CENTRALIA — Due to the lack of a State budget, which has resulted in no State funding for Kaskaskia College in nearly eight  months, the college has been forced to make additional and significant budget cuts.

Dr. Penny Quinn (Source: Kaskaskia College)
Dr. Penny Quinn
(Source: Kaskaskia College)

During their regular monthly meeting Monday night, the Board of Trustees approved the college to move forward in implementing procedures for Reductions in Force (RIF) for Faculty, Professional/Managerial Staff, and Support Staff. 

The approved RIFs include the elimination of the Kaskaskia College Educational Program at the Centralia Correctional Center to include all full-time faculty and professional/managerial staff; the elimination of the Small Business Development Center to include full-time professional/ managerial staff and part-time support staff; and the elimination of a full-time KCTOP employee and a part-time professional/managerial employee.

The suspension of Department Chair assignments for the areas of Physical and Life Science, Social/Behavioral Science, Mathematics, Fine and Performing Arts and Humanities were also approved as of May 13, 2016.

In other personnel matters, the Board approved the retirement of Danny Mays, Professor of Auto Collision and Don Sensel, Associate Professor Industrial Technology/Wiring effective May 31, 2016 and James Kampwerth, Building and Grounds Technician effective June 30, 2016

A resolution was approved authorizing the College Administration to proceed with preparing an employee Furlough plan, and to approve the closure and preparation for sale of the Kaskaskia College Workforce Center on South Poplar Street in Centralia was approved by the Board.

The Board also approved the fundraising plans for men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s golf programs.  These plans will include fundraising for all operational expenses for both programs for the 2016-17 academic year.

The Board also approved a reduction in athletic housing awards of one per team for men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball. The total number of housing awards will be 45 for the 2016-17 school year with a savings of $1,500 a month. 

The Board also approved a resolution to halt the distribution of student club allocations for the Spring 2016 semester.  The student clubs will have access to their respective accounts of Fall 2015 allocations and all fundraised dollars.

The Board approved a resolution for the transfer of Working Cash Funds to the Education Fund. These funds will be reimbursed to the Working Cash Fund when payments are provided by the State 

In other action, the Board approved a proposal for professional audit services and the approval of a contractor to provide services in the Learning Resource Center.