Board Report from Dec. 10 meeting
December 14, 2015 |
At the San Diego Community College District's Board of Trustees Dec. 10 meeting, Trustee Mary Graham thanked those who participated in the Board’s Student Success and Accreditation Subcommittee meeting on Accreditation Standard IV. She indicated that one of the themes discussed was communication between the campuses and the District, including the Board, which needs to be addressed.
Trustee Bernie Rhinerson reported that the Christensen Foundation has provided a $9,600 grant that will be used to purchase 3D printers for students at Continuing Education, as well as additional funds for the Trustee Scholarship. He also shared a report by the Wisconsin Hope Lab that shows a large percentage of students from the community colleges surveyed are struggling with food and/or housing, and complimented the District’s campuses for participating in the study. Trustee Rhinerson requested a report on what the District is doing to support these students. He also requested a report on what the District is doing to make textbooks more affordable, including pursuing opportunities for grant funding for digital textbooks.
Trustee Peter Zschiesche reported on his attendance at the Council on American-Islamic Relations of San Diego banquet and asked the District to consider supporting the organization in the future. He also mentioned that December 10 was Human Rights Day and encouraged people to join this program and requested Chancellor Carroll to develop a letter to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and resolution in support of the cause. Chancellor Carroll said a resolution will be developed for the January board meeting.
Trustee Rich Grosch recognized the Board’s Budget Study and Audit Committee’s efforts and praised the District for its sound fiscal management. He also reported that he attended various holiday celebrations throughout the District.
Trustee Maria Nieto Senour reported on her attendance at a recent San Diego and Imperial Counties Community Colleges Association (SDICCCA) Board Alliance meeting where they learned about training programs to make campus communities aware of unconscious bias. She requested that Chancellor Carroll explore the possibility of providing such training in the District. She also reported that she attended various campus holiday receptions.
Chancellor Constance Carroll reported that the recent report by the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), California’s Fiscal Outlook, indicates that California’s economic recovery has continued through 2015-16 and that California will end the current fiscal year with reserves of $11.5 billion. Revenues in 2016-17 are projected to increase by $6.9 billion (5.9%), which augurs well for another budget increase for community colleges, probably in the range of $400 million. Budget advocacy efforts will begin in January, in which district and campus leaders, as well as Board members, will be involved. Dr. Carroll shared her report with Mesa College President Pam Luster who presented the college’s Women’s Water Polo Team to be congratulated on winning the statewide championship. The Chancellor wished everyone a safe and restful holiday season.
Student Trustee Olivia Light reported that "De-stress for the Test" events, activities to help students ease the stresses during midterms, were held at City and Miramar colleges. She also reported that a Thanksgiving dinner was provided for students at Mesa College.
Board Actions
- Announced the following actions from Closed Session: issuing a second 90-Day Notice
of Unsatisfactory Performance to an academic employee at Mesa College; and unanimously
approved the adoption of the 2014-2017 Resource Allocation Formula Tentative Agreement
pertinent to the following: AFT Guild Non-Academic Non Classified Employees Unit,
the Police Officers Association, the Management Association Unit, the Supervisory
& Professional Administrators Association; the Association of Confidential Employees
Unit; the Executive Management Unit and Chancellor.
- Heard public comments from Sara Beth Cain regarding the Supervisory & Professional Administrators Association’s tentative Resource Allocation Formula (RAF) Agreement.
- Conducted the first reading of revisions to Chapter 3 – General Institution, Board Policies: BP 3410 Nondiscrimination and BP 3430 Prohibition of Harassment, following comments by Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Will Surbrook, with approval to proceed with the next steps of review.
- Conducted the Board’s Annual Organizational Meeting:
1. Electing Trustee Maria Nieto Senour as President of the Board;
2. Electing Trustee Rich Grosch as Executive Vice President of the Board;
3. Designating Trustee Mary Graham as Vice President for Instructional Development;
4. Designating Trustee Peter Zschiesche as Vice President for Community Development;
5. Designating Trustee Bernie Rhinerson as Vice President for Educational Collaboration;
6. Appointing Chancellor Constance Carroll as Secretary to the Board; and
7. Referring to the Chancellor Board members’ interests in serving to study budget/audit
matters and student success, equity, and accreditation. It was suggested to keep
the same subcommittees, except that Trustee Bernie Rhinerson should replace Trustee
Peter Zschiesche on the Budget Study and Audit Subcommittee. The Chancellor will
follow up.
