FY 2016 budget adopted, tax levy determined
The board adopted the final Fiscal Year 2016 budget, which was provided in tentative form at the August board meeting. A public hearing on the budget was held at 6 p.m., prior to the regular board meeting. There were no comments from the public.
In a related action, the board accepted the 2015 tax levy (payable 2016). The levy represents a slight increase - 2.74 percent - over last year. The Corporate and Special Purpose levy went from $3,083,318 last year to $3,218,520 this year, a increase of 4.39 percent. The Debt Service levy dropped from $1,807,794 last year to $1,806,469 this year, a decrease of 0.07 percent. The total of the two levies rose slightly, from $4,891,112 last year to $5,024,989, an increase of 2.74 percent. Because the total of the proposed Corporate and Special Purpose and Debt Service levies is not greater than 105 percent of last year's levy, no Truth in Taxation hearing is required.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems curriculum approved, sent to ICCB for action
The board approved a new Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) curriculum as well as several new classes Tuesday and authorized their submission to the Illinois Community College Board for action. The UAS curriculum is designed to provide not only the hands-on skills to operate unmanned aircraft, or drones, but also the cognitive information which will allow them to understand and operate within federal and state guidelines. It will prepare students to program the unmanned aircraft to operate autonomously while collecting geospatial data.
The curriculum consists of a nine-credit-hour occupational certificate made up of three new courses, also approved Tuesday: Intro to Unmanned Aircraft Systems; Advanced Unmanned Aircraft Systems; and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Law and Test Prep.
In addition, two new business courses - Entrepreneurial Skills and Business Functions - received similar approval, as did the Trauma Nursing Core Course. A new online Statistics course also was given approval for development.
RLC Foundation Children's Center set to expand
The Rend Lake College Foundation Children's Center will soon be growing along with the children for whom it provides care, thanks to funding through the RLC Foundation. The board granted permission to advertise for bids to build an addition on the north end of the center. The 1,526-square-foot addition will include a large open floor space for gross motor skill activities, a children's library with half-height walls for monitoring the children, a restroom, two storage closets and a water cooler. The addition will be connected to the existing building via a small vestibule / corridor with direct access to the playground.
The total estimated cost for the project is $326,255, with construction anticipated to begin in February 2016. In a related action, the board granted permission to submit to ICCB the Locally Funded New Construction Application Form.
South Oasis roof, sidewalk PHS project gets go-ahead
The board granted permission to submit to the Illinois Community College Board a Protection, Health and Safety project to replace the South Oasis roof and sidewalk and to bid the project once approved.
Applied Science's Jackson becomes Industrial Trainer
The board employed Matt Jackson as Industrial Trainer effective Oct. 1. Jackson currently is employed as the Illinois Green Economy Network Curriculum Coordinator. He holds Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Architecture from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Architectural Technology from RLC. He recently earned his Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Manufacturing Skill Standards Council instructor certifications.
Title III Project Assistant Position changes accepted
The board accepted with regret the resignation of Morgan Harner, Title III Project Assistant, effective Sept. 15. "I want to give my sincere thanks for allowing me to not only hold my position as Title III Project Assistant, but to also participate in many committees, activities and events at Rend Lake College," Harner said in her resignation letter.
In a related action, Heather Adams was appointed to the vacancy effective Oct. 1. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and an Associate in Arts in Elementary Education from RLC. She currently serves as a data entry clerk for RLC .
In other business, the board ...
- Approved board policy and procedure concerning enforcement of the Smoke-Free Illinois Act and the Smoke-Free Campus policy (first reading).
- Approved revisions to board policy concerning the tenured / tenure-track faculty and staff seniority list (first reading) and non-compliance with directives during an emergency situation (first reading).
Mark your calendars …
- Cruise Nights at the RLC MarketPlace, Mt. Vernon - 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2.
- Fun Fest - Noon-3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, on campus.
- 35th Annual RLC Foundation Golf Outing - Thursday, Sept. 17, Rend Lake Golf Course, noon shotgun start.
- Warrior Fest - 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, on campus.
- RLC Art Auction, 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, Rend Lake Resort Great Room.
- Upward Bound Banquet, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, Rend Lake Resort.
- ACCT Annual Leadership Congress, Oct. 14-17, San Diego, Calif.
- RLC Foundation Scholarship Banquet, 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, Rend Lake Resort.
- Free Certified Nurse Assistant Conference, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, RLC Theatre.
- RLC Fall Open House, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, RLC Student Center.
- Paramedic Accreditation Site Visit - Nov. 3-5.
- RLC Foundation Annual Dinner, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, Holiday Inn Mt. Vernon.
