Published: September 22, 2008 11:01 am         

DACC trustees to seek re-election

Randall, Miller want to continue on board

DANVILLE — Two Danville Area Community College trustees are up for re-election this spring.

Sandi Randall, who’s served since 2003, and Vickie Miller, chairwoman, who’s served since 1991, will both seek re-election. DACC trustees serve six-year terms.

The board will officially vote on the positions at its meeting Tuesday. The election will take place April 7.

“It has been a very positive experience,” Randall said. “My original intent was truly to give back to the community.”

What she’s learned and what the experience has given her in return has been unexpected.

“It’s just overwhelming. It’s been a wonderful experience,” she said.

Among her favorite experiences with the board are seeing the completion of the Bremer Conference and Workforce Development Center’s renovation. She’s also proud of the continued growth of the DACC Foundation.

“It is instrumental in the growth of our community college, especially in light of our dwindling funds from the state level,” she said.

Randall also counts being on hand for many of the college’s regional and national awards as being memorable experiences on the board.

“I’m looking forward to a second term,” she said.

Randall has taken classes at DACC. Both of Randall’s children have attended the college. She and her husband own Robert W. Randall Realtors. Randall has lived in Danville since 1987.

If she’s re-elected, Miller will begin her fourth term in 2009.

“It’s been a wonderful experience,” she said of her nearly 18 years with the board.

“You couldn’t ask for a better faculty and staff at DACC. … I feel the community college and DACC have been a real asset … in our community.

“If I didn’t believe in what we were doing, I wouldn’t be seeking another term.”

Among Miller’s favorite experiences as trustee include her involvement in creating the college’s master plan and seeing vari-ous renovations of the campus, including that of Lincoln Hall.

“I get excited every time we have a dedication,” she said. “Seeing people who’ve had long ties with DACC returning to the community (is rewarding), too,” she said.

Miller has been chairwoman of the board for eight years.

She has lived in Vermilion County since she was 6 years old. She grew up in the Bismarck area and attended Bismarck schools. She took one class at DACC and holds an associate degree from a different community college.

She and her husband, Doug, live and farm in the southern part of the county. They have two grown daughters who attended Jamaica School.

Miller taught in Danville schools in the early 1970s and early ’80s.

“I really enjoy being a trustee,” Miller said.

“I hope people are proud of what we’re doing and I can continue to be a part of it.”

Budget vote

Also at the meeting, the board will conduct a public hearing on the fiscal year 2009 budget.

The board will vote on the budget and tax levy.

The total proposed budget for the fiscal year 2009 is $27.6 million in expenditures. The operating budget is $13.8 million, which is a 3.3 percent increase over the 2008 budget.

Last year’s operating budget was $13.3 million in expenditures and the total budget was $27.6 million.

The budget allocates additional funds for an auto body program expansion, a new culinary arts program and a new sonography program.

Additional funds also were provided to support institutional effectiveness and assessment activities as well as enhance online learning.

The college district also may see a slightly reduced tax rate next year. The current tax rate is 60.29 cents per $100 of as-sessed valuation. Depending on how the equalized assessed valuation of the college district goes, the approximate new tax rate will be 58.93 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

The budget’s revenues are roughly equally distributed between tuition and fees, taxes and state funding.

About $4.3 million is from local or property taxes, $4.3 million is from the state and $4.3 million is from tuition and fees. Another $700,000 is from miscellaneous sources.



COMING UP

The next regular meeting of the Danville Area Community College board of trustees will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the DACC board room, Vermilion Hall Room 302 at DACC. A public hearing will be held on next year’s college budget during the meeting.