- Received the District’s 2014-2015 Independent Auditors’ Reports, which were conducted by the accounting firm Christy White Associates. Audit reports for the five major funds in the District were provided: General Fund, Proposition S Fund, Proposition N Fund, Social Security Alternative Plan, and the SDCC Auxiliary Organization. The Board’s Budget Study and Audit Committee (Trustees Rich Grosch and Peter Zschiesche) had reviewed the audits in depth with Chancellor Constance Carroll and Executive Vice Chancellor Bonnie Ann Dowd prior to the meeting. Christy White, President of Christy White Associates, addressed the Board and noted that all audits received the highest praise possible, an unmodified opinion (meaning that all information was accurate and complete, with adequate internal controls and full federal and state compliance), which is generally unheard for a district of this size. Trustee Grosch stated that these positive audit results were a tribute to the District’s excellent fiscal management, and Trustee Senour and Chancellor Carroll praised those involved for their efforts.
- Approved the appointment of Linda Zintz (nominated by Trustee Bernie Rhinerson) to serve a two-year term, from July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2017 on the Propositions S and N Citizens’ Oversight Committee; and appointed Continuing Education Dean Lorie Crosby-Howell to replace Vice President Brian Ellison, as the San Diego Community College District representative on the San Diego Adult Education Regional Consortium (SDAERC).
- Adopted a resolution regarding compensation for members of the Board of Trustees; establish a Board Designated Project Fund Reserve to help offset annual expense increases due to the employer contribution rate increases for CalSTRS and CalPERS approved through 2021; and approved various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after December 11, 2015.
- Approved the Student Success and Equity Plans for City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges, and Continuing Education, with a presentation by Vice Chancellor of Student Services Lynn Neault; new or revised courses and programs, with comments by Vice Chancellor of Instructional Services Stephanie Bulger; and authorized agreements with health care agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupations.
- Accepted additional funds from the U.S. Department of Education for the Federal Work-Study program award at Mesa College and for providing assistance to various programs at Continuing Education; entered into a contract with the California Energy Commission to support training at the Advanced Transportation Technology and Energy Center at Miramar College; accepted a grant from the SDAERC for various expenditures at Continuing Education; and reduced funding from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office for instructional equipment and library materials districtwide.
- Awarded contracts to Advanced Audio Microphones, Cozy Creative Center, Sew Hut, and Southland Technology for new visual arts equipment for the Mesa College C Building; to Advanced Exercise Equipment for various fitness equipment for the Mesa College Fitness Center; and approved purchase orders prepared during the month of October.
- Approved a long-term ground lease for surplus property contiguous to the West City Campus with Veritas Urban Properties LLC, following comments by Vice Chancellor of Facilities Christopher Manis, with proceeds designated to provide maintenance funding for bond construction projects; declared an emergency pursuant to public contract code 20654 for expenditures to complete remediation of mold/mildew in rooms I-101A and I-101B at Miramar College; and terminated a contract for convenience with SDStature regarding security stair enhancements at the Mesa College Math+Science Complex.
- Authorized Executive Vice Chancellor of Business and Technology Services Bonnie Ann Dowd to execute a Statement of Work for the completion of the Human Capital Management module, and funding to continue for the finance and campus solution projects in regards to the PeopleSoft ERP implementation project with Ciber Inc.
- Entered into a consultant agreement with JE Moore Consulting Inc. for additional program management services for Propositions S and N; and ratified change orders exceeding ten percent for the Continuing Education César Chávez building and City College C Building, following comments by Vice Chancellor of Facilities Christopher Manis.
- Received a report on the San Diego Workforce Conference: Identifying, Tackling, and Closing the Skills Gap, presented by Vice Chancellor of Instructional Services Stephanie Bulger.
The next Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Jan. 28, 2016 at the San Diego Community College District, 3375 Camino del Rio South, San Diego.