Meeting Summary and Briefs: Lake Land College Board of Trustees for August 17, 2026

Lake Land College | August 17, 2026

The Lake Land College Board of Trustees met at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Room 124 of the Effingham Technology Center, with all seven trustees and Student Trustee Wyatt Draper present — the first full house in at least three meetings. The evening’s centerpiece was the public hearing and adoption of the $117,431,686 fiscal year 2027 budget, which drew no public comment and passed unanimously (see “Trustees Adopt $117.4 Million FY 2027 Budget”). Trustees also accepted unaudited June financial statements showing the college closed fiscal 2026 about $1.06 million over its approved budget (see “College Closes FY 2026 $1.06 Million Over Budget”), heard baseline prospective student survey results (see “Survey of 305 Prospective Students”), and approved a $209,468.20 grant-funded equipment purchase for new plumbing and electrical certification programs (see “College Buys $209,468 in Plumbing, Electrical Gear”).

The board worked through 18 action items in roughly two hours before convening into closed session, approving financial advisory fees ahead of a two-part bond issuance (see “Trustees Approve $96,670 in Bond Fees”), ratifying a 2023 uniform contract that had never come before them (see “Board Ratifies 2023 Cintas Uniform Deal”), fronting $30,000 to keep a federal TRIO program staffed (see “Board Fronts $30,000 to Keep TRIO Talent Search Staffed”), and renewing Microsoft and Adobe licensing (see “College Renews Microsoft, Adobe Licenses”). Faculty Association President Brenda Hunzinger addressed the board for a second consecutive month on the proposed faculty contract (see “Faculty Association President Rebuts Chair”). The meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m.

Three Grants Accepted Totaling $98,889

Trustees accepted three grants in a single 8-0 motion presented by Chief of Staff Jean Anne Highland. The largest is an $80,000 direct allocation from the Illinois Community College Board’s FY2027 Mental Health Early Action on Campus program, which Grants Writer and Coordinator Dr. Beth Craig’s July 21 memo says will fund professional development for student-facing employees, student speakers, wayfinding signage for the new Student Wellness Center office location, support for the Active Minds Student Club, outreach materials distributed at orientation and sensory room supplies. The college also accepted $14,389 from the Illinois Public Risk Fund, which administers its workers compensation program, for safety products identified by IPRF loss control agents, and $4,500 from the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation Community grant program. The ISDS grant, a first for the Dental Hygiene program, funds $3,750 in cleaning supplies and $750 for dental exams — two exams per person at $15 each for 25 elderly, high-risk patients, most of whom have Medicare but no dental insurance.

Organizational Charts Approved With One Reporting Change

The board approved the FY 2027 organizational charts 8-0 on a motion by Trustee Doris Reynolds, seconded by Student Trustee Wyatt Draper. Woodruff’s Aug. 4 memo lists no significant changes in the President’s Office, Department of Corrections, Academic Services or Business Services charts; the single change is that the Student Wellness Center Manager now reports directly to the Vice President for Student Services. Chair Tom Wright raised the question of whether the Board of Trustees itself should appear on the organizational chart, noted in the minutes as something to consider going forward. The charts show the college’s Department of Corrections operation as its largest single unit by headcount, with 59 support staff in the north region and 55 support staff plus three faculty in the south, spread across 23 named correctional facilities.

Zero-Cost SBDC Office Lease Renewed at Effingham

Trustees approved 8-0 a renewed office lease with the Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois University on behalf of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at EIU, covering Office #143 on the first floor of the Effingham Technology Center. The lease runs July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 with automatic one-year renewals absent 30 days’ written notice, not to exceed 10 total years. Lease payments are $0.00 per year; the lease states the fair value of the space is $6,000.00 per year. The office is approximately 100 square feet and may be used solely for local small business development programs. Woodruff’s Aug. 6 memo describes the revision as adding “a few additional language items required for the grant used by the SBDC,” with “no significant changes that the college is concerned with.”

