Geysil Arroyo
Trustee Geysil Arroyo thanked Student Trustee Natalia Trinh for her service on the Board. She said that she attended the Cesar Chavez Service Clubs Las Mañanitas live stream on March 25 and that she enjoyed hearing success stories of San Diego Unified School District students. She stated that she had a relaxing spring break and that she hoped others did too. Trustee Arroyo reported that she participated in a Board Self Evaluation subcommittee meeting with Trustee Craig Milgrim, and the Chancellor Investiture Planning subcommittee with Trustee Mary Graham.
Craig Milgrim
Trustee Craig Milgrim said that he attended the Connecting the Dots webinar about addressing student homelessness, and noted that in recent addresses by both Mayor Todd Gloria and County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher the SDCCD and its efforts to address housing issues in San Diego were mentioned. He also thanked Chancellor Cortez for his leadership on this issue.
Bernie Rhinerson
Trustee Bernie Rhinerson thanked Student Trustee Trinh for her service and said that he hopes to see her during in-person commencements. He reported that he would be in attendance at the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship make/SHIFT conference from April 20-22 in San Diego where Chancellor Cortez will welcome attendees at the start. He said that he looked forward to learning about makerspaces and how they promote opportunities for students, adding that he believes entrepreneurial education is a great way to attract students to the District. Trustee Rhinerson said that he is looking forward to “smile season” with upcoming scholarship and classified service awards events and commencements.
Dr. Maria Nieto Senour
Trustee Maria Nieto Senour reported that she attended the April 14 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new San Diego Mesa College Quadrangle and encouraged everyone to check out the new space.
Dr. Carlos O. Cortez
Chancellor Carlos Cortez shared that City College, in partnership with the Southern Regional Council of Carpenters, hosted its Combine Day on April 9, where more than 1,000 attendees participated and over 100 of those attendees were offered jobs on the spot; he thanked Trustee Bernie Rhinerson for facilitating this partnership. He also reported that Mesa College President Pam Luster was recognized with an award at the Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE) National Conference on April 8, and that Miramar College received a $20,000 grant from US Bank to support the college entrepreneurial programs, specifically the students who participate in the Regional Entrepreneurship Center (REC) Innovation Lab. Chancellor Cortez said College of Continuing Education students participated in the annual Walk for Acquired Brain Issues for the San Diego Brain Injury Foundation. He reported that the District received approximately $1 million in funding from Congressman Scott Peters as a Community-Based Funding Project Grant to support the expansion of Open Educational Resources (OER) and that the District has signed on to what is being called, "The Wise Proposal," to address the base funding floor, which is an agreement that several California Community College CEOs have come to. Chancellor Cortez said the District has written state lawmakers to recommend additional efforts be made to increase funding for instructional equipment, technology, deferred maintenance, and pension relief. He concluded by saying the District is closely watching the progress of a number of bills in Sacramento this spring.
Natalia Trinh
Student Trustee Natalia Trinh reported that the application window for the San Diego City College Associated Student Government (ASG) elections closed on April 8. She reported that the San Diego Miramar College ASG nomination window closed on April 4, and general elections will take place April 20-21 through a virtual poll. Student Trustee Trinh also reported that Miramar College would hold an in-person Earth Day Celebration on April 20; host an upcoming professional development event highlighting business clubs, as well as a study jam; and that the ASG is working to finalize amendments to its constitution, as well as following up on the delivery of HEERF funds to help alleviate high gas prices affecting students. Student Trustee Trinh reported that the San Diego College of Continuing Education will hold Associated Student Body (ASB) general elections from May 16-21. She reported that San Diego Mesa College will hold a Scholarship Award Ceremony on April 28; held a ribbon cutting and grand opening of the campus Quadrangle on April 14; held a Jumpstart event on April 9; will host a Cultural Unity Week from May 11-15; and that applications for Associated Students (AS) positions are open through April 19. Student Trustee Trinh said that she regretted not being able to attend in person, especially since this would be her final participation in a Board Meeting; and she thanked the entire Board for their support during her time as Student Trustee.
