Fairfield City Council The Fairfield City Council will meet in regular session tonight at 6:00 pm in City Hall. Items in routine business will include approval to purchase absorption chamber screens for the filter plant, portable cargo container discussion, TIF Surplus, and the December 27th Council Meeting. ### FCHS School Board The Fairfield Community High School Board met in regular session last night. The current weighted grading system discussion was addressed, with FCHS staff members Lori Robson and Tammy Austin reviewing the current weighted grading system and presenting a proposal for a new system, which should be less confusing for college and scholarship applications. These changes would only effect those taking Honors Classes. All agreed that the current system needs changed and the new proposal should be studied further and addressed at a future board meeting. The new proposal is the result of a lengthy process of input from staff, parents, and administration. In the Superintendents Report, Superintendent Jill Fulkerson reviewed the Veterans Day Program and the Career and College Day, both held on the FCHS campus. She stated that winter sports will be getting into full swing this weekend. The Tax Levy for the 2022 payable in 2023 was presented and will be voted on at the December meeting. The FCHS Dual Credit Report from IECC was reviewed with 236 students involved in dual credit classes with a student savings of $638,000 and the average student earning 20 college credits. Supt. Fulkerson stated that FCHS was fortunate to have several instructors with Masters Degrees, which is required for dual credit classes. The board unanimously accepted the resignation of Paraprofessional Samantha Weber. The board unanimously voted to go ahead and purchase Chromebooks for FY24. Technology Director Mark Leighty recommended the purchase due to possible availability issues going forward. ### IECC Board The Board of Trustees of Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 met Tuesday night, November 15, 2022, at Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, Illinois, Trustees approved the Estimated Tax Levy Resolution for calendar year 2022. The tax rate extension for IECC is expected to drop for the fourth consecutive year. Updates were authorized for the current Board policy concerning Allied Health Technology Requirements. Trustees approved the listing of holidays for Administrative, Technical, Professional Non-Faculty, Clerical & Maintenance Staff for Calendar Year 2023. Monday January 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday February 20 President's Day Friday April 7 Spring Holiday Monday May 29 Memorial Day Monday June 19 Juneteenth Observed Monday July 4 Independence Day Monday September 4 Labor Day Monday October 9 Columbus Day Friday November 10 Veterans Day Thursday November 23 Thanksgiving Friday November 24 Thanksgiving December 19-22 Winter Break Monday December 25 Christmas Day Observed December 26-29 Winter Break Monday January 1 New Year's Day The board accepted Articulation Agreements with Eastern Illinois University, Indiana State University, McKendree University, Southern Illinois University. Trustees approved the schedule of regular meetings for calendar year 2023. Tuesday, January 17, 2023, 6:15 p.m., Olney Central College Tuesday, February 21, 2023, 6:15 p.m., Wabash Valley College Tuesday, March 21, 2023, 6:15 p.m., Frontier Community College Tuesday, April 25, 2023, 6:15 p.m., Lincoln Trail College Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 6:15 p.m., Olney Central College Tuesday, June 20, 2023, 6:15 p.m., Wabash Valley College Tuesday, July 18, 2023, 6:15 p.m., Frontier Community College Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 6:15 p.m., Lincoln Trail College Tuesday, September 19, 2023, 6:15 p.m., Olney Central College Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 6:15 p.m., Wabash Valley College Tuesday, November 21, 2023, 6:15 p.m., Frontier Community College Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 6:15 p.m., Lincoln Trail College The Board approved the Marathon Petroleum Company LP Robinson Refinery Real Property Tax Assessment Settlement Agreement for the four-year period of tax years 2023-2026. The Board passed a resolution to accept the FY2022 Audit as completed by Martin Hood LLC for year ending June 30, 2022. The audit was clean, and will be sent to the Illinois Community College Board by December 31, 2022. The Board approved the Annual Financial Report. Pursuant to Section 3-22.2 of the Public Community College Act, the report will be published locally and filed with the ICCB on a timely basis. The Board approved an Authorizing Resolution to allow the Treasurer of the IECC Board to utilize the ISDLAF as an additional investment source for the District. The Illinois School District Liquid Asset Fund (ISDLAF) is an investment opportunity available to Illinois school districts and community colleges. Employment was approved for Kristina Isaac, Nursing Instructor, OCC/WVC, and Benjamin Bomer, Chemistry Instructor, WVC both effective January 3, 2023. Matthew McCue, Head Baseball Coach, FCC, effective October 24, 2022. Sonja Music, Assistant Director HR Employee Achievement, DO, Jennifer Dunn, Student Services Specialist, FCC/DO, and Donna Sigler, Office Assistant, WVC, all effective November 21, 2022. A change in classified was approved for Tabatha Niduaza, Director of Academic Success Center, WVC, to Director of Instructional Services, WVC, effective November 21, 2022. A resignation was accepted from Heather Sandy, Art Instructor, OCC, effective December 31, 2022. Retirements were accepted for Wanda Douglas, Nursing Instructor, OCC, effective January 1, 2023 and Lawrence Harbaugh Jr., Custodian, OCC, effective November 1, 2022. Next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, December 13, at 6:15 p.m. at Frontier Community College, Fairfield, Illinois. ### FMH Blood Drive Fairfield Memorial Hospital will host a community blood drive with the American Red Cross on November 28th from 10:30am to 3:30pm in the Fairfield Memorial Hospital's Educational Annex. Donors of all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, B negative and A negative. According to the Red Cross, type O negative is the universal blood type that can be safely transfused to anyone and is often used to treat trauma patients. Fairfield Memorial Hospital's Educational Annex Building is located at 203 Northwest 10th Street in Fairfield. For more information or to make an appointment to donate, call 847-8242 or sign up online at redcrossblood.org with sponsor code: FairfieldMemorial. ### USDA's NASS As the 2022 growing season officially comes to an end, the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be contacting farmers nationwide to gather final year-end crop production numbers and the amount of grain and oilseeds they store on their farms. At the same time, NASS will survey grain facility operators to determine grain and oilseed stock in commercial facilities. Survey results will be published in the Crop Production Annual Summary and quarterly Grain Stocks reports, both scheduled for release on January 12th, 2023. For more information, go online at www.nass.usda.gov. ### Illinois Crop Report Crop harvesting is nearly complete in Illinois. With nearly six days suitable for fieldwork, soybean harvesting is done and corn is now 97% finished according to crop statistician Steve Parn. Temperatures were 14 degrees below normal last week, and rainfall was short as well. 79% of winter wheat has emerged. That's ahead of last year but below the five year average of 87% emerged. 35% of the winter wheat crop is rated in good to excellent condition, the same as last week. Average statewide topsoil moisture is now at 12% very short, 68% adequate and 1% surplus. ### State Fair Passes on Sale Illinois State Fair Mega and Jumbo Passes are on sale now. The passes cover rides in the Carnival Midway and Adventure Village at the state fair, and make a great holiday gift according to spokesperson Krista Lisser. It's the annual holiday sale, when mega passes are just $60 and jumbo passes are $70. They offer unlimited rides in the carnival midway