CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Earlier this week, the Parkland College Board of Trustees approved a submission request for state funding for a new campus facility, as well as approval for some key purchases for the fiscal year of 2026 and some other agenda items.

The board voted to re-submit a capital improvement project under the Resource Allocation Management Program, a State of Illinois funding program. The Physical Sciences Training Center, the proposed new facility, would feature approximately 27,000 square feet of new classroom, laboratory, study, and office space.

“A large portion of the new facility would include chemistry and biology laboratories and classrooms with the latest available technology,” a Parkland press release said. “With the local growth in health professions and in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), this campus addition would allow enrollment expansion in these curriculums.”

Trustees also welcomed Parkland alum Jared Priest as a peace officer for the college. The Illinois State University and University of Illinois Police Training graduate has four years of law enforcement experience at Parkland. He completed Parkland’s field training program in April of this year, and is now released for solo patrol.

Trustees also approved the following:

• the Presence Health Property Tax Settlement Agreement
• a bid for printing and bulk mailing services from Woodward Printing, Platteville, Wis., $50,008
• to retain Mapsted, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, for the implementation of a campus-wide digital wayfinding system, $63,000
• to reappoint Meyer Capel as legal counsel for the Board for FY26 at a monthly retainer fee of $250
• the purchase of:
  • services from Rock Gate Capital, DBA 160 Driving Academy, Evanston, Ill., $1,200,000
  • services from Strategic Development Institute, Champaign, $55,000
  • services from Grey & Associates, Champaign, $32,000
  • services from DBI DataLynk, Atlanta, Ga., $150,000
  • furniture and installation from Krueger International, Green Bay, Wis., $42,000.
• the filing of grant applications:
  • ICCB: FY2026 Federal Postsecondary Perkins Basic Grant – Career and Technical Education
  • Local Workforce Development Board 17—LWIA 17 Youth Committee (via CCRPC): 2025 Youth Providers Grant (WIOA)
  • ICCB: Adult Education & Family Literacy Activities (AEFLA)—FY26 Renewal
  • ICCB: Adult Education and Literacy: Integrated English Language and Civics Education (IELCE)—FY26 Renewal
  • Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT): FY26 Highway Construction Careers Training Program (HCCTP)
• funds awarded to the college from external sources:
  • ICCB: FY2025 Access and Equity in Dual Credit Project
  • Jobs for the Future (JFF): Industry Intermediary Incentive Funding
• personnel appointments and modifications:
  • Kiefer Owens, Associate Director, Adult Education
  • Michelle Dallmier, IMC Director, Natural Sciences
  • Mallory Sellers, Assistant Technical Director, Arts, Media & Social Sciences
  • Thomas Peisker, Sr. IT Service Desk Specialist, Campus Technologies
  • Matthew Angel, Sr. Enterprise Applications Analyst, Campus Technologies