Ian Milligan

A key discussion item was the acceptance of an external grant award, specifically the FY26 Taking Back the Trades Grant from the Illinois Community College Board, totaling $169,415. This grant will support a summer CTE "bootcamp" aimed at introducing young adults to trades programs and careers, and will also be used to fund curriculum development, mapping, and outcomes assessment in select career and technical education programs. The administration recommended approval for the acceptance of this grant.

The meeting included a personnel recommendations report. It covered new employment of a Public Safety Officer and a Student Success Advocate. It also covered the separation of a Financial Reporting Specialist and the Executive Director of Administrative Computing-Programming due to position elimination. The administration recommended the approval of the Personnel Recommendations Report as presented.

The board is considering the approval of the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) feasibility study for expansion to the Carthage campus. This follows the Illinois Board of Nursing's approval, which supports extending the ADN program to address nursing shortages in Hancock and Henderson counties. Subsequent steps involve submitting documentation to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) for review.

The meeting centered on the consideration and adoption of a resolution regarding the issuance of General Obligation Debt Certificates for the purpose of building and equipping an athletic and conference center. The resolution authorized an Installment Purchase Agreement and outlined the terms for the issuance and sale of certificates, including parameters for the manner of sale, maturity length, interest rates, and purchase price. Discussions covered the necessity of borrowing money due to insufficient funds for the project and compliance with relevant state laws and regulations.

The board is considering the renewal of the major medical insurance program with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. The college's medical/pharmacy cost loss ratio was reviewed, and a premium increase of no more than 17.3% is quoted, effective January 1, 2026. The administration recommends the board approve the renewal.