The Danville Area Community College Board of Trustees held a 45 minute meeting last night (Sept 26th), which included absolutely no mention of suspended with pay President Dr. Stephen Nacco. In fact, there were no extra comments about much of anything; as no one spoke during the “public comment” period, and no trustees chose to speak during the “trustee comments” period prior to adjournment.
As far as what did happen, DACC’s new budget was officially approved. Vice-President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer Tammy Betancourt gives us some of the numbers.
AUDIO: Operating budget for ’25 is at $20,750,000; which is about a 5.2% increase over the prior year 2024 budget. And in total, the overall budget, is at $33,785,983.
For the DACC overall budget, that’s about a $600,000 increase over last year.
(1st Picture) DACC Athletic Director Tim Bunton gives the DACC Board an athletic program update during Thursday evening’s meeting. (2nd Picture) Dr. Stephen Nacco leaves with some of his office belongings following his suspension with pay on September 16th (photo by Jennifer Bailey).
Meanwhile, a plan was approved to renovate the radiology lab with some new ceiling mounted equipment. Last March, the DACC Board approved new Associates Degree programs in Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Echocardiography. Executive Director of Facilities Douglas Adams and Senior Director for Medical Imaging Tammy Howard commented afterwards.
AUDIO: (Doug) Looks like the cost is going to be about $170,000 for construction. (Tammy) It’s for the radiology program. So we’re going to expand our lab, make it bigger, add new equipment; so we’re able to do more things, similar to a hospital setting.
Also mentioned was Melissa Rome. Formerly with the Vermilion County Health Department, Rome is now DACC’s Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning. Acting DACC President Dr. Carl Bridges says she’ll be working the school’s new strategic plan, and that something will possibly be in front of the Board of Trustees by next spring.
AUDIO: To help us to create something that is really going to be useful for us for planning for the future. I mean I want us to have a three, you know, a short term and a long term plan. What are we doing in the next couple of years? But what are we think about doing as an institution in the next five years, in ten years.
As for the Dr. Stephen Nacco issue, Central Illinois Multimedia Group has been told that the board is still seeking the advice of outside counsel on when to proceed with a special meeting on that issue. On September 16th, Dr. Nacco was suspended with pay, pending future action that could possibly include termination. This was after his well publicized conflict with Danville’s Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr.
