CENTRALIA — During their regularly scheduled meeting Monday night, the Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees approved the college’s 2017-18 fiscal year budget that has a balanced operating fund and includes funding from the new Illinois budget.

While the college anticipates receiving $8.4 million in state funding during the fiscal year, that’s less than prior years.  KC President Dr. Penny Quinn praised the college’s budget officers for their work in keeping cost estimates down as they planned and prepared their budgets.

Trustees also approved the 2019-2020 Academic Calendar.  The calendar will be a part of the new five-day a week schedule which starts in the fall of 2018.

In personnel action, the Board approved the hiring of Pat Mefford of Nashville for the Perkins Placement Coordinator, a grant funded position.

The Board also approved establishing a full time testing center specialist for the college’s ACE Testing Center. The college has seen an increase in usage of the testing center through arrangements with national testing vendors, promotion of proctored testing for other colleges/universities, and the consolidation of testing administered throughout the campus into the ACE Testing Center. This position would replace two positions previously responsible that have not been filled during the state budget impasse.

The Board approved the final readings to modify a number of policies covering: Space Usage Management, Authority for Emergency Action, Award of Excellence, Acting President and Trustee Emeritus.

Trustees also received a report from Culinary Arts Professor Robert Rhymes about a trip students took over the summer to Thailand.  The trip provides students the opportunity to learn about culinary dishes and services from that country.  The KC Culinaries student club raised funds for the trip.

The Kaskaskia College Concert and Jazz Band will kick off its first performance of the season on October 3 at 7:30 in the Jane Knight Auditorium.  Members of the Jim Beasley Veterans Tribute will once again provide refreshments following all the College’s Fine Arts Performances for the 2017-18 season.