Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees awards bid for Vandalia Art Gallery and recognizes February as CTE Month

The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting on Monday, January 23, 2023. Board members included Bill Hawley (Odin), Linda Stover (Centralia), Bryan Holthaus (Carlyle), Louis Kalert (Centralia), Laura Wedekemper (Shattuc), Jeff Brown (Greenville), and Alyssa Lurkins (Student Trustee). Jim Beasley (Centralia) was absent.

The board signed a resolution in recognition and support of CTE Month 2023. Career and Technical Education Month is designated as February 1-28, 2023. KC remains committed to ensuring the college's role in providing a qualified and thriving workforce to maintain a strong district economy.

The board reviewed and awarded a construction bid for the Vandalia Art Gallery to Bruce Unterbrink Construction of Greenville, IL, for $572,822. The project involves the replacement of ceiling light fixtures with new LED fixtures and additional adjustable ceiling lighting to adjust toward art pieces, plus new ceiling tile and floors. A storefront glass wall will be created on the center's east side, and the south and west walls will have high-level wall finishings. A new entrance will be constructed with an awning, additional patio work, and landscaping.

The board approved the purchase of a full body x-ray phantom from GT Simulators by Global Technologies of Davie, FL, for $32,480. This budgeted purchase will be used in the college's Radiologic Technology program to replace aging equipment. 

Thanks to funding from the IBHE Nursing School Grant, the board also approved the purchase of nursing simulation manikins from Laerdal Medical Corporation of Wappingers Falls, NY, for $47,788. The nursing simulation manikins will allow continuous improvement and adjustment of clinical simulation scenarios for students to increase their confidence and skill sets in the clinical setting.

Approval for the charter and formation of the Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society was given to KC Theatre Professor Kevin McCarty upon a student group's request and documentation submitted. This renames the former theatre guild and will use the same budget lines as the former organization.

In personnel matters, the board of trustees approved Levi Cross for the new Assistant Controller position.