CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — The Parkland College Board of Trustees approved the fiscal year 2026 property tax levy among other agenda items at its regular board meeting on Wednesday.

The board called for a public hearing before approving the proposed property tax levy increase. Parkland College’s requested levy is $40.4 million. The new amount would go towards supporting the college’s educational ($24.4 million), operational and maintenance ($9.4 million), protection, health and safety ($2.7 million), and tort liability ($2.4 million) funds, among other expenses.

Trustees approved to abate the tax levied for 2025 on the $5.86 million of general obligation bonds it issued to help fund the College Master Plan. These bonds are intended to be retired with revenues raised from a student facility fee.

Trustees approved a $2.50 daily fee increase for each tier of the Parkland Child Development Center (PCDC), effective January 1 of next year. The proposed tiers are comparable to other childcare centers in Champaign-Urbana.

Arts, Media, and Social Sciences Professor Peggy Shaw briefed the board on her sabbatical during the fall 2024 semester to research rapidly changing technology and its impact on photography. Her work included a curated photography exhibition exploring the concepts of photography as truth, imagination, perfection, and flaws, along with the best ways to help students reach their creative and technical potential.

Associate vice president and chief information officer Amin Kassem presented the board a campus technologies update as well. Trustees also heard from foundation executive director Danielle Wilberg, along with the president’s report and legislative updates from college leadership.

In other business, the board approved:

• Intergovernmental agreement between Parkland and the Public Safety Records Management System Board, with its lead agency, the City of Champaign for participation in the shared Records Management System and Tyler Technologies e-citation module
• Intergovernmental agreement between Parkland and local law enforcement municipalities including City of Champaign, City of Urbana, and Champaign County for the creation of a Safety Assessment Management and Mitigation Team.
• A three-year contract with Parchment, an Instructure Company, Salt Lake City, UT, $21,897
• The purchase of:
  • Repair services from Mountain Airframe, LLC, Mena, Ark, $63,000
  • One used Piper Archer PA-28-181 aircraft from Twist Air, Inc, Overland Park, Kan, $465,000
• The filing of grant applications:
  • Illinois Community College Board (ICCB): FY26 Innovative Bridge and Transitions
  • National Science Foundation (NSF): ATE National Center—Agricultural Technologies and Innovation Center
  • American Association of Community Colleges (AACC): Apprenticeship Building America
  • ICCB: Taking Back the Trades Grant Round 4
  • ICCB: Supporting Students Facing Homelessness and Housing Insecurity Project
• Funds awarded to the college from external sources:
  • Secretary of State (SOS) Illinois State Library (ISL): Adult Volunteer Literacy Grant
  • ICCB: Adult Education & Family Literacy Activities (AEFLA)—FY26 Renewal—State Funding*
  • ICCB: Workforce Empowerment Initiative (WEI)—Support for Workforce Training (SWFT)
  • ICCB: CAREER Common App Program
  • Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE): Nursing School Grant
• Personnel appointments and modifications:
  • Chaney Miller, Advisor, Financial Aid
  • Ashley Hornbuckle, Coordinator, Assessment Center