It's summertime and the living is supposed to be easy, but we expect some BOT members will be going into overdrive when they think no one is watching. Keep your eyes on the following:
1. Discussion of the strategic plan is on the agenda for June 25. We are hopeful it will be approved in its entirety but look out for ways that some trustees will try to continue to delay discussion or come up with creative ways to undermine it. Rendleman, Brewer and Kilquist will try to hold on to what little power they have left and be looking for an "escape" clause on any implementation they don't like.
2. Also on the agenda is planning for a board retreat. Although Illinois Open Meeting Act permits boards to go into closed session for the purpose of "self-evaluations, practices and procedures of professional ethics, when meeting with a representative of a statewide association of which the public body is a member," we question the board's ability to stick to this purpose. Going back to 2008, retreats have been linked with special meetings and have been business as usual. If the board is truly interested in self-evaluation, then have a retreat but keep the other business items off the agenda. Don't use the "retreat/special meeting" title as an excuse to go off campus and have dinner first and then closed discussions.
Let's keep some things in mind from past retreats/special meetings:
It was in August 2008 when this happened:
Trustee Jake Rendleman expressed his feeling that the position of Director of Personnel should be looked at for possible advancement, due to the fact that the responsibilities of that office have grown considerably. Legal Counsel John Huffman agreed that the additional procedures and requirements established by the work of the Hiring Committee have increased the load of the Personnel Office, and added that the Director of Personnel has grown so much in this position…Trustee O'Keefe stated that he feelsthe office needs more people, and suggested this be looked into by the administration. Mr. Rendleman stressed that he feels the position of Director of Personnel should be elevated to Executive Director of Personnel.
It was suggested that this topic be continued in closed session. (Of course!)
In June 2011, note these comments from the minutes:
Trustee Sanders commented that most boards are not as involved in the hiring process as the JALC Board. He saidthat in talking with trustees across the nation, most boards just act on the recommendation brought to them, with the exception of hiring vice presidents and presidents. After further discussion, Board Chair Mike Hopkins suggested that the Board should only address items in closed session that they have been previously informed of. It was the consensus of the Board that they would appreciate being aware of any items that will be brought up in closed session so they can be better prepared to discuss in a timely manner and make good decisions. (But then Brewer and Kilquist couldn't use their intimidation tactics.)And from September 2012:
Board Chair Mike Hopkins stated it was desirable to hold a closed session to discuss the appointment,employment, and compensation of specific individuals; and to meet with a representative of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association for thepurpose of self evaluation, practices and procedures.
Jim Snider and John O'Keefe moved and seconded that the special meeting/retreat of the John A. Logan
College Board of Trustees be declared in closed session.
Upon roll call, all members voted yes with the exception of Trustee John Sanders who voted no. (This is the only recent no vote against a closed session – wonder what was going on?)
3. As the anonymous replier with the ellipsis fetish and hatred of faculty keeps reminding us, there are two dean positions open – Dean for Academic Affairs and Dean for Career & Technical Education. As stated before, we are not privy to any inside info on these positions. Our criticism of hiring has primarily focused on the hiring/promotion of BOT and administrators' children and friends. So we can only speculate that there must be some favorite sons looking for advancement. Perhaps it's Barry Hancock . We've been pleased with Aunt Jackie Hancock's recent actions on the board, but we have to question if her vote could be bought on other issues with the promise of a new job for Barry. And we shouldn't have to remind readers of this blog that Clay Brewer is the filter for all hiring.
Stay tuned – the heat this summer could be one for the record books!
Hey idiot...no HATRED of Fac here......just disbelief that the all knowing factions behind this blog claim Fac and staff have little to do with hiring......and no hatred for FAC because I want the all knowing factions behind this site to identify when the BofT went against a Fac recommendation....a question you still refuse to answer because that would prevent you from your hatred of certain trustees......as for the current Dean openings.....relatives have nothing to do with this process yet you still refuse to acknowledge that it is Fac/Staff directing this for a self serving outcome.......I still wait for the answer to these questions you describe as full of hate....and judging by the many shots you have taken without knowledge or facts....you know hatred very well........I will keep asking these questions .....and others I am sure will result from YOUR blind hatred of those at JALC who do not live in your emerald city......summer is going to get hot....better get those mirrors down...
ReplyDelete...can....Anonymous 7:43 p.m.....write....a....complete....sentence....?
ReplyDeleteRumor mill says NO fac on dean search committees, so how they could be influenceing is hard to see (except for Mr. Ellipsis). Another disturbing rumor has Barry Hancocks name in it. Again.
