Raj Siddaraju

The Board of Trustees held a closed session to discuss matters related to the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees. Following the session, the board discussed and officially approved the Presidential Search Profile, incorporating a finalized salary range of $175,000 to $225,000 for the position.

The Board of Trustees meeting covered several agenda items, including reports from the ICCTA representative, the student government representative, and the Spoon River College Foundation. Business and finance items included the authorization of payroll and accounts payable payments and the approval of a bid for updating the Multipurpose Building sound system. Institutional planning included an update on the Havana Center, and the Board considered the approval of the 2026-2027 budget. Additionally, the Board held a closed session to discuss personnel matters, collective bargaining, and property acquisition.

The board received reports from the ICCTA representative regarding pending legislation and cybersecurity, an update from the student government representative on student activities and athletic achievements, and a status report from the Spoon River College Foundation. Additionally, the board authorized payments for the month of March, approved a bid for upgrading the Multipurpose Building sound system, reviewed the Havana Center report, discussed the presidential self-evaluation, and approved the 2026-2027 budget for the Board of Trustees. The board also adjourned to a closed session to discuss personnel and collective negotiating matters.

Key discussions included the election of several officer positions for both the Macomb and Canton branches, specifically Macomb SGA Vice President, Canton VP, and Macomb SGA Secretary. The group discussed participation in the 'Feed the Need' contest sponsored by the Illinois Community College Board, assigning donated goods to specific local food pantries. The association also approved participation in the annual Thanksgiving meal and canned food drive. Plans were finalized for separate 'Fall Game Day' events at both the Macomb and Canton campuses. Additionally, updates were provided regarding the upcoming Canton blood drive scheduling, discussions concerning a potential St. Louis Zoo and Botanical Gardens trip, and the status of spring blood drive scheduling for Macomb.

Key discussions during the meeting centered on upcoming student activities and organizational matters. Topics included the scheduling of a Canton blood drive, the ongoing Feed the Need food drive, and encouragement for participation in a Halloween costume contest on October 30th. The group discussed the potential for a donut day event in Macomb to recruit new members. Further discussion involved the utility of a bulletin board in Canton versus tabletop displays. The election of President, Vice President, and Secretary positions was tabled due to a low member count. In public comment, the opportunity to lobby for the SRC student bus stop on specific dates was mentioned, along with the preliminary idea of electing two student trustees, one each for the Canton and Macomb campuses, which will be discussed further with administration.