Minutes of board of trustees regular meeting

MINUTES OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING
DISTRICT NO. 537
RICHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ONE COLLEGE PARK – DECATUR, ILLINOIS 62521
January 15, 2008
CONVENING OF THE MEETING

Call to Order The regular meeting was called to order at 5:31 p.m. Tuesday, January
15, 2008, in Conference Room A/B of the College by Chairman Prince. Chairman
Prince also recited the College Vision, Mission and Core Values.
Roll Call
Members Present: Amy Bliefnick, Carol Chiligiris, Dale Colee, Rev. Wayne Dunning, Dr.
Larry Osborne, and Randy Prince
Members Absent: None
Also present: Dr. Gayle Saunders, President, Attorney Darrell Woolums, and other staff
members
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the regular meeting of December 18, 2007, had been distributed to the
Board prior to this meeting.
Osborne moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of December 18,
2007. Bliefnick seconded. Roll call vote being all ayes, Chairman Prince declared
the motion carried.
APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS AND INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
New employees were introduced to the Board.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS

Correspondence from Mollie Jarvis, ADM, thanking Dr. Saunders for accompanying ADM to the Department of Labor meeting in Washington, D.C. Correspondence from Heather Thomas, Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce, thanking Dr. Saunders for speaking at the Decatur Leadership Institute Presentations Correspondence from Geoffrey S. Obrzut, Illinois Community College Board, approving the Roof Replacement-Shilling Center Project Memorandum from Steve Vandiver, Director of Marketing, regarding the College Activities Report • Monday was the first day for Spring semester 2008. Dr. Saunders thanked the staff for another great start to the new semester. Memorandum from John Bell, Director, Human Resources, regarding Personnel Updates. • Beth Hanks has resigned from her position as Nursing Instructor, Health Professions, effective December 21, 2007. Pamela Laskowski has joined the Richland Community College family as full-time temporary Nursing Instructor, effective January 7, 2008. Amanda Miller has joined the Richland Community College family as full-time temporary Mathematics Instructor, effective January 7, 2008. Everett Irby has joined the Richland Community College family as a Youthful Offender Counselor at the Jacksonville Correctional Center. Kim Parkinson has joined the Richland Community College family as an Advisor, TRIO, effective January 7, 2008. Jacqueline Hagan has joined the Richland Community College family as part-time Secretary III, Marketing, effective January 7, 2008. Memorandum from Wegi Stewart, Executive Director, Foundation and Development, regarding the Foundation Report: • Gifts received by the Foundation for 2007 totaled 555, for a total over $2.5 million Outstanding Pledges totaled $1.2 million SPECIAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
Dr. Saunders reported the following:
January 14, 2008, was the first day of Spring semester classes.
1,700 eighth grade students visited Richland Community College to participate in the
Career Fair.
The Spring Convocation was held on January 8, 2007, in the Shilling Auditorium. The
Invitation to the Future was presented at that time.
Seven employee recognition awards were presented during the Spring convocation.
Lazetta Farnham was awarded the Above and Beyond Award; Shelba Donoho was
awarded the Core Values Award; Pixie Fennessey was awarded the Diversity Award;
Ellen Colbeck was awarded the Employee Mentor Award; Joe Feinstein was awarded
the Helping Hand Award; Debbie Ellison was awarded the Lighten Up Customer Service
Award; and Ron Wilson was awarded the Excellence in Motion Award.
Fifteen new employees participated in New Employee Orientation sessions during the
week of January 7, 2008.
The Agenda for the Winter Board Retreat on February 1-2 was distributed to the Board
of Trustees. The Board Retreat will begin at 3:00 p.m. in Bloomington, Illinois.
A reception will be held January 22, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. in the Learning Resources
Center to honor Mr. Bob Kopetz, who has written a 35-year history of Richland
Community College.
College Spotlight

Terry Robinson, Dean, Continuing and Professional Education Division, presented an
overview of the Workforce Readiness Program. Through the Workforce Readiness
Program Richland Community College meets a need in the marketplace among the
local manufacturers and other companies. Workforce Readiness is an innovative
approach to develop a pipeline to employment. It is a customized employee skills
program that can be used for current or potential employees. The two initial programs:
are for entry-level clerical and customer service, followed by union apprenticeship skills
preparation. Companies are seeking high performance among employees, and the
program offers instruction and assistance in the areas of soft skills, computation,
technical skills, communications, and innovation. Richland Community College will build
upon the momentum of the Workforce Readiness Program to uncover new training
opportunities and increase the availability of career awareness in our are as yet another
strategy to meet company and community needs.

