CLC Board approves faculty, custodial union contracts
Concluding several months of negotiations, the College of Lake County board of trustees on May 20 approved four-year contracts with the College of Lake County Federation of Teachers, representing full-time faculty, and the CLC Staff Council, representing custodial employees. Both contracts went into effect on May 21, 2014.
Under the faculty contract, full-time instructors will receive an average annual increase to base salary of 3.3 percent over each of the four years of the contract as well as health and dental benefits already received by other employee groups.
The custodial contract provides for a 3.18 percent average annual increase in pay over each of the four years covered by the contract.
"The new contracts allow the college to remain competitive in attracting high-caliber faculty and staff while also being fiscally responsible," said Board Chairman Amanda Howland after the meeting. The board's action was taken the regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Faculty approved their contract on May 16. Facilities union members approved their contract on May 15.
Fiscal Year 2015 budget placed on public display
The trustees authorized placing a proposed $101 million operating budget for Fiscal Year 2015 on public display in the Business Office on the Grayslake Campus starting May 22. The board also approved holding a public hearing on the budget at its June 24 meeting set for 6 p.m. Following the June hearing, the trustees will vote on the budget.
The proposed budget represents a 2.5 percent increase over the Fiscal Year 2014 budget of $98.7 million. According to David Agazzi, vice president for administrative affairs, the budget is based on flat revenues from state funding, modest increases in property taxes and a $9 increase in tuition and fees. On the expenditure side, the budget includes a 2.5 percent increase in expenditures, including a 9.7 percent increase in health insurance costs and a 1.5 percent increase in non-personnel expenditures.
Grants and agreements
The board accepted a competitive grant for $165,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to continue funding the college's Illinois Small Business and International Trade Center. The center assists existing businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs and helps businesses expand into international markets.
A grant for $309,020 was also accepted from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The grant covers several security initiatives including electronic door locks, video cameras and security monitors. In another security-related action, the trustees approved joining the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS), a multi-jurisdictional statewide mutual aid police response system.
International education resolution
The board approved a resolution on international education, publicly documenting its support for international education-related courses as an important part of a college degree program. The board's action will help document the college's commitment to international education as it pursues grant opportunities, according to CLC President Jerry Weber.
Human resources
In other personnel-related action, the board approved a three-year contract for President Jerry Weber at an average annual increase of 2.56 percent and three-year contracts for David Agazzi, vice president for administrative affairs, and Richard Haney, vice president for educational affairs, each at an average annual increase to base salary of 2.9 percent.
Salary increases for Fiscal Year 2015 were also approved for administrators, specialist and classified staff. Each group will receive a 3.3 percent increase in base salary. Additionally, the contract period for administrative and specialist employees was revised to cover the period May 21, 2014, through June 30, 2015. Finally, the board approved the appointment of a new full-time faculty member, Shanti Chu, to teach philosophy, effective Aug. 18, 2014.
Purchasing
The board approved the following purchases:
Two contracts with Woodward Printing Services of Platteville, Wisc., one for $56,753 for printing of the Fall 2014 credit class schedule and another for $77,910 for printing of non-credit class schedules for Fiscal Year 2015.
A contract for $58,694 with Blackbaud Inc., of Charleston, S.C., for the purchase and implementation of Raiser's Edge software for the CLC Foundation.
Three contracts for furniture for prototype classrooms: one, for $38,344.60 from Frank Cooney Co., of Wood Dale, Ill., a second for $21,912.55 from Interiors for Business Inc., of Batavia, Ill., and a third for $43,962.46 from Krueger International of Chicago. The prototype classrooms will be used in developing classroom equipment and furniture standards for further implementation under the college's Sustainable Campus Master Plan.