BOARD ACTIONS
At its regular meeting of April 14, 2022, which was conducted in a hybrid format, the Board of Trustees:
- Conducted a campus meeting in a hybrid format with San Diego College of Continuing Education that included welcome remarks from Interim President Kay Faulconer Boger, Academic Senate President John Bromma, and Classified Senate President Neill Kovrig. A presentation on Partnerships and Campus focus by President Boger, Stephanie Lewis, Maureen Rubalcaba, Shirley Pierson, Cassandra Storey, Janet Foster, Jeffrey Strack, and Jacqueline Hester; and on Equity-Minded Strategic Enrollment Management Planning by Michelle Fischthal and Shakerra Carter; and a video Spotlight on Classified Professionals.
- Heard public comment from Zameer Karim who addressed the Board regarding a complaint about a District employee while that employee was in a previous role with another District; from AFT Guild President Jim Mahler who reported that he sent to the Board an initial proposal of the 2022-2025 successor bargaining agreement for the Faculty Bargaining Unit, and that he looked forward to entering negotiations with the District; and from Andre Jones, Audrey Breay, Ebony Tyree, and America Martinez who addressed the Board regarding a proposed Law Enforcement Services Agreement with Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, which was tabled by the Board pending further discussion. City College Academic Senate (AS) President Maria-Jose Zeledon-Perez congratulated the College of Continuing Education on its presentation and read a statement from the AS encouraging the Board to reject a proposal that would expand SDCCD Police services to support the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. Mesa College AS President John Crocitti said the college has started scheduling for fall and is emphasizing distance education and short-term classes which continue to be preferred. Miramar College AS President Laura Murphy said her colleagues recently returned from the ASCCC plenary where a number of resolutions were shared. She also reported that the AS is holding elections and is working to establish a “college hour” which would allow free time for students and faculty to participate in clubs and activities.
- Adopted revisions to Chapter 5 – Student Services Board Policies (first reading March 24) as part of a comprehensive six-year review to ensure currency.
- Adopted resolutions 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; and proclaiming May 15-21, 2022, as Classified Professionals Week.
- Approved the Board Meeting Schedule for July 2022 through December 2022.
- Approved the Facilities Master Plan for San Diego College of Continuing Education.
- Approved the reappointment of Propositions S and N Citizens’ Oversight Committee (COC) members Leslie Bruce, Mike Frattali, Shandon Harbour, Bob Kiesling, Jason Paguio, and Ed Oremen to serve a two-year term from July 1, 2022, to June 20, 2024; and ratified the two-year reappointments of Ed Oremen for a term to be served from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022, and Liz Armstrong to serve from April 1, 2021, to June 30, 2023.
- Authorized an agreement with health care agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupation programs.
- Entered into a subcontract agreement with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) Workforce and Economic Development Division for the Citizen Science i3 Project at San Diego Mesa College.
- Entered into agreements with Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Auxiliary Organization for the Strong Workforce Program College-Based Marketing project, Pathway project, and Student Retention, Persistence, and Completion Research Investment project at Mesa College.
- Accepted grants from the San Diego & Imperial Counties Community Colleges Regional Consortium for CTE and Strong Workforce research efforts of the District Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research; and from the CCCCO for the Library Services Platform at San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.
- Accepted grants from the CCCCO for the promotion of equal employment opportunities, and faculty and staff diversity, and for culturally competent professional development and learning outcomes for the District Human Resources Division.
- Approved the reallocation of funds from the Federal Work-Study program to the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant; and authorized the transfer of funds between budget expenditure accounts in the 2021-22 General Fund/Unrestricted Budget.
- Granted authority to the executive vice chancellor to develop a plan to adjust the cash reserve in the general fund unrestricted ending fund balance from a minimum of 5% to a minimum of 15%.
- Adopted a resolution authorizing Business and Technology Services to make routine budgetary and financial transfers retroactively to April 1, 2022, through the end of fiscal year June 30.
- Heard a report on COVID-19 Mitigation by Vice Chancellor Gregory Smith and UC San Diego Assistant Professor Rebecca Fielding-Miller.
- Approved new or revised courses and programs, the use of Cohasset Volleyball Courts for exercise and volleyball classes by City College, and various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after April 15, 2022.