During its regular meeting on December 13, John Wood Community College Board of Trustees accepted a $207,484 grant from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) to help address employment and education gaps in its district.
The ICCB Innovative Bridge and Integrated Career & Academic Preparation System (ICAPS) grant will allow JWCC to develop and implement transitional training for students in Adult Education and GED programs.
JWCC will integrate no-cost Truck Driver and Certified Nurse Assistant training into Adult Education programs currently offered at Bella Ease, an organization focused on serving minority and low-income families. Grant funding will also allow the training to be delivered in a newly outfitted classroom at Bella Ease’s facility at 727 Broadway in Quincy.
The expanded partnership between JWCC and Bella Ease addresses an education equity gap in the College’s service area. Integrating key workforce training into existing GED and Adult Education offerings is expected to lead to an increased number of students transitioning to job training and post-secondary education and shorten the time to complete a college credential.
“This grant is a triple win for the community,” JWCC President Dr. Bryan Renfro shared. “It will help adults transition into training for family sustaining career paths, respond to community needs for more truck drivers and CNAs in our workforce, and deepen a community partnership to ensure all students have access and support to training to improve their quality of life.”
Renfro shared that currently more than 20 students are receiving GED and Adult Education instruction from JWCC at Bella Ease’s facility. As the training program is implemented over the course of the next year, current and future students will be able to simultaneously access free CNA and Truck Driver training as they pursue their GED. JWCC also plans to provide Bella Ease students with wraparound support services such as career planning, Federal Financial Aid filing, and academic advising.
“We need to provide more training and support to students in an environment they know and trust,” Renfro said. “This grant will help us grow relationships between JWCC staff and families served at Bella Ease. As those connections grow, so will the opportunities for educational attainment, which improves earning power, quality of life and overall community development.”
In other business, Trustees:
Approved lowering the tax rate for 2023. The total tax rate for 2023 is estimated to be $0.41457 per $100 Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV) which is lower than the 2022 rate of $0.42400 per $100 Equalized Assessed Valuation and result in a $9,157,776 levy. Due to increases in property values, the 2023 levy is estimated to generate $527,256 more than in 2022. Funds from the 2023 levy will be distributed to the College in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Heard a report from Curt Kelty, JWCC’s chief of campus police, regarding the College’s crisis response plans and training.
Approved a new certificate in Animal Care and Vet Assistant Certificate and Advanced Manufacturing courses.
Approved submission of a $98,936 grant application for a Perkins Leadership Grant for purchase of mixed-reality technology to provide interactive learning experiences in advanced manufacturing.
Approved second payment installment of $3,927 for dues to the Illinois Community College Trustee Association.
Approved $79,580 bid from Brown Electric for main campus parking lot lights, which will be paid through Illinois Green Economy Network grant funding.
Approved revision to Board Policies 414 and 417 to comply with the Illinois Student Debt Assistance Act.
The next meeting will be held Wednesday, February 21, at 6:00 p.m. at the JWCC campus at 48th and Harrison in Quincy.
