JJC Board Meeting Halted by Lack of Quorum; New Student Trustee Sworn In

Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | April 15, 2026

Article Summary: A lack of a voting quorum forced the Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees to delay all official business and action items during its April meeting, limiting the gathering to ceremonial recognitions.

JJC Board Quorum Failure Key Points:

• Only Chairman James Budzinski and Trustees Elaine Bottomley and Alicia Morales were present for the roll call, falling short of the majority required to conduct business.

• All action items, including a property tax abatement for Project North Winds and multiple technology expenditures, were deferred to a future meeting.

• The board utilized the time to officially honor outgoing Student Trustee Brenton Bishop and swear in his successor, Byron McCollum.

The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, was forced to abandon its legislative agenda and defer all financial and policy votes after failing to reach a legal quorum.

Chairman James Budzinski called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m., but the opening roll call quickly revealed an empty dais. Only Budzinski, Trustee Elaine Bottomley, Trustee Alicia Morales, and Student Trustee Brenton Bishop were present. Vice-Chair Nancy Garcia Guillen and Trustees Maureen Broderick, Diane Harris, and Michelle Lee were absent.

“Pursuant to section 202 of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, due to unforeseen circumstances, unfortunately, the Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees is unable to conduct the business of the April 15, 2026, meeting due to a lack of a quorum,” Budzinski announced.

As a result, the board could not take action on any of the items outlined in the massive agenda packet. Deferred items included the payment of bills, emergency generator replacements, enterprise backup software, and a highly anticipated board vote on a tax abatement for “Project North Winds” in Will County.

President Dr. Clyne Namuo informed the packed boardroom that the administration would move forward exclusively with non-voting items, specifically communications, the recognition of retiring staff, and the transition of the student trustee seat. All official business will be rescheduled for consideration once a quorum can be convened.

Despite the lack of voting power, the board proceeded with the official seating of its new student representative. Dr. Amy Kuspa-Sims, Director of Student Activities, delivered a heartfelt tribute to outgoing Student Trustee Brenton Bishop.

Kuspa-Sims highlighted Bishop’s profound resilience, noting that he earned his GED through the JJC Department of Adult Education, became a state-certified CNA, and was accepted into the JJC nursing program—all while serving as a caregiver for his younger siblings and grandmother following the loss of his mother.

Bishop thanked the trustees individually for their guidance and mentorship during his term. “I came onto this board a remarkably different person compared to who stands before you today,” Bishop said. “I was not a nursing student, and I was not even remotely prepared for the complexities of my role… Thank you for investing time, energy, and patience into my learning.”

Following Bishop’s farewell, Board Secretary Elaine Bottomley officially administered the oath of office to incoming Student Trustee Byron McCollum. McCollum is a first-year, second-semester student double-majoring in game design development and computer science. He recently served as the Office of Inclusive Excellence advocacy intern and was elected student government secretary.