Geysil Arroyo
Trustee Geysil Arroyo said that she was happy to be in-person meeting at the District Office. She reported that she attended the Community College League of California (CCLC) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Town Hall on March 17, where an emphasis was placed on Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) planning and goals, and she appreciated the presentation by Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Greg Smith; she added that the District’s EEO plan is due annually in June. She said that she looks forward to similar workshops during the May CCLC Annual Trustees Conference and encouraged her fellow trustees to attend. She attended the March 15 Joint Board meeting with San Diego Unified School District and agreed with Student Trustee Trinh that it was a productive discussion; she said she was happy to meet new SDUSD Superintendent Lamont Jackson, and looks forward to continuing the success of students from kindergarten to the community college level. She attended a March 22 meeting of the San Diego County Commission on the Status of Women & Girls, which included a public forum to gather input on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. There is currently an international bill in progress being overseen by the United Nations on this issue; unfortunately, the United States has not signed on at this time.
Mary Graham
Trustee Mary Graham stated that she found the Miramar College campus meeting to be inspiring, and it was nice to be on campus in person. She said that she attended the 10th Joint Board meeting between SDUSD and SDCCD, all of which she, Trustee Rhinerson and Trustee Senour had attended. Trustee Graham thanked Vice Chancellor of Educational Services Susan Topham and her staff, as well as the SDUSD staff, for presentations given at the Joint Board meeting, and said those, along with a February 24 presentation to the Board on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, really showed the value of having a position that oversees both Instructional and Student Services. She said she wished everyone a rejuvenating spring break.
Craig Milgrim
Trustee Craig Milgrim reported that he attended the Joint Board meeting and said it continues to highlight the relationship between the two districts, which is unique both locally and nationally.
Bernie Rhinerson
Trustee Bernie Rhinerson reported that he attended a meeting of the CCLC Advisory Committee on Legislation on March 23. There was significant discussion on the student-centered funding formula, for which a group of districts put together a letter reflecting possible short-term solutions to current issues, since feedback from legislative offices is that there is no room to take on a completely new formula this year, choosing instead to focus on issues within the UC and CSU systems. He said he was asked to sit on a small committee of trustees who will discuss related strategy next week and will report back to the board next month on progress.
Dr. Maria Nieto Senour
Trustee Maria Nieto Senour reported that she attended the same meetings as her colleagues and found them highly productive.
Dr. Carlos O. Cortez
Chancellor Carlos Cortez reported that City College hosted its seventh Social Justice Conference March 23-24. He said Mesa College is ramping up efforts to support the whole student, as well as raising funds to establish an endowment to help address student basic needs for which it has raised roughly half of a $300,000 target. Chancellor Cortez said Miramar College recently hosted a tour for the widow and children of Dr. George Yee, the college’s president from 1977 to 1989, who passed in 2019. Under his tenure, the young college established the Regional Fire Science Academy. After thanking Interim President Kay Faulconer Boger, and City College President Ricky Shabazz and others for their in the search process, he shared his report with Dr. Tina King ahead of her confirmation by the Board as the new president of the College of Continuing Education. Chancellor Cortez also congratulated Trustee incumbents Geysil Arroyo, Craig Milgrim, and Maria Nieto Senour, who were unopposed in the upcoming election and will be reappointed to their seats for another term. He reported that on March 26 he will attend the funeral of Dorothy Smith, who served on boards for SDUSD, Common Ground Theater, and the Educational Cultural Complex Historic Preservation Committee, and worked as a professor at City College. Chancellor Cortez shared bills that the District is following closely, including SB 1141 (Limon) to reduce the number of years a student needs to reach AB 540 status from three to two years, and SB 885 (Laird), which would eliminate the 20-limit college on NextUp Programs that provide services to foster youth, allowing all community colleges to provide this program.
