John A. Logan discuss potential for food pantry, dismiss grant staff members - The Southern

John A. Logan discuss potential for food pantry, dismiss grant staff members - The Southern

CARTERVILLE — The idea of John A. Logan College looking into a potential food pantry was met with positive reactions Tuesday. 

During its meeting, trustees discussed the potential for the program, after retiree Barbara James suggested it to the board.

"You may have read about the (pantry) and its growing support in the community," she said.

After hearing news of the opening of the food pantry at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, James said she thinks it might be an appropriate time for students and staff at the community college to get involved. 

"It would be good idea to talk to those at SIU to figure out how to get started," she said.

Commending James for her research and outreach to the university's interim chancellor, Brad Colwell, to get more information about the food pantry campaign, Trustee Jake Rendleman deemed the program as a potential success that trustees should consider building upon.

"Maybe we can start out by guiding students to the local pantry," he said.

Trustees also discussed a new state policy in relation to sexual violence. As part of the reporting for the Building, Grounds and Safety Committee, Don Priddy, director of emergency planning and risk management at JALC, said staffers are currently working to make sure that the new policies are being implemented.

As the meeting progressed, trustees shared the status of the community college's new athletic adviser — who was reappointed at its last meeting in September — and confirmed the closing of the community college's athletic housing.   

"This will be the last year that the college will be supporting athletic housing, so we have to be (active) in letting students know that it will not be available for next year," Don Brewer, chair of the board, said. 

Amid the approvals for the Tuesday evening meeting were an acceptance to the college's annual audit, two part-time hires for an EMS and Spanish instructor and dismissals of two grant staff members.

The nonteaching members were part of the community college's TRIO and Work Force programs. Their dismissals will take effect in September and October of 2017.

"The problem was that the federal government changed its priorities," Ron House, president of JALC, said. "We lack the grant funding to support them."