REPORT OF ICCTA

Carol Chiligiris reported that the ACCT Legislative Summit will be held in Washington,
D.C., on February 10-13, 2008. The ICCTA will meet at that time.
AGREEMENTS/CONTRACTS AUTHORIZED BY PRESIDENT SAUNDERS FOR THE
MONTH OF DECEMBER 2007

During the month of December, Dr. Saunders signed three (3) documents that are listed
in the Board Book. On December 3, Dr. Saunders authorized a request from the
Continuing and Professional Education Division for events sponsored by ADM on
December 3, 11, 13, and 18, 2007. On December 10, Dr. Saunders signed the Career
and Technical Education Tech Prep Support Grant Agreement with Illinois Community
College Board. On December 14, 2007, Dr. Saunders signed the SSS/TRIO Annual
Performance Report with the Illinois Department of Education.

OLD BUSINESS
Construction Report
Greg Florian, Vice President of Finance and Administration, updated the Board on the
current construction projects and the status of each.
The Agribusiness Education Center is complete, and Spring semester classes are
scheduled in the new classrooms.
The College is working with architects on the Shilling roofing project, and work should
begin this summer.
The sidewalk and panel projects are underway as part of the Fitness Center and Early
Childhood Classroom Project.
The College has been working with consultants on the Culinary Arts Institute. Bidding
should begin in February.
The Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program project is moving forward with the
Macon County Highway Department.
The University of Illinois Extension – Joint Use Facility is scheduled to be bid in
February.

Consideration and Action on a Resolution Providing for the Issuance of General
Obligation Community College Bonds for the College – Resolution No. 08-8
A recommendation to adopt Resolution No. 08-8 authorizing the issuance of general
obligation bonds to pay claims against the District, and the levy of a direct annual tax
sufficient to pay the principal and interest thereon was presented to the Board.
The College is in the process of issuing funding bonds in the amount of $2.6 million. It is
now time to take the final step of the process and authorize the actual issuance of the
Bonds. The Bond proceeds will be used to finance the cost of the University of Illinois
Extension – Joint Use Facility, Culinary Arts Institute, and computer hardware and
software as approved by the Board at the November Board meeting.
Osborne moved to adopt Resolution No. 08-8 authorizing the issuance of general
obligation bonds to pay claims against the District and the levy of a direct annual
tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest thereon, as presented. Bliefnick
seconded. Roll call vote being all ayes, Chairman Prince declared the motion
carried.
Resolution Authorizing Approval and Execution of Real Property Tax Assessment
Settlement Agreement – No. 08-9
A recommendation to approve and sign the Real Property Tax Assessment Settlement
Agreement with Exelon Corporation that includes the Equalized Assessed Valuation for
the tax years 2006 through 2010 was presented to the Board.
The Real Property Tax Assessment Settlement Agreement establishes the Equalized
Assessed Valuation (EAV) for the tax years 2006 through 2010 and states that neither
the taxing districts nor Exelon Corporation will appeal the assessment.
Bliefnick moved to approve Resolution No. 08-9 Authorizing Approval and
Execution of the Real Property Tax Assessment Settlement Agreement with
Exelon Corporation that includes the Equalized Assessed Valuation for the tax
years 2006 through 2010, as presented. Osborne seconded. Roll call vote being
all ayes, Chairman Prince declared the motion carried.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Bills Payable
The December 2007 Treasurer’s Report and Financial Statement were presented to
and discussed with the Board.
A list of bills for payment and ratification in the amount of $819,328.17 for December
2007 was distributed to the Board prior to the meeting.
Bliefnick moved to approve the bills for payment and ratification as presented
and to approve the Financial Statement to be filed for audit. Osborne seconded.
Roll call vote being all ayes, Chairman Prince declared the motion carried.
Items from the Board
Trustee Colee commended Wegi Stewart, Executive Director of the Foundation, on the
work she has done in her first year of employment.
Trustee Dunning stated that today is Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday and the College
will be closed on January 21st in honor of that date. Dunning requested that the Board
reflect on the time when people couldn’t get an education in the same school or the
same district because of the color of their skin. Today, because of Dr. King’s efforts, we
can all sit around the table and discuss the business of the college and educating
students.

Trustee Prince stated he is pleased to see the Richland Community College staff back
after the holiday break. Prince stated that the buildings are nice, but the people make
Richland Community College work.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Colee moved to enter into closed session for the purpose of discussing
individual employments, as specified in Section 2 (c) (1); for discussion of
pending or probable litigation, as specified in Section 2 (c) (11); for discussion of
purchase or lease of real property, as specified in Section 2 (c) (5); for self-
evaluation, as specified in Section 2 (c) (16); and for discussing the filling of a
public office vacancy, as specified in Section 2 (c) (3) of the Open Meetings Act.
Bliefnick seconded. Roll call vote being all ayes, Chairman Prince declared the
motion carried.
Meeting convened into closed session at 6:10 p.m.
Meeting reconvened into open session at 7:25 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Dunning moved and Osborne seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m.

________________________
Dale Colee, Secretary

Source: http://www.richland.edu/system/files/board/minutes-2008-01-15.pdf