community college system is being heard

• The annual Christmas celebration held on December 13th was well attended. President Evans thanked those who were able to attend.

• Enrollment for the coming year looks strong.

• President Evans extended a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Bryan Holthaus to adjourn. All members voted yes by voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.

https://www.kaskaskia.edu/media/web-assets/documents/board-minutes-amp-agendas/december/12-16-24-APPROVED-Minutes-UNSIGNED-w-Resolutions-for-Posting.pdf