San Diego Community College District

Special Report to the Public:

Sean Elo-Rivera, J.D.

Trustee Sean Elo-Rivera welcomed Student Trustee Sanam Azai to her first Board Meeting. He attended a virtual San Diego Promise Development Committee meeting on September 9, where he learned about record enrollment growth in the program and shared that he was proud of the District for continuing its strong support of the program.

Mary Graham

Trustee Mary Graham thanked faculty, classified professionals, and administrators who continue to support students in virtual learning. She attended the virtual Educate for the Future meeting, which featured Executive Director of the Center on Policy Initiatives Kyra R. Greene and focused on what it means to grow up in and overcome the impact of a white supremacist culture.

Craig Milgrim

Trustee Craig Milgrim thanked faculty, classified professionals, and administrators for their work during these difficult times, especially in helping students with the isolation that comes with being online. He has been engaging in positive conversations focused on Child, Youth and Family Services at the San Diego Unified School District to help expand the discussion in local government, especially in the city of San Diego with a new Mayor and some changes in the City Council.

Bernie Rhinerson

Trustee Bernie Rhinerson reported that Student Trustee Taylor Carpenter and SDUSD Superintendent Cindy Marten have been added to the Chancellor Search Committee; and that the position is now being advertised, with a review of applications to start in November. He shared that the U.S. Senate did not pass the recent COVID-19 stimulus bill, and while the last bill allocated $24 billion for higher education, he will continue to help and encourages others to advocate for $42 billion for higher education.

Maria Nieto Senour, Ph.D.

Trustee Maria Nieto Senour reported that she was pleased that an ethnic studies requirement recently was passed for California State University students. She participated in the virtual Convocation event for Continuing Education on September 2 which she said was well done and interesting. Trustee Senour also shared that COVID-19 has impacted her family directly with the Sunday passing of her uncle.

Constance Carroll, Ph.D.

Chancellor Constance Carroll reported on State issues, indicating that the legislative Trailer Bill has been passed.  She noted that Lottery funds may now be used for technology expenditures. Dr. Carroll also indicated that the California Lieutenant Governor has been added to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. The Chancellor reviewed problems that many institutions of higher education have encountered due to reopening too early during the COVID-19 pandemic. In keeping with the goal of having student and employee health and safety as the top priority, Chancellor Carroll reported that the Intersession will be 100% online and spring semester classes will be primarily online, with some laboratory, clinical, and career/technical components being offered on campus (subject to all public health protocols).

Sanam Azai

Student Trustee Sanam Azai reported that all Associated Student Government elections have been held and that all campuses have been meeting to propose new virtual events to engage students in the upcoming school year.

Board Actions

At its regular meeting of September 10, 2020, which was conducted in a virtual format, the Board of Trustees:

- Reported from Closed Session that the Board approved the adoption of a Side Letter Relating to COVID-19 Related Matters between the San Diego Community College District and AFT Guild 1931 Classified Professionals and Faculty Bargaining Units.

- Heard public comments from 11 individuals relating to SDCCD police presence on campuses and funding of the department. City College Academic Senate (AS) President Paul Alexander shared that City College student Samantha Jasmine Thornton, whom he called a “warrior for justice,” recently died and is mourned by many on campus due to her leadership in the area of racial justice; Mesa College AS President Manuel Velez reported that the Academic Senate had met and discussed issues for the coming year, including academic dishonesty/impact of technology, credit for prior learning, the statewide call to action, and the new ethnic studies requirement by the California State Universitysystem, which has been and will continue to be the subject of many constructive discussions; Miramar College AS President Laura Murphyshared that the college’s Academic Senate is discussing many of the same issues and that the California Community College Equity Leadership Alliance held its first workshop today on inclusive classrooms, which was excellent; and Continuing Education AS President John Bromma reported that Continuing Education’s fall semester classes began on Tuesday, that the faculty is giving a “110% effort,” and that the Academic Senate will meet for the first time next week.

- Appointed Trustees Mary Graham, Bernie Rhinerson, and Sean Elo-Rivera as the Board’s voting delegates and Trustee Craig Milgrim as alternate to the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Leadership Congress on September 30 through October 8, 2020, and nominated members for election to the ACCT Board of Directors, including Regional Director: John Leal, State Center Community College District, CA;  Directors-At-Large: Amanda Howland, College of Lake County, IL; John Lukas, Lakeshore Technical College, WI; Gilbert Wong, Foothill-De Anza Community College District, CA; ACCT Diversity Committee: Barbara Calhoun, Compton Community College District, CA.

- Conducted a public hearing and approved the SDCCD 2020-2021 Adopted Budget following a presentation from Executive Vice Chancellor of Business and Technology Services Bonnie Ann Dowd. The total budget is $780,019,043, including $447,947,937 in General Fund Unrestricted and Restricted operational funds. It is the third annual budget to be developed under California’s “Student Centered Funding Formula” for community colleges, which includes a number of problematic provisions. The adopted budget includes $4.5 million for the California College Promise, which supports the San Diego Promise, and another $12 million for the Strong Workforce initiative. Boardmembers expressed appreciation for the fact that planned budget adjustments ensure the budget is balanced.  The budget had been thoroughly reviewed by the Board’s Budget Study and Audit Committee (Trustees Bernie Rhinerson and Craig Milgrim).

- Adopted a resolution in support of pursuing Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANs) in order to ensure adequate cash flow during the deferral periods when the State will delay funding local districts.

- Authorized agreements with health care agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupations programs; the San Diego County Office of Education, San Diego Quality Preschool Initiative (SDQPI) for SDCCD Child Development Centers at San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges; and the renewal of agreements with City College and apprenticeship-sponsoring organizations for providing related and supplemental education, including San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E), Associated General Contractors San Diego and Riverside Centers, and the Black Contractors Association Inc.

- Designated September 17, 2020, as Constitution Day at the colleges and Continuing Education, including a report of upcoming SDCCD events from Vice Chancellor of Student Services Ramon Knox.

- Accepted grants from the U.S. Department of Education for the STAR TRIO Student Support Services Program at Mesa College; and from Immigrants Rising California Campus Catalyst Fund on behalf of Community Initiatives for the San Diego Community College District.
Entered into agreement with Jackson and Blanc Mechanical Contractor for the central plant upgrade at the U-100 building at City College.

- Approved various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after September 11, 2020.