Special Report to the Public:
Geysil Arroyo
Trustee Geysil Arroyo recognized Black History Month and shared that she attended Community College League of California (CCLC) Legislative Conference in Sacramento and the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C., with her colleagues legislative conferences where the Trustees were able to meet directly with legislators. She thanked all those who helped organize those trips. She called attention to the African American California Community College Trustees and Administrators who recognized Trustee Mariah Jameson as Trustee of the Year, and San Diego College of Continuing Education’s Kenny Parker as Black Educator Excellence Faculty of the Year.
Mariah Jameson
Trustee Mariah Jameson wished everyone a happy Black History Month and noted that it is the 100th anniversary of Negro History Week, which led to the establishment of Black History Month. She stated that she attended the February 26 grand opening of the Black Resource Center at San Diego City College. She commented on how welcoming the space was, and how she hopes that it is used by students to create community.
Dr. Marichu Magaña
Trustee Marichu Magaña stated that she participated in the legislative visits to Sacramento and Washington, D.C., as well as the Community College Baccalaureate Association Conference from February 11-13 in Long Beach where she attended a presentation by Miramar College that highlighted its public safety management bachelor’s degree program and noted that it is drawing not only freshman, but also those who are already in a career looking to advance through the four-year program. She noted that the San Diego Community College District will soon have four baccalaureate programs, including the one at Miramar College, the cyber defense and security program at City College, and health information management at Mesa College, and the recently approved physical therapy assistant. She looks forward to many more baccalaureate programs being approved in the future. She also noted she spent time in the community for Lunar New Year and recognized the celebration of Ramadan.
Craig Milgrim
Trustee Craig Milgrim stated that he enjoys being able to meet with people on the campuses and noted that on February 25 he met with Nathen Ortiz, the new director at the City College Intercultural Center. He also shared that, during troubling times and political divide, one way for individuals to make a difference is through the businesses they support and encouraged people to check out resistandunsubscribe.com and unsubscribe from businesses that don’t align with their views.
Dr. Maria Nieto Senour
Trustee Maria Nieto Senour stated that she participated in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and commended the colleges for their floats. She reported attending the CCLC conference in Sacramento and noted the excellent work by the student leaders in attendance.
Gregory Smith
Chancellor Gregory Smith reported that Governor Gavin Newsom released the January budget proposal and that Vice Chancellor Dan Troy would provide a comprehensive overview during the meeting. He noted that during Sacramento legislative sessions, he and the Trustees focused on priorities including advocating for fully funded cost-of-living allocations and growth funding, which is currently insufficient. He said that Senator John Laird advised the District to focus on impact, not just technical details, which helped SDCCD representatives talk to elected officials on topics such as student equity and achievement, strong workforce programs, and the Prop 98 funding split. He said advocacy efforts on the latter were a reason for Assemblymember David Alvarez bringing up the subject during the Assembly Budget Subcommittee, which he chairs. During the legislative trip to Washington, D.C., Chancellor Smith said it was extremely important for the District to continue to push conversations of equity and diversity, which included a push for the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which exists as a Senate Bill and House Resolution, that would codify into law the barring of immigration enforcement, with very limited exceptions, at schools, hospitals, religious facilities, and other sensitive locations. Discussions also included protecting Pell Grants and the confusion around Minority Serving Institution funding, as well as Congressionally Directed Funding, which led to City College receiving more than $1 million from Congressman Scott Peters for a Cyber Security Lab, and to College of Continuing Education receiving $500,000 for infrastructure work at the Educational Cultural Complex, and, he added, Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla have added back requests submitted last year to bring $2 million to fund mental health services across the District.
Chancellor Smith said he attended the CCBA meeting in Long Beach, where a study by the UC Davis Wheelhouse Institute was released that showed that 50% of community college baccalaureate students who complete these degrees would not have been able to do so without the community college programs; 9 out of 10 cited affordability as a factor for participating in a program; and students said they earned 50% more in wages upon completion. He noted that City College Vice President John Parker is transitioning to North Orange County Community College District and thanked him for his service to the District, and he said he attended the college’s Black Resource Center grand opening, noting the importance of creating such spaces as examples of inclusion in action. He reported that Mesa College earned full accreditation and acknowledged those on campus who helped make that happen; that the college received approval of its physical therapy assistant baccalaureate program; and that it held a memorable Rosa Parks birthday celebration with Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe in attendance, where the Metropolitan Transit System showed off a special bus design and commemorative bus pass. He reported that he held his first Spring Forum at Miramar College on February 24 and thanked the Athletics Department for bringing more than 60 students to the event; and he shared his report with President Wes Lundburg, who announced the college had recently been identified for a new Puente program. He noted a recent town hall discussion with the Division of Operations, Enterprise Services, and Facilities team where he gathered great feedback for areas to work on; the convening of the California Learning Lab in San Diego, where the AI Challenge Grant between San Diego State, UC San Diego, and the SDCCD was celebrated as a unique partnership of collaboration. He closed by thanking Dean Andy MacNeil for inviting him to provide the closing keynote during the February Association of California Community College Administrators Conference.
