Parkland Board Hears Reports on Enrollment, Workforce Training Program

Board of Trustees heard updates from central administrators and department heads

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — At its regular meeting Wednesday, the Parkland College Board of Trustees heard updates from central administrators and department heads, including reports on the college's Support for Workforce Training (SWFT) program, fall enrollment, and proposed tax levy.

Alicia Beck, director of the SWFT program, provided an update regarding the program, which is supported by grants from the Illinois Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI), a consortium of Illinois community colleges providing free short-term training and student supports through an equity lens, and the Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce (PATH) program, a state initiative in its second year at Parkland, which provides scholarships to health career students. 

Since 2019, the SWFT program has received more than $6.3 million in workforce training funds, and has served more than 750 individual students. 

The board also heard reports from other campus officials. Dean of Enrollment Kristin Smigielski gave preliminary fall enrollment numbers, which indicate a 5.3% increase over last fall. The strongest enrollment gains came from the district's diverse populations, including Hispanic and Latino/a students (16.56%), Asian students (13.17%), and students who are two or more races (19.75%). Additionally, strong enrollment gains were noted in early college students (22.73%), who are taking classes while still completing high school. 

Michael Trame, vice president for student services, provided an update on Parkland Athletics, and Stephanie Stuart, vice president for strategic partnerships and workforce innovations, provided a legislative update. FORVIS also presented the college's comprehensive annual financial report with an unmodified opinion. 

Chief Financial Officer Christopher Randles then presented the estimated amounts necessary to be levied. Under the proposal, Parkland College's 2023 tax levy would be $39.8 million, a 9.14% increase over last year's extension. The proposal would support the college's educational, operational and maintenance funds ($27.38 million); protection, health and safety ($2.7 million); and tort liability funds ($3.7 million), among other expenses. 

The projected total tax rate would decline from $0.5353 to $0.5245, a savings of $3.61 per $100,000 of home market value for taxpayers. The Board of Trustees will host a public hearing at its November meeting prior to approval. 

In other business, trustees approved:

• the bid for two Fanuc Student Training Systems from William Crow Inc. dba Aidex Corporation of Rossville, $68,250
• the contract with C-BEN of Franklin, Tenn., for consulting services related to the development of Competency Based Education, $128,460
• the purchase of a 60-month SendPro P3000 Series meter postal machine lease from Pitney Bowes of Stamford, Conn., $49,103
• personnel appointments and modifications: 
  • Brennon Hightower, Career Services Manager, Advising Services
  • Anna Kong, Enterprise Applications Analyst, Campus Technologies
  • Tatem Madden, Assistant Teacher, Child Development Center
  • Gishanthi Marasinghe, Chemistry Lab Manager, Natural Sciences
  • Rebecca Richardson Admissions Associate Admissions and Records
  • Samuel Standerfer, Infrastructure Specialist, Campus Technologies
  • Diane Stunkard, Admissions Associate, Admissions and Records
  • Oliver Swann, Collections Specialist, Learning Commons
  • Maurice Taylor, Admissions Associate, Admissions and Records
  • Randy Thompson, Custodial Supervisor, Physical Plant