Southern Illinois News

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board of Trustees met March 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. Call to Order & Roll Call – Vice Chair Brenda Culver called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. and directed Board Secretary Sonja Wease to call the roll.

Susan Batchelor: Present

John Brooks: Present

Roger Browning: Absent (present via TEAMS, non-voting)

Gary Carter: Absent (present via TEAMS, non-voting)

Brenda Culver: Present

Jan Ridgely: Present

Barbara Shimer: Present

Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Present

Present: 5, Absent: 2.

2. Welcome from the Chair

3. Recognition of Visitors and Guests

3.A. Visitors and Guests - Amy Tarr, Sydney Scherer, Courtney Crawford, Lisa Rauch, Lisa Hustad, and Nixie Hnetkovsky

3.B. IECCEA Representative – Nixie Hnetkovsky thanked Dr. Gower, Andrea McDowell, and Ryan Hawkins for the meetings held the end of February. The Association and Administration have established a tentative agreement and the Association will meet on Monday, March 24th to vote on the agreement.

4. Public Comments - None

5. Reports

5.A. Trustees

5.A.i. Recognition of Student Trustee Jorri VanDyke – The Board recognized Student Trustee Jorri VanDyke for her service to the Board of Trustees and the IECC district. Ms. VanDyke is a student at Olney Central College. The next student trustee, Mireya Rose, is a students at Wabash Valley College and will be seated during the April 2025 Board of Trustees meeting at Wabash Valley College.

5.B. Chancellor – Dr. Gower echoed Nixie Hnetkovsky’s comments and stated that it was good to find common ground. No additional information was added to his previously sent report.

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

6. Approval of Consent Agenda

Motion to approve consent agenda as presented. This motion, made by Susan Batchelor and seconded by Jan Ridgely, Carried.

Roger Browning: Absent, Gary Carter: Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea, Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Yea Yea: 5, Nay: 0, Absent: 2

6.A. Disposition of Minutes – Open meeting minutes as prepared for the regular meeting held on February 18, 2025 and special meeting held on February 27, 2025 were presented for approval. Document Registry 25-03-01

6.B. Policy 500.28 Hazing – The Board waived a second reading and approved revisions made to comply with the Stop Campus Hazing Act signed into law on December 23, 2024. Document Registry 25-03-02

6.C. Affiliation Agreement – Chancellor Gower recommended approval of the non-standard clinical affiliation agreement with Confluent Health, LLC. Document Registry 25-03-03

7. Action on Items Removed from Consent Agenda - None

8. Policy First Reading (and Possible Approval) - None

9. Policy Second Reading - None

10. Staff Recommendations for Approval

10.A. Diploma Replacement Fee

Motion to approve a change in the district catalog from Second Diploma Charge Fee to "Cost Recovery Fees" effective Fall 2025 to ensure IECC is recovering the actual expenses of printing the second diploma. This motion, made by Barbara Shimer and seconded by Jan Ridgely, Carried.

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

Yea: 5, Nay: 0, Absent: 2

11. Bid Committee Report

Motion to approve the acceptance of the bid from WorldStrides Travel for a total of $85,920 for the TRIO Upward Bound Education Trip 2025. This motion, made by Susan Batchelor and seconded by Barbara Shimer, Carried.

Roger Browning: Absent, Gary Carter: Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea, Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Yea Yea: 5, Nay: 0, Absent: 2

12. District Finance

12.A. Financial Report

12.B. Approval of Financial Obligations

Motion to approve payment of district obligations for March 2025 in the total amount of $1,302,158.61. This motion, made by Jan Ridgely and seconded by Susan Batchelor, Carried. Roger Browning: Absent, Gary Carter: Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea, Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Yea

Yea: 5, Nay: 0, Absent: 2

13. Executive Session - None

14. Approval of Executive Session Minutes

Motion to approve the closed session minutes from the regular meeting held on February 18, 2025 and the special meeting held on February 27, 2025. This motion, made by Susan Batchelor and seconded by Barbara Shimer, Carried.

Roger Browning: Absent, Gary Carter: Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea, Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Yea Yea: 5, Nay: 0, Absent: 2

15. Approval of Personnel Report

400.1 Employment of Personnel

A. Faculty, Exempt

1. Brianna Trowbridge, Nursing Instructor, FCC, Academic Affairs effective August 13, 2025

B. Administrative, Exempt

1. Hayley Breeden, Director of Business, OCC, Business Operations effective March 24, 2025

C. Professional, Non-Faculty, Exempt

1. Tana Coleman, Interim Head Women’s Basketball Coach, LTC effective March 28, 2025 through May 9, 2025

400.2 Change in Status

A. Administration

1. Amy Tarr, Associate Dean of Instruction, OCC, Academic Affairs to Dean of Instruction, OCC, Academic Affairs effective March 24, 2025

B. Professional, Non-Faculty, Exempt

1. Curtis Miller, College Admission Representative, OCC, Institutional Outreach to Director of Enrollment and Community Outreach, Institutional Outreach effective March 24, 2025

2. Carrie Halbert, College Admission Representative, FCC, Institutional Outreach to Director of Student Engagement and Recruitment, Institutional Outreach effective March 24, 2025

400.3 Update Board Action from Previous Personnel Report

1. Tyler Boyles – Honorary Dismissal to Voluntary Separation (effective 2025)

2. Lonnie Barnes – Honorary Dismissal to Voluntary Separation (effective 2025)

3. Jay Carter – Honorary Dismissal to Voluntary Separation (effective 2026)

4. Jane McCormick – Honorary Dismissal to Voluntary Separation (effective 2026)

5. Brian Wick – Honorary Dismissal to Voluntary Separation (effective 2025) 400.

6 Special Assignments (Attachment)

400.7 Approval of Proposed Non-College Employment

Name Employer Hours/Days per Academic Month

Kathleen White Virtual Consult MD 48 hours per month 8920 Southpointe Dr. Ste D1

Indianapolis, IN 46227

Aseracore Hospice 12 hours per month

6724 E. Morgan Ave. Suite A

Evansville, IN 47715

LCMH Acute Care Clinic 20 hours per month

2111 Lexington Ave.

Lawrenceville, IL 62439

Motion to approve the personnel report as presented. This motion, made by Jan Ridgely and seconded by Susan Batchelor, Carried.

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

Yea: 4, Nay: 0, Absent: 2, Abstain (With Conflict): 1

16. Litigation - None

17. Other Items - None

18. Adjournment

Motion to adjourn at 7:29 p.m. This motion, made by Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee) and seconded by Barbara Shimer, Carried.

Roger Browning: Absent, Gary Carter: Absent, Susan Batchelor: Yea, John Brooks: Yea, Brenda Culver: Yea, Jan Ridgely: Yea, Barbara Shimer: Yea, Jorri VanDyke (Student Trustee): Yea Yea: 5, Nay: 0, Absent: 2

https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2652?meeting=685222