Celina Martinez
Student Trustee Celina Martinez reported that the San Diego City College Associated Student Government hosted a Valentine’s Day Club Rush on February 12 and the campus held a President’s Forum where she and President Shabazz spoke on February 25; that San Diego Mesa College held its spring 2026 convocation on January 29, which helped strengthen a sense of community and collaboration; that San Diego Miramar College ASG held a Welcome Back Resources Fair on February 3-4; and that San Diego College of Continuing Education recognized Black History Month through celebrations of resilience and legacy established by Black leaders, and ASG president Yahir Melendez, in collaboration with the college's Basic Needs coordinator, established a partnership with One Seed to provide food for students in need.
BOARD ACTIONS
At its regular meeting of February 26, 2026, which was conducted in-person, with online participation available, the Board of Trustees:
- Announced the following actions from Closed Session: accepted the recommendation not to renew the employment contract of a regular classified employee at the San Diego Community College District, as required under Section 88013 of the California Education Code.
- Heard public comment from Monica Romero, who spoke on behalf of the Management Association; and Purita Javier and Cesar Javier addressed the Board on concerns about ceramics emissions. City College Academic Senate (AS) President Mona Alsoraimi Espiritu shared that today was the soft opening of the college’s Black Resource Center, and acknowledged the work by everyone to make it a reality. On March 3, the community, students, and employees are invited to come to a Community Iftar, breaking the fast for Ramadan and listen to a student panel. The AS is busy with the faculty hiring reprioritization process under review. ASG students presented two resolutions to the AS, a good example of collaboration and another opportunity to uplift students' voices. Mesa College AS President Mary Gwin shared that the campus gallery features a new exhibit with Chicano portraiture. She complimented President Ashanti Hands on a recent interview on KPBS Radio that focused on the college’s Black Serving Institution designation. President Hands also attended the February 23 AS meeting to respond to various questions. The AS passed two resolutions: about equitable and tangible support for faculty professional development, and the second pertaining to contracts related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) use in the classroom. Miramar College AS President Rodrigo Gomez said the college is doing good work around how to respond to ICE. The AS also accepted an Academic Senate for California Community Colleges resolution on the integration of AI literacy integration. This includes adoption of a definition of AI literacy. College of Continuing Education AS President Richard Weinroth shared that the college participated in a national textile summit held in Chula Vista and was recognized for its participation. He reported that ECC Theatre construction continues, and the facility will be a wonderful resource for the college and community. Black History Month events have been hosted by the college in February and Women’s History Month will be celebrated in March. He concluded by saying that the college hosted an excellent ICE protocol Q&A and complimented the college’s new website.
- Adopted resolutions recognizing March 2026 as Women's History Month; in support of Senate Bill 960 (Cabaldon): statewide baccalaureate degree programfollowing public comment by Cesar Javier; and to increase an established revolving cash fund at Mesa College.
- Approved new or revised courses and programs following comments by Vice Chancellor Susan Topham; authorized agreements with healthcare agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupation programs; and approved an agreement with the County of San Diego to allow City College archaeology students to perform archaeological excavations at the Rancho de Los Penasquitos site.
- Authorized travel for Mesa College students to attend an overnight field trip to Anza-Borrego Desert research center, March 20-22; Miramar College Students to attend the A2MEND Annual Student Success Summit, March 4-6 in Long Beach, California; and students from all four colleges to attend the 2026 All Africa Diaspora Education Summit from September 24 to October 3, in Accra and Cape Coast, Ghana.
- Heard a presentation on the Governor’s January budget proposal by Vice Chancellor Dan Troy; and on changes to the Brown Act by General Counsel Ljubiša Kostic.
- Accepted the District’s 2024-25 Independent Auditor’s Reports, which were conducted by Eide Bailly LLP. Audits for the four major funds in the District were provided: General Fund, Measure HH Fund, the SDCC Auxiliary Organization, and the Social Security Alternative Plan. The Board’s Budget Study and Audit Subcommittee (Trustees Magaña and Milgrim) reviewed the audits in depth with Vice Chancellor Daniel Troy and Chancellor Gregory Smith prior to the meeting. Auditor Rachel Green addressed the Board regarding the audits. The audits were clean and unmodified.
- Accepted grants from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office for the Puente Program at City College; the A2MEND program at Mesa College and College of Continuing Education; and the Dream Resource Center Emergency Funds grant, the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services grant and the Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education grant at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.
- Entered into a services agreement with Biocom California to implement Generation STEAM, Miramar College Biotechnology Outreach Program; and entered into a contract with LeSar Consulting Group for Affordable Housing Consulting Services.
- Approved a change in tuition for nonresidents from $369 to $377 per unit.
- Awarded cooperative agreements with Sidepath for the purchase of Darktrace and Proofpoint Enterprise; with Konica Minolta for the purchase of an AccurioPress C12010; and with The Garland Company, Inc. to procure materials for the DSC South-SDCCD PD Dispatch Building Roofing Project.
- Reviewed and ratified Emergency Actions taken to repair the baseball outfield fence and netting at Mesa College; the York Chiller at the Miramar College central plant; to restore and replace flood-impacted areas at the College of Continuing Education Cesar Chavez Campus; And to repair a damaged sewer line at the College of Continuing Education's Educational Cultural Complex.
- Approved purchase orders and contracts completed during January 2026; Measure HH Project Updates, notices to proceed, and change orders completed during January 2026; the District’s Report on participation in the San Diego County Investment Pool; the 2025-2026 Second Quarter Financial Report and quarterly report on the budgeted expenses to actuals; and various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after February 27, 2026.