SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVES FY24 TAX LEVY
The Southeastern Illinois College Board of Trustees met in regular session Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 6 p.m. in the Rodney J. Brenner Board Room. Prior to the meeting, Decennial Committee members met to review summary data compiled from 2020-2023 for the district’s “going nowhere” student population. Along with members of SIC’s Board, other members include Susan Armstrong (Hardin County), Megin Rice (Saline County), and Gina Sirach (Saline County). The Decennial Committee meets requirements set forth in the Illinois Local Efficiency Public Act 102-1088.
In other business, the board voted on meeting dates for fiscal year 2025 and approved the FY24 Tax Levy, which, according to SIC President Dr. Karen Weiss, remained below the 5% threshold at 4.92%.
“The good news for the taxpayer is that the estimated cost per $100 went down from the previous year’s 62 cents to 56 cents,” said Weiss. “This certainly aligns with the college’s strategic initiative to promote sound fiscal management in order to provide a sustainable learning environment for our district constituents.”
Other personnel actions taken by the board included the hiring of Shelly Aldrich as Administrative Assistant for Career and Technical Education and Workforce Education and Briley Lenkaitis as the Workforce in Illinois Small Business Development Center’s Business Development Specialist.
Other non-action items included a review of the 2023-2024 annual assessment report and a Title III annual review report, as well as an overview of a proposed parking lot improvement project for FY26.
The board also heard an update on the Carmi vocational building construction project, which is the second building for the Stanford D. Williams Career and Training Center to house the trades programs and serve as the front entranceway into the building. Construction is projected to be completed by mid- to late spring 2025.
A number of upcoming community events were announced, as well. SIC will host a public veterans recognition ceremony Nov. 8 at 10 a.m. in the George T. Dennis Visual and Performing Arts Center (VPAC). The first home basketball game of the season is Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. in Deaton Gym; Falcons play Dyersburg State Community College. The SIC Learning Commons will host author of psychological thrillers, Kiersten Modglin, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m.
In visual and performing arts, the SIC Cultural Arts Series will host Duo Sudeste, featuring Latin American and Spanish classical music, in the VPAC Lobby Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. The SIC Community Chorus will be performing Nov.19 at 7 p.m. in the VPAC, and the SIC Theatre department will be performing A Christmas Story: The Musical Nov. 22 – 24. SIC Concert Choir and SIC Concert Band are joining with Rend Lake College Concert Choir for a Christmas Collaboration Concert Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. in the VPAC Lobby. Additionally, the Ella Elizabeth Hise Museum of Regional Art is currently accepting submissions for the “Resurgam” juried exhibition.
With no further business to discuss, the board adjourned at 7:30 p.m. The next Board of Trustees meeting will be held Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in the Rodney J. Brenner Board Room.
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