Natalia Trinh
Student Trustee Natalia Trinh thanked the Board and colleges for the COVID-19 take-home testing kits provided to students. She reported that the City College Associated Student Government met and discussed upcoming elections and identifying a college delegate to participate in the upcoming Student Senate for the California Community Colleges (SSCCC). She reported that Miramar College held two recent on-campus events, a St. Patrick’s Day-themed Club Rush and an event for Women’s History Month. Miramar College ASG voted on the SSCCC resolution packet for April 1-3 General Assembly, and to have its student delegate will attend virtually, and that application packets for next year’s ASG student leaders are available and due April 4. Student Trustee Trinh reported that Mesa College scholarship applications have been reviewed and that the Associated Students is planning an celebration ceremony for the winners. She reported that The Stand at Mesa College continues to hold its mobile food markets every first Monday and third Thursday of the month; and the Music Department continues to hold online recitals for the community. She reported that Associated Students is reviewing departmental funding applications, which were due on March 18; after senators get training, they will begin to hold in-person office hours again in the Student Services building; and elections for Associated Students will open on April 4. Student Trustee Trinh said she attended the Joint Board meeting and she looks forward to future collaboration with SDUSD.
BOARD ACTIONS
At its regular meeting of March 24, 2022, which was conducted in a hybrid format, the Board of Trustees:
- Announced the following actions from Closed Session: unanimously denied an appeal of the administrative determination of a Title 5 Investigation; and unanimously approved settlement authority in connection with two San Diego County Superior Court cases.
- Heard public comment from City College Academic Senate (AS) President Maria-Jose Zeledon-Perez who reported that the AS will meet in person on April 11 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mesa College AS President John Crocitti reported that the Mesa AS will also meet in person in April, even though there remains uncertainty since the California state of emergency is still in place, and it will discuss fall scheduling across the campus, though uncertainty remains about how many classes will be online vs in-person. He also said he was looking forward to spring break next week. Miramar College AS President-Elect Pablo Martin, standing in for AS President Laura Murphy, reported virtually that the AS was pleased at the number of faculty positions awarded to Miramar College to bring ratios more in-line with other colleges, but disappointed that these efforts were not reflected in frozen positions released back to each of the colleges. He thanked the Board for attending the in-person presentation during the March 10 campus meeting at Miramar College, and said that it was an excellent embodiment of the collaborative and student-centered practices being built at a March 18 Planning Summit at the college. Martin reported that the AS, which will continue to meet remotely at this time, is working to ensure clarity and transparency in its committee structure and membership, improving AS constitution and bylaws, and making the Academic Senate website more effective.
- Conducted the first reading of revised Chapter 5 – Student Services Board Policies, as part of a comprehensive six-year review to ensure currency following comments by Vice Chancellor of Educational Services Susan Topham.
- Approved the appointment and employment contract of Tina M. King as president of San Diego College of Continuing Education.
- Adopted a resolution reaffirming that the state of emergency declared by the Board on March 12, 2020 continues and that state or local officials continue to impose or recommend social distancing measures.
- Approved the appointment of Ellen Nash (nominated by Trustee Mary Graham) to the Trustee Advisory Council.
- Approved the nomination of Trustees Kenneth Brown, El Camino CCD, Mary Ann Lutz, Citrus CCD, Jose Alcala, Riverside CCD, Tamara Silver, Pasadena Area CCD, Marcia Milchiker, South Orange County CCD, and Lisa Petrides, San Mateo CCD, to the California Community College Trustees (CCCT) Board of Directors of the Community College League of California (CCLC).
- Heard a report on the 2022-23 General Fund Unrestricted Preliminary Budget from Executive Vice Chancellor Bonnie Ann Dowd, noting that this is a budget that the District develops informally each year so that there can be faculty input prior to the end of the semester. Board members were pleased to note the progress that has been made in ensuring a balanced budget despite many challenges.
- Approved new or revised courses and programs.
- Authorized an agreement with health care agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupation programs.
- Approved changes to the contract between Research Triangle Institute and Miramar College.
- Accepted grants from the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Auxiliary Organization for the Strong Workforce Program at Miramar College; from the California Community Colleges State Chancellor’s Office for Basic Needs Services Support at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges and the College of Continuing Education; and from the California Student Aid Commission for Cal Grant programs at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.
- Approved the nomination of Trina Larson (Administrative Assistant V – San Diego Mesa College) as the District’s nominee for the California Community Colleges Classified Employee of the Year Award for 2022, to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
- Entered into an agreement with the County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency to lease space at the College of Continuing Education Mid-City Campus for a one-year period.
- Adopted the San Diego County Treasurer’s Pooled Money Fund Investment Policy as the SDCCD’s Investment Policy.
- Approved purchase orders completed during February 2022; the revised 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 College and Continuing Education Academic Calendars; and various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after March 25, 2022.