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Kaskaskia College Board moves forward with two renovation projects

By WJBD Staff Feb 28, 2023 | 11:44 AM
Kaskaskia College President George Evans shows off closed off portion of Lifelong Learning Center due to water damage to Congressman Mike Bost during a recent visit. Photo by Bruce Kropp.

The Kaskaskia College Board will be replacing all the carpeting in the Lifelong Learning Center after a holiday waterline break flooded a large area of the building.

Insurance covered replacing the water-damaged carpet, but in order to maintain consistency in floor covering throughout the building, the college will replace the carpeting in areas not affected by water damage. Bids will now be sought for the project.  The cost is not expected to exceed $110,000.

The board Monday night awarded a $389,826 bid to Great Western Abatement of Jerseyville to abate asbestos in the Admissions (AD), Science and Technology (ST), Vocational Annex, Fine Arts (FA) and the Health and Professional Careers Center (HPC).  The abatement is part of the planned renovation of each building with funds coming from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), Public Health Safety (PHS), and bonds the college refinanced last year.

The board approved the creation of a new club. The Standing Ovation Society will be a club centered around public speaking. It is designed to improve communication for both students and faculty within the campus and surrounding communities.

In other action:

  • The board restructured the online support specialist position to a Director of Learning and Innovation to better align support needs for students, faculty, and the college as a whole.
  • Approved the hiring of Mike Christensen of Centralia, Washington as the college’s new Executive Director of Development at an annual salary of $70,000. Christensen comes to KC with an extensive background in higher education including serving as a Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator for Centralia, Washington College, and most recently as the Campaign and Major Gifts Officer for South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Washington.
  • Approved the hiring of Carli Sanders of Centralia as the new Manufacturing and Work-Based Learning Coordinator at a salary of $57,500.
  • Approved the hiring of Denise VanFleet of Beloit, Wisconsin as Assistant Professor/Program Coordinator of Health Information Technology at a salary of $80,076.
  • Approved the employment of Mandy Wollin of St. Peter, Illinois as the Nurse Assistant Program Coordinator at a salary of $53,000.
  • Accepted the resignation of Director of Institutional Effectiveness Lauren Meyers.
  • Accepted the resignation of the Centralia Correctional Center Commercial Cooking Instructor Kristin Williams.
  • Accepted the retirement of college Director of Marketing Travis Henson