The Carl Sandburg College Board of Trustees took another step toward a significant transformation of the College’s Main Campus in Galesburg during its regular monthly meeting Thursday evening, getting its first glimpse at the major project and scheduling a public hearing for next month on the intent to issue up to $30 million in bonds.
The Board heard a presentation by Paul Kouri of the College’s architecture and engineering firm, Farnsworth Group, showing potential plans for a science and technology center that would serve as a new focal point of the campus. The proposed building would either replace or be adjacent to the portion of Building B that currently holds the College’s automotive technology program. Under each option, Sandburg’s automotive technology program would be moved to the Center for Manufacturing Excellence across the street in Building G.
The two-story building would offer views of Lake Storey on the inside edge of the campus in addition to serving as a new, state-of-the-art classroom space. It also would allow the College to have a centralized location for its Welcome Center and student services offices, making it a one-stop shop for students.
“It has the advantage of really completing all of the main circulation issues (for prospective and current students) as well as centralizing a lot of the functions and making it a very dramatic and obvious destination point, no matter how you approach the campus,” Sandburg President Dr. Seamus Reilly said.
The Board set a public hearing for 7 p.m. Nov. 18 in the A. Lewis Long Conference Room (E200) on the Main Campus concerning the intent to issue bonds to fund this and other future capital projects at the College. It had previously approved a resolution authorizing such an issuance during its September meeting.
The new building would be the most impactful project undertaken by the College since the primary construction of the Main Campus in Galesburg in the 1970s. The last new construction at Sandburg was the addition of Building H, which houses the College’s mortuary science program, in 2006.
Also during Thursday’s meeting, the Board approved the use of Protection, Health and Safety funds to complete a pair of projects. Resurfacing of the parking lot at the Branch Campus in Carthage is estimated to cost $229,600, and repairs to the Fitness Center are estimated at $54,800.
The Board also moved to renew the College’s wholly funded health insurance plan for employees through BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois and to continue the employee dental and life insurance plans through Principal Financial Group.
The Board adopted its schedule for regular meetings for calendar year 2022. All meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. in the A. Lewis Long Conference Room (E200) on the Main Campus in Galesburg on the following dates:
- Jan. 27
- Feb. 24
- March 24
- April 28
- May 26
- June 27
- July 28
- Aug. 25
- Sept. 22
- Oct. 20
- Nov. 21
- Dec. 15
In other business, the Board approved the following:
- Employment of Derek Schreiner as dean of health professions, effective Nov. 1.
- Resignation/retirement of Derrick Eddy as director of admissions & records/Title IX coordinator, effective Oct. 8.
- Unpaid leave of absence for Troy Chansler, effective Nov. 15-Dec. 1.
- Unpaid leave of absence for Kristle Harms, effective Oct. 6-Nov. 30.
The Board’s next scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Nov. 18.
***Report Courtesy of Carl Sandburg College***
