Lake Land College Board of Trustees Meeting | September, 2025

The Lake Land College Board of Trustees expressed strong confidence in President Dr. Jonathan “Josh” Bullock at its meeting on Monday, September 8, 2025, by unanimously approving a three-year contract extension running through June 2028. The board also set new strategic goals for the president focused on enhancing student services and expanding workforce programs. For more details on the extension and goals, see the full story.

In a busy session focused on strategic investments, the board also authorized nearly $275,000 in spending for programmatic and security upgrades. A key approval was the $195,000 purchase of a new Strip-Till Bar for the college’s agriculture program, providing students with hands-on experience in modern conservation tillage. Additionally, trustees approved a $78,419 contract to install advanced security cameras, including license plate readers, at the Effingham Technology Center. The board also launched new initiatives to boost enrollment, approving tuition waiver programs for adult learners and as prizes for high school academic and leadership events.

Bills Approved
The board unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included bills for payment and travel expenses totaling $2,779,977.34. The largest expenditures were from the Site & Construction Fund at over $1.8 million and the Education Fund at over $590,000.

July Financials Show Favorable Start
Trustees formally accepted the July 2025 financial statements, which showed a strong start to the new fiscal year. According to a summary from Vice President for Business Services John Woodruff, the college finished the month with results that were $3.2 million favorable to the budget, driven primarily by $1.6 million in property tax revenue.

IT and Security Contracts Renewed
The board approved a one-year, $35,484.96 agreement with Tellaro, Inc. of Stewardson for managed security services, running from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. Trustees also renewed a one-year subscription with Modern Campus, Inc. for its Lifelong Learning Extended Education platform at an annual cost of $31,950.45.

Student Welcome Events Successful
Student Trustee Jay Bliler reported a successful start to the fall semester, with strong attendance at student events. Welcome Day drew 375 students at the main campus and 120 at the Effingham Technology Center. The Student Life Open House and Agriculture Division’s Welcome Back Barbeque each hosted approximately 100 students.

Foundation Hires New Director
In a report provided by the Lake Land College Foundation, it was announced that Bailey Cole has been hired as the new Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations. Cole previously served as the Foundation Awards & Corporate Relations Coordinator. The foundation also noted that it received over 335 applications for its second scholarship cycle, bringing the total for 2025 to 1,101.

Human Resources Report Approved
The board approved the standard Human Resources Report, which included multiple new hires, promotions, and additional appointments. Among the changes, Kelly Cothern was promoted to Marketing Specialist, and Grayson Gough will become the Foundation Awards & Corporate Relations Coordinator. The report also detailed several resignations and employee leave requests.

Surplus Items Declared
The board declared various used furniture items as surplus property. The items, including tables, chairs, a whiteboard, and a cabinet from Webb Hall and the Northwest Building, are no longer needed by the college. The administration will now seek to dispose of the items in a manner most beneficial to the college, which may include donation, sale, or recycling.