New student trustee Kody Schwarze was seated at Tuesday';s Rend Lake College Board of Trustees meeting, replacing outgoing student trustee Samantha York.
Schwarze, the son of Lenny and Karen Schwarze, is a 19-year-old freshman from Valmeyer. He is double-majoring in agricultural mechanics and production.
"I congratulate Mr. Schwarze on being the successful candidate for the student trustee position," RLC President Charley D. Holstein said. "It is a very important role ... a vital conduit between the student body and the board. I am confident he will serve our college well."
Schwarze succeeds York, a 20-year-old double major in agricultural business and production who lives in McLeansboro and plans to transfer to Murray State University in Kentucky.
Board chairman Dave Edmison said York has served the college with great distinction.
"Her comments have always been meaningful, and we've learned a lot from her student insight," he said. "She is an outgoing person, known across campus. We will truly miss Samantha. We always appreciate input from students. It gives us a better perspective."
In action during the meeting, trustees:
• Accepted the low total bid of $201,354 from Aidex Education of Lexington, Ohio, to purchase six electro-hydraulic trainers ($91,119) and six motor control/drive trainers ($110,235). The equipment will be funded through a Department of Labor grant.
• Accepted the low bid of $32,320 from Daniel and Sons of Marion to replace two rooftop HVAC units at the Aquatics Center. The project will be funded with Protection, Health and Safety Levy funds.
• Accepted the sole bid of $49,900 from Quality Sheet Metal of Carbondale to install and program HVAC building control upgrades for the Coal Mine Training Center. The project will be funded with PHS Levy funds.
Trustees also accepted with regret the retirement resignations of:
• Kim Davis, circulation specialist in the Learning Resource Center, effective July 1, 2010. Davis sits atop the unofficial RLC "seniority list": Having been employed full-time since April 23, 1980, she has been with RLC longer than any other active college employee. She plans to return to the LRC to work part-time after retiring from her full-time position.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the student, staff and community users [of the Learning Resource Center] over the past 30 years, and I look forward to returning in the fall," Davis said in her letter of retirement.
• Janice Dillon, records specialist, effective Aug. 1. She is the second-longest-serving active college employee, having worked full-time since July 31, 1980. "I have enjoyed working at Rend Lake College and will miss the friends I have made here," Dillon wrote.
• Linda Odle, administrative assistant for the Center for Business Services, effective June 30. She has been employed full-time since Sept. 16, 1981. "It has been a pleasure to work at Rend Lake College, and I will miss the many friends I have made over the years," Odle wrote in her retirement letter.
• Patricia Dietrich, administrative assistant for the Academic Counseling Center, effective June 1. She has been employed full-time at RLC since Sept. 16, 1988. "Thank you for the opportunities for professional and personal development that you have provided me over the years. While I look forward to enjoying my retirement, I will miss my friends and coworkers," Dietrich wrote.
In other business, the board:
• Approved revisions to board policy and procedure regarding employee evaluations, excluding full-time faculty (second reading).
• Approved the Radiologic Technology program handbook.
• Set the out-of-district tuition rate at $135 per credit hour beginning with the Summer 2010 term. Illinois Community College Board administrative rules state that the college may set the out-of-district tuition rate at a minimum of 1.5 times the highest in-district tuition rate of any neighboring contiguous community college district, which was found to be $90.
• Tabled an action on acceptance of bids concerning replacement of fan coil units and associated piping in the North Oasis.
Mark your calendars:
• RLC Spring Concert, 7 p.m. Thursday, April 22, RLC Theatre.
• Southeast Region Trustees Meeting, 6 p.m. Monday, April 26, RLC Coal Mine Training Center.
• Board-Faculty-Staff Recognition, Friday, May 7, RLC Theatre.
• Commencement, Friday, May 14, RLC Gymnasium.
