Kaskaskia College signs land lease agreement for new radio tower; keeps in-district tuition at same rate for 2024-2025 school year

Centralia, Ill. - The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting on Monday, February 26, 2024. Board members included Bill Hawley (Odin), Linda Stover (Centralia), Laura Wedekemper (Shattuc), Louis Kalert (Centralia), Jim Beasley (Centralia), Craig Finke (Nashville), Bryan Holthaus (Carlyle), and Madison Johnson (Student Trustee).

The board of trustees approved a 40-year land lease agreement with the Clinton County Board for $1 per year for the county to construct a radio communications tower on college property. The agreement allows construction to begin later this spring on a radio tower near the wastewater treatment plant on campus. The new radio tower is part of a broader project to modernize Clinton County's outdated emergency radio system. Two additional towers will be built elsewhere in the county, with other towers being refurbished. Brad Knolhoff and Curt Haselhorst from the Clinton County Board attended the Kaskaskia College meeting.

"It's great that the college and Clinton County government are taking a big step towards improving safety in the area," remarked Brad Knolhoff, Chairman of the Clinton County Board. "I think it's wonderful that KC has offered to provide space for this radio tower, which will benefit not only the community but also the college students attending classes on this campus. With this tower, first responders will have the necessary tools to respond to emergencies in a timely manner."

Plans include attracting a major cellular service provider to use the new tower at KC, noting that the cellular service is currently unsatisfactory.

The board approved the recommendations for tuition and fee rates for the 2024 2025 year, with in-district tuition remaining the same at $160 per credit hour, the out-of-district rate at $259, and $19 for out-of-state and international students. Additionally, trustees approved the recommended $10 increase in the online tuition rate for out-of-district, out-of-state, and international students from $160 to $170 per credit hour. Currently, the average for Illinois community college in-district tuition is $157 per credit hour, while the out-of-district tuition average rate is $331.55.

The board awarded a bid for the auditorium roof replacement to D7 Roofing of New Baden, Illinois, for $122,870. Due to a weather event in April 2023, the auditorium roof was damaged.

The board also purchased Malwarebytes Security Software from Insight of Chandler, AZ, for $34,549. The one-year software contract features comprehensive security features and potential savings in preventing cyber incidents.

In personnel items, the board approved the following replacement and new position hires, including:

• Stephanie Henson as Interim Director for Children's Learning Center
• Madeleine Renken as Title III Instructional Designer
• Kevin Jansen as a Building and Grounds Technician
• Adam Wilson as a Building and Grounds Technician
• Kylee Williams as Director of Information Technology
• Chris Holloway as Executive Director of Maintenance and Grounds
• Michael Pender as Coordinator of Custodial Services

Additionally, trustees accepted the resignation of Bethany Hall as Director of the Children's Learning Center and retirement notice from Kathy Evans, Development and Grant Coordinator, effective May 30, 2024.