ReplyDeleteLook at the ad......"BA in related field"......if it was a set up for Barry, why would it not say Ph,D. .....and eliminate the field without the Ph,D.......this is a set up by the admin for the Fac .....the selected candidate will have an obscure degree....hence the ad.....and with only a rumor you cannot resist taking a cheap shot at Barry and send a feeble warning to Jackie that YOU are watching.....how are your answers coming to my questions ? ....and please don't let my writing prevent you from responding to my questions....and explain how your cheap shots serve good governance.....why don't you list the committee members rather than cite the rumor mill.......pretty lame
ReplyDelete"There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion." John Emerich Edward Dalberg, 1st Baron Acton (1834-1902).
DeleteNot sure what vacancy notices you read, but the ones from the JALC website clearly state master's degree for both dean openings. And they also state a doctorate degree would be ok too. Don't let your reading prevent you from false accusations, Anonymous at 3:17.
DeleteHey Hey--The Board of Trustees passed the original plan at the board meeting last night..ALL BOARD MEMBERS VOTED FOR IT...but wait; there is a catch. THEY STIPULATED THAT IT COULD BE CHANGED AT ANY TIME AT ANY BOARD MEETING which is within the boards rights.
ReplyDeleteHMMMM..looks like the intimidation factor stays intact although they look like righteous individuals by passing it after a 30 day delay.
Now it is time for the retreat..July 31st with Aug 1st being the alternate date. Who pays for this RETREAT? taxpayers? Is it really necessary when I thought the Brew Crew always had a retreat at the Pinch every Friday? To cut their overhead maybe they should change that to Tuesdays at the pinch where their "retreat cocktails" would cost them a dollar each.
What could actually occur at these retreats that couldn't occur in a session behind closed doors? JUST LET me know that each board member is paying their own expenses and I won't care how many retreats they have.
Where will this retreat be held at? Maybe the Southern Illinoisan can get good pictures and news from this retreat!
PLEASE.someone tell me who pays for the retreat. What part of the budget does it come under? I think this may be a "cut" when they start cutting the budgets..How about it Mr. VP? where does the money come from for the retreat?
ReplyDeleteOn page 5E of the 2012 AUDIT, you will see that Institutional Support was INCREASED by 15.1 percent. Academic Support was DECREASED by 6.7 percent AND Student Services was DECREASED by 36.5 percent. Instruction was increased by a mere 1.5 percent.
DeleteMuddy Williamson, can you provide a LINK to AUDIT and other financial reports?
Those reports are available on the JAL website. At the bottom of the page, click on "JALC Planning Documents." What do you make of these cuts, Anonymous?
DeleteFollow the money.
Deletelooks to me like the Institutional Support cash must be used for the retreat. Also looks to me like the Administrative salaries and positions need to be cut rather then increased and more money being spent in the areas of instruction
DeleteOne of the main purposes of the so called "retreat" is self evaluation. I would say if self evaluation is going to occur for the Trustees that they are going to be held up for a long time on this issue. Self evaluation of the Brew Crew should be very,very,very interesting and I only wish i was a fly on the wall during that discussion.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone really think a board retreat needs 'insitutional support'? aren't most of 'em retired and arleady collecting a taxpayer paid pension? how they face voters and ask for votes after cutting instruction money and lining their own pockets beats me. I guess the same way the last pres collected a pension plus a paycheck and pretended he was saving someone money. Old Boys Club lives on.
ReplyDeleteDr Mees didn't recommend his retirement and then put back into the President position..The Board did! Why? To save a little money which it did in the long run and he could sit back in the office and let the Board do what they wanted to do. He was no fool; who wouldn't have accepted that opportunity? It all falls back to the Board of Trustees again.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Anyone can go to ICCB website and look at SALARY REPORT and see salaries PAID to Administrators by JOB TITLE going back to year 2000.
ReplyDeletelooks like the Muddy Williamson posters are on vacation. no new articles written after the board accepted the accredidation report as written. Is it satisfaction or vacation time?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your concern. We don't know what you mean by "accreditation report," but if you are talking about the strategic plan, we'd have to agree with Anon below, that the BOT did exactly as expected. Publicly, they get to look like they accepted the plan they approved and funded, but of course they added the caveat that they can toss any of it that gets uncomfortable for them, their offspring, or their cronies down the road. We're working on a few pieces, including the question of what rules/organizations govern the actions of elected trustees, and how a concerned citizen might file a complaint. It's a complex issue, so thank you for your patience as we wait to hear what new authority, title, and monies are next granted to Grand Wizard of Personnel Mr. Brewer Junior after the retreat. Will any of the Gang of Four have the courage to stop or report inappropriate backdoor deals? Is it true that the board sends an emissary out to see how many people are still waiting around for the end of executive session, and that they don't come out until the number is small enough? Is the reporter the Southern Illinoisan assigned to JALC capable of investigation? Are the voters satisfied with how their money is being spent by this board?
DeleteI'd say neither. Board did exactly as predicted and there have certainly been a lot of comments/hits since then.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the Budget for 2014?
DeleteBudget for 2013 expired June 30, 2013. The Board should have approved at the June Board meeting?