Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees approves infrastructure application, new hires and insurance renewal at July meeting
July 22, 2024
The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting on Monday, July 22, 2024, at Kaskaskia College. Attendees included Bill Hawley (Odin), Linda Stover (Centralia), Laura Wedekemper (Shattuc), Louis Kalert (Centralia), Jim Beasley (Centralia), Craig Finke (Nashville), Bryan Holthaus (Carlyle), and Connor Wademan (Student Trustee).
The board approved the recommendation to continue lobbyist services with Madiar Government Relations throughout the next fiscal year to assist Kaskaskia College in securing state and federal capital funds for deferred maintenance and institutional modernization projects. Since procuring lobbying services, KC has secured significant funding, including $1 million for infrastructure with the renovations (Rebuild Illinois Funds), $885,000 for replacing sanitary sewer lines from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and $75,000 for other infrastructure needs.
The board also approved the submission of the college FY26 application to the Community College Capital Resource Allocation Management Program (RAMP), which identifies four KC infrastructure areas for improvement, including exterior main water line replacement throughout the main campus, four campus elevator replacements, a new roof for the Harry L. Crisp Technology Center and repair/replacement of the Crisp Technology parking lot. In addition, the board approved purchasing new audio/visual equipment for the Jane Knight Auditorium from Technical Productions, Inc. of St. Louis, MO, for $88,272.86.
In personnel items, trustees approved the new hires of James Patrick as Development and Grant Coordinator, James Anderson as Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Brittani Miller as English Transition Success Coach, and Vanessa Burgess as Children's Learning Center Teacher. Additionally, the board approved the renewal of BlueCross BlueShield Insurance coverage for all employees at an 8.1% premium increase for health, dental, and vision insurance.
