Trustees honor Lynch for landmark contributions

OGLESBY — The Illinois Valley Community College board recently honored Dr. Rose Marie Lynch for the landmark contributions she’s made to the college since arriving in 1970.

Board Chairwoman Jane Goetz unveiled a plaque topped with a photo from the 1970s of Lynch and mentor Dr. Mary Margaret Weeg.

Goetz then read the plaque text: “Illinois Valley Community College expresses its profound gratitude to two of its preeminent humanities leaders: Dr. Rose Marie Lynch and her mentor, Dr. Mary Margaret Weeg. Hired by Dr. Weeg in 1970, ‘Rosie’ went on to become an award-winning IVCC journalism and English instructor over a 32-year career. As executor of Dr. Weeg’s estate, Rosie skillfully handled the largest gift in IVCC’s history, a $1.2 million bequest. IVCC named its beautifully-refurbished auditorium the Dr. Mary Margaret Weeg Cultural Centre in 2017. We will always remember and cherish Rosie for her continued role in that unprecedented donation and for the countless other kindnesses she graciously performed for IVCC and its students.”

The plaque will be displayed near the entrance of the Weeg Cultural Centre.

After a public hearing, the board adopted the 2020 budget. Operating revenues and expenditures are balanced at about $22.3 million. Revenues increased less than 1 percent, and expenditures decreased slightly less than 1 percent from the 2019 budget.

Total budget revenues are about $32.1 million, a 1.4 percent increase, and expenditures are $32.3 million, a decrease of 6 percent, from last year’s budget.

The $220,000 deficit is in the tort and auxiliary enterprises funds and is covered with existing fund balances in those funds.

Trustees also approved:

• The purchase of Nebraska Book Co. software maintenance from PrismRBS for $12,026.

• The payment of the Continuing Education Center trip “Meet me in Missouri” for $50,770 to Are We There Yet?, plus $5,150 to Green River Lines for bus service. Costs are recovered through fees charged to participants.

• The renewal of various annual services for Jacobs Library from the University of Illinois for $27,975 and NILRC for $11,974.

• The annual fees payment of $11,550 to the Illinois Community College Trustees Association.

• Insurance renewals covering property, general liability, commercial auto, workers’ compensation, school board legal liability and more for $218,681.

• The transfer of $225,000 to the Illinois Capital Development Board as IVCC’s match for the $675,000 appropriated by the state in May for perimeter road and parking lot repaving.

• The appointment of mathematics instructor David Garrison to fill the vacancy of Emily Lesman. Garrison earned associate's degrees from Scott Community College in Bettendorf and his bachelor’s in mathematics from the University of Iowa. He expects to receive a master’s in pure mathematics from Northern Illinois University this month.

Trustees learned:

• Alyssa Boaz has been hired as a textbook buyer, Isamar Taylor as Financial Aid and Veterans Benefit adviser, Destiny Griffin as third-shift custodian, and Benjamin Simpson as second-shift custodian.

• Business Services and Finance administrative assistant Janine Full resigned effective Aug. 16, Payroll and Benefits coordinator Jeannie Franklin resigned effective Aug. 28, part-time cashier Dava McNally will resign Oct. 11, and part-time Assessment Center assistant Lacey Meyer also resigned.

• A total of 36 students attended the Aug. 8 Ottawa Center Express Registration while others attended a special Aug. 10 Saturday registration at the center.

• Project Success hosted a successful “JumpStart” program Aug. 12. “There are four reasons why our Project Success students do so well and they are (employees) Cynthia Cardosi, Diane Scoma, Terumi Scully and Director Chris Herman,” said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran.

• On Wednesday, a day before classes began, New Student Convocation drew 344 students. Student trustee Matthew Klein produced a YouTube video of the event.

“Everything Matthew touches in the way of videos and use of social media turns to gold,” Corcoran said.

• Trustee Jay McCracken, interim superintendent of the LaMoille School District, has been nominated for the National LifeChanger of the Year award.