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The public had the opportunity to tour LTC’s broadband telecom facilities during an April 2018 open house. Those facilities were destroyed by the March 21 tornado. Daily News photo
Lincoln Trail College’s broadband telecommunications program will continue in temporary classrooms following action by the illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board.
The trustees, meeting May 16 at Olney Central College, authorized the district to procure temporary structures to house the program.
With the help of State Sen. Chapin Rose, the IECC district office has been working with the State of Illinois to secure trailers that can be used as temporary lecture halls for the program, IECC Chancellor Ryan Gower explained.
It is anticipated that those trailers will be placed on LTC’s north campus this summer.
Long term, Gower said, the broadband telecom program will be one of three programs housed in LTC’s new technology center that is scheduled for completion in late fall 2024.
For decades, LTC’s telecom program was housed in the Harry L. Crisp Building on the south campus at Gordon Junction. The structure was destroyed by the March 31 tornado.
The building was originally built as a Pespi bottling facility back when the Heath family owned the local franchise. It was donated to the college by Harry Crisp Jr. of Pepsi Mid-America in the 1990s and named in honor of Crisp’s father.
Gower said instructors and college officials took “extraordinary measures” to keep current telecom students on track.
“Instructors Dennis York and Travis Matthews, with the support of Interim President Troy Hickey and Dean of Instruction Cyndi Boyce, have taken extraordinary measures to ensure current students had a ‘teach out’ plan to finish the term,” he told the Daily News. “The students completed certificate requirements and walked in the May 11 graduation ceremony.”
IECC carried Business Interruption insurance on the Crisp Building which will cover costs associated with a temporary structure to house the programs lab and simulator spaces. The college will pay for the structures and be reimbursed by insurance. The cost of the temporary facilities is not to exceed available coverage.
Also during the recent meeting, John McCarty was hired as an LTC music instructor and Austin Alexander, was hired as an LTC social sciences instructor. Both are effective Aug. 7.
Cindy Smith was hired as a TRIO student support services counselor for the district, effective May 22.
Trustees also approved the resignation of LTC college admissions representative Tyson Murray, effective May 1. Murray has been hired as the City of Robinson’s new parks and recreation superintendent.
The next regular board meeting will be 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, at Wabash Valley College, Olney.
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