Board Report - 4/9/2020
Special Report to the public
Sean Elo-Rivera, J.D.
Trustee Sean Elo-Rivera expressed his appreciation to the Chancellor, staff, faculty, and students throughout the District for being so nimble in converting classes and operations to a remote format. He explained some of derivative effects that COVID-19 is having on young people, including loss of service and retail jobs, programs, and mental health support, noting that the District is doing its best to help them.
Mary Graham
Trustee Mary Graham said she was thankful for the effort put forth to move services to an online format and the communication that followed on how to utilize those services. She acknowledged the concerns of the public speakers during the meeting and advised that there are available options for students who might need to adjust schedules late in the semester, while also saying she is concerned for students who may be living in troubling situations during this time. Trustee Graham reported that she and Trustee Bernie Rhinerson serve as on the Board subcommittee for the Chancellor search and described the process thus far, indicating that more information will shortly be sent to the Districtwide community.
Craig Milgrim
Trustee Craig Milgrim echoed Board members’ appreciation for the District’s transition to all online classes and remote operations, mentioning Margaret Lamb, Amanda Ficken-Davis, District IT staff, and those who helped support the first virtual Board Meeting. He reported that as a faculty member himself he knows first-hand the effort involved in converting classes to an online format. He also acknowledged AFT Guild President Jim Mahler for amending the 2020-2023 Successor Agreement for Classified Staff Bargaining Unit to be gender neutral.
Bernie Rhinerson
Trustee Bernie Rhinerson shared his gratitude for the Chancellor, administrators, faculty, and staff who continue to serve students during this emergency situation. He also provided an update on the recruitment effort for the Chancellor’s position. He reported that he is staying involved and engaged in legislative issues, including the CARES Act, and has participated in legislative calls with the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and Community College League of California (CCLC).
Dr. Maria Nieto Senour
Trustee Maria Nieto Senour thanked everyone for their excellent work during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also mentioned the April 27 Virtual Advocacy Day in Sacramento for which Trustees Bernie Rhinerson, Mary Graham, and Sean Elo-Rivera volunteered.
Dr. Constance M. Carroll
Chancellor Constance Carroll reported on the District’s swift and complete conversion to remote instruction, support services, and operations, due to the COVID-19 crisis, commending the faculty, classified professionals, and administrators for their excellent work, as well as students for their flexibility. The Chancellor noted that the federal government is moving quickly to distribute Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to the national higher education community in a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, with over $14 million earmarked for the SDCCD, based on college enrollments and Pell statistics, which the Cabinet will address shortly and in a manner that also includes noncredit students and programs. Chancellor Carroll reported that the State budget will probably be significantly reduced due to the financial impact of the coronavirus situation. The legislative bodies are considering a “workload” budget that will fund only essentials, and community colleges are slated for reduction because of the impact on Proposition 98. In addition, due to the extended date for income tax filing in July, actual revenue will not be known until August, at which time the Tentative Budget will be revised. The SDCCD will address this situation in budget development. Also, SB 874 (Hill) has been filed, which would enable the community college baccalaureate programs to become permanent and expand. Dr. Carroll and the leadership team are working directly with California State University representatives to develop amendments that will hopefully allow them to support the bill. The Chancellor introduced and welcomed the new Interim Vice Chancellor of Student Services, Mr. Ramon Knox, who made brief comments.
Van Dao Minh Anh
Student Trustee Van Dao Minh Anh reported she attended the Student Senate for California Community Colleges virtual General Assembly Meeting from April 3-5, where student representatives from some 90 schools throughout California voted on resolutions for legislative priorities. City College will hold a student forum on April 15 to address concerns related to COVID-19. Mesa College Associated Students allocated $20,000 to the Mesa College Foundation in support of the college’s relief fund. The Miramar College AS will discuss at a meeting on April 10 a possible donation for the campus student relief fund, and the AS will continue to communicate via email and social media in support of the student body. At the United Student Council meeting on April 7, members discussed AB 2910 (Weber) that would allow all student trustees advisory votes, and Trustee Van asked that the Board consider a resolution in support, adding that she was pleased that the SDCCD already had this practice.
At its regular meeting of April 9, 2020, which was conducted in a virtual format, the Board of Trustees:
- Heard public comments by Miramar College Professor Wheeler North, who thanked the Board Members and Chancellor Carroll for their guidance through the transition during COVID-19, and expressed a desire to find alternative options for courses that rely on specialized equipment and facilities, most often in the sciences and CTE areas, as part of the academic experience. He also expressed the need to focus on the development of a fall schedule that will ensure students do not get trapped out due to unavailability of required courses for graduation. Dwayne Hill, a student advocate, who wanted to bring attention to the priority of closing the gap among California’s underserved populations, making sure that neglected majority students don’t fall through the cracks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kaitlin Mae Pamero, who shared that many students are experiencing difficulties outside of their classes, which is making the priority of school that much more of a struggle, and asked that students be provided options that won’t reflect negatively on their student records should they not be able to complete courses. The Board referred these messages to the Chancellor for response. Mesa College Academic Senate (AS) President Manuel Velez, who recognized the Mesa College faculty as well as the rest of the District’s employees for an excellent job responding to the transition to remote instruction and operations. Miramar College AS President Laura Murphy shared that everyone at the college is working hard to address needs, including the distribution of 300 laptops, organization of an emergency relief fund, and a town hall meeting that is scheduled next week. She also stated that the faculty would like to encourage support between Miramar’s Academic Senate and the administration as they make future decisions about remote instruction.
Board Actions
- Announced that the AFT Guild presented the initial proposal for the 2020-2023 Successor Agreement for the Classified Staff Bargaining Unit and that the District would provide a response at the next Board of Trustees meeting.
- Voted to elect Trustees Adrienne Grey, West Valley-Mission CCD; Andra Hoffman, Los Angeles CCD; Pam Haynes, Los Rios CCD; Barbara Dunsheath, North Orange County CCD; Barbara Jean Calhoun, Compton CCD; Marisa Perez, Cerritos CCD; Larry Kennedy, Ventura County CCD; Barry Snell, Santa Monica CCD; and Loren Steck, Monterey Peninsula CCD, to the California Community College Trustees (CCCT) Board of Directors of the Community College League of California (CCLC).
- Heard a presentation from Dr. Shakerra Carter on findings from the first three years of the San Diego Promise program.
- Ratified a resolution in support of Senate Bill 874 (Hill, Hueso, and Wilk) for the California Community College Baccalaureate, a successor bill to SB 850 and SB 1406 that would make the current baccalaureate pilot programs permanent and allow for expansion so that all community colleges could implements baccalaureate programs for workforce programs; and adopted a resolution acknowledging the remarkable actions by SDCCD faculty, classified professionals, and administrators in the midst of the coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis.
- Approved new or revised courses and programs, following remarks by Vice Chancellor Stephanie Bulger; and authorized agreements with health care agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupation programs.
- Adopted a resolution authorizing Business and Technology Services to make budgetary and financial transfers effective April 1, 2020, through June 30, 2020; and authorized the transfer of funds between budget expenditure accounts in the 2019-2020 General Fund/Unrestricted Budget.
- Approved purchase orders completed during the month of February 2020; various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after April 10, 2019; and proclaimed May 17-23, 2020 as Classified Professionals Week.