Insurance Consultant Renewed for One Year; Reynolds Abstains

The board approved a one-year renewal of the college’s insurance consulting agreement with Dimond Bros. of Paris, Illinois, at $25,000 per year with two additional one-year renewal options. Trustee Doris Reynolds abstained — the only non-unanimous vote of the evening — on a motion by Trustee Denise Walk seconded by Chair Tom Wright. Woodruff’s Aug. 5 memo states the prior three-year agreement, signed in June 2023, expired and that the shorter term was recommended because of pending open claims and because Dimond Bros. agreed to keep rates unchanged. The minutes add that the renewal was not brought forward in June — “noted as an oversight” — and that the one-year term reflects an open insurance claim related to the Effingham Technology Center fire.

Tables and Golf Cart Declared Surplus

Trustees declared 10 small rectangular tables stored at the Kluthe Center and one used Athletics Department golf cart as surplus, approving disposal in whatever manner is most beneficial to the college. Woodruff’s July 21 memo states the golf cart “is past its useful lifespan and can no longer be repaired” and that the tables are to be donated to Altamont Grade School, which has indicated it can use them. Disposal options include donation to local school districts or 501(c)(3) organizations, sales to individuals, auction house consignment or wholesale purchasers.

Student Trustee Reports Ice Machines Now Running

Student Trustee Wyatt Draper reported that ice machines purchased by the 2025–2026 Student Government Association and Student Activity Board are now operational in both the Luther Student Center and the West Building, which he described as a response to longstanding student requests. Welcome Week began the day after the meeting and runs through Friday plus the following Monday and Tuesday, with SAB-hosted games, giveaways and workshops themed around 2016. Draper also reported that students collaborated with architects the prior week to provide input on upcoming library renovations.

Foundation Partners With Financial Aid for Welcome Week

Reporting on behalf of Executive Director for College Advancement Christi Donsbach, Trustee Larry Lilly said the Foundation is partnering with the Financial Aid Office for Welcome Week activities on the main campus and at the ETC, with students encouraged to visit the financial aid and scholarship table to ask questions, complete applications and enter to win a scholarship. The 2026–2027 Foundation Scholarship application remains open through August for students who did not apply in the first round. Foundation community partners are invited to a VIP tour of the ETC this month, and a board member social for current and former board members will be hosted later in the month. At the July meeting, Lilly reported the Foundation raised more than $2.95 million in donations for the fiscal year, a record.

Opening Day Friday; 60th Anniversary Marked

Dr. Josh Bullock noted the college resumes regular non-summer hours of operation the week of the meeting, with Opening Day on Friday, Aug. 21, including an all-employee photo at 8:15 a.m. on the Field House grounds near the Northeast Building. Trustees were invited to participate. The calendar of events in the packet identifies the 7:30–8:45 a.m. Opening Day program as a “60th Anniversary Celebration.” Founders Day follows Sept. 24 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Field House. The annual Foundation and Alumni Reception is set for Wednesday, Oct. 21, and a Sullivan Plaza naming dedication ceremony is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, in front of Neal Hall.

July Payment Report Unavailable

In his president’s report, Bullock told trustees the July 2026 payment report is currently unavailable and that an August 2026 report is anticipated for the September board meeting. At the July meeting, Bullock reported the state had paid the college in full as of the end of June, with $1.5 million received from the Illinois Department of Corrections toward the FY26 balance — leaving $1.2 million outstanding — just under $15,000 from the Department of Juvenile Justice with $12,631 remaining, and ICCB payments of $345,542 in credit hour reimbursement and $514,413 in equalization.

ACCT Leadership Congress in Chicago

Trustee Denise Walk reported for the ICCTA/Legislative Committee that the ACCT Leadership Congress will be held in October in Chicago, and that trustees interested in attending should contact Seirra Laughhunn, executive assistant to the president’s office, to register. The Buildings and Site Committee and Resource and Development Committee did not meet and had no reports; the Finance Committee did not meet this month but met in July.