JWCC honors Rapp at his final meeting as legal counsel

QUINCY — The John Wood Community College Board of Trustees honored the 50-year legal career of Jim Rapp at his final meeting as the college’s legal counsel. His first meeting with the Board 50 years ago was on the same date – Dec. 18 – as his final meeting this month.

“To say that Jim Rapp was one of the original Trail Blazers of this college is an understatement,” JWCC President Bryan Renfro said. “Devoting 50 years to a single entity is unheard of in today’s terms, but it is because of dedicated visionaries like Jim that JWCC has become a respected, relevant, and evolving institution. We were honored to recognize Jim with the College’s first Pathfinder Award and to showcase his career this evening.”

Renfro said that throughout Rapp’s career, he has provided invaluable guidance as JWCC transformed, from a college without walls to offering independent academic programs, and eventually establishing its Quincy campus at 48th and Harrison. Often working behind the scenes, Rapp’s vision and wisdom were instrumental in shaping JWCC’s journey from a college initially met with local resistance to a nationally recognized institution. Today, JWCC is celebrated for its student success, earning recognition from the prestigious Aspen Institute as one of the top 10 percent of community colleges in the country.

The JWCC Foundation launched the new Pathfinder Award tradition to be awarded to individuals, businesses, or organizations that embody JWCC’s mission and values and exhibit the trailblazing spirit of the College’s founders. As the first recipient, Rapp elected to have all proceeds benefit the foundation’s Pathways to Promise Scholarship fund to improve access to JWCC.

In other business, the Board:

• Reduced the 2024 tax rate from $0.41457 to $0.40220 per $100 of Equalized Assessed Valuation. Despite the lower rate and due to a projected increase in property values, the estimated levy will increase to $9,673,015, generating an additional $515,239 compared to the previous year. This increase is due to rising property values across the JWCC district.
• Accepted $3,000 in funding from Swipe Out Hunger 2024 to support the College’s Blazer Fuel Station. The Fuel Station provides food and other resources to students in need.
• Approved a grant application to the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement (NCII) for a Rural Guided Pathways Project. If approved, NCII will provide coaches and professional development resources to help JWCC continue momentum in the Guided Pathways process.
• Approved submission of a $25,000 grant application to the Illinois Community College Board for a Homeless and Housing Insecurity Support Initiative.
• Authorized a $3,832 payment to the Illinois Community College Trustee Association for the second half of dues for 2024.
• Approved a laptop rental fee range between $75 and $100 per device per semester effective Spring 2025.
• Accepted the low bid of $76,308.44 from STL LED, LLC from St. Louis, Mo., for an LED lighting project funded by a grant.
• Adopted Board Policy 216 regarding restrictions of Sex Offenders.