The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees met Monday night and received a presentation from FGM Architects showing off plans for numerous renovations throughout the HB and L building. The layouts of multiple rooms and corridors are to be updated with the goals of upgrading technology and improving accessibility, spacing, comfort, lighting, and acoustics.
With architectural plans prepared, bid documents are set to be issued on January 27. Bids will be received on February 17, after which the Board of Trustees will be able to approve the bid on March 7. If all goes according to plan, construction will begin in April 2022, and most of the work is expected to be completed by the start of the Fall 2022 semester.
President George Evans commented on the timeline of the project, acknowledging the possibility of delays due to material shortages but expressing confidence that any delays would be manageable.
“We have recognized that there are some manufacturing delays out there,” Evans said. “With everything that’s going on nationwide right now, there are a few unknowns when it comes to some of the materials we need, but I think (FGM) have done a really good job of troubleshooting this ahead of time and identifying areas that may slow progress.”
The board approved the retirement of KC’s director of public safety, Todd Wagner. Board members commented expressing appreciation for Wagner and his part in managing campus security during the pandemic thus far.
“Todd has performed remarkably in his role,” Evans said. “Stepping into that role in the middle of a pandemic, when the rules were changing, sometimes daily, for us as far as what was expected for our students and staff. He never complained. He also took the emergency management plan and elevated it to where the institution needs to be. He’s definitely earned the right to step away from the badge.”
In other business, the board approved several purchases, including three CNC milling machines bought with federal stimulus funding, Snap-on certification program kits with Workforce Equity Initiative grant funding, and instructional computers bought with federal stimulus funding.
In other personnel news, the college hired Maurya Gill as Temporary COVID HR Manager and Lisa Wright as Perkins Project Coordinator. The resignation of Julie Boswell as Bridge and ICAPS Coordinator was approved.
