Special Report to the Public:
Geysil Arroyo
Trustee Geysil Arroyo thanked those who provided public comment and also thanked employees across the District for their amazing work with each of the colleges' commencements. She recognized Kat Lerma for her support of the Board across all year-end events. Trustee Arroyo recognized Classified Professionals Week and reported that she joined Miramar College for its June 10 celebration. She acknowledged the districtwide accomplishments of the past year and said she is looking forward to collaborating with campuses and new student trustees in the upcoming year.
Mariah Jameson
Trustee Mariah Jameson thanked all the colleges for their work during commencement season and for the unique celebrations each hosted.
Dr. Marichu Magaña
Trustee Marichu Magaña thanked the colleges and District Office for their work throughout t he commencement season.
Craig Milgrim
Trustee Craig Milgrim welcomed the new student trustees. He also thanked Mesa College for inviting him to its Pride flag-raising ceremony on June 10. He said he appreciates the districtwide effort to ensure a flagpole is available on all campuses for different affinity groups.
Dr. Maria Nieto Senour
Trustee Maria Nieto Senour reported that she attended a meeting of Muslim students at Mesa College following the May 18 shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, where it was recognized that there is a need to make sure private prayer spaces are available to students beyond normal office hours, and to make available halal food options on all campuses.
Gregory Smith
Chancellor Gregory Smith reported that the district is waiting for a state budget agreement between the Assembly and Senate by June 15. He noted that the current version leaves much to be desired for community colleges, particularly in terms of full funding for growth. He reported on bills that the District will continue to watch, including one to establish a statewide Hispanic Serving Institution and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution designations; an expansion for baccalaureate programs, including for nursing, and he noted a bill introduced by Assemblymember David Alvarez that would make duplication a regional consideration rather than a statewide issue among CSU and UC institutions. Chancellor Smith reported that, at the federal level, Congress is using the budget reconciliation process, which allows certain funding measures to pass with a simple majority and limited debate, and noted that this process enabled funding for ICE and Border Patrol through 2028. As a result, provisions aligned with the District’s advocacy, such as banning immigration enforcement in sensitive locations like hospitals and schools, were not included in the funding bill. He added that the District is closely monitoring the outcomes of the upcoming midterm election for potential policy implications.
Chancellor Smith recognized that, despite difficulties around the world, the District had a remarkable year, including a fourth year of continued enrollment growth following COVID-19, and attributed this to collaborative efforts with the San Diego Unified School District and outreach to reengage adult learners. He noted, however, that the District now serves more students than the state funds, and he attributes planning in previous years toward increased financial security to the District's ability to maintain continuity in student support services and avoid layoffs even when state funding does not meet needs. Chancellor Smith also praised the Measure HH program for launching 12 major construction projects, which, through expedited funding, he said will ultimately yield long-term savings. He recognized and thanked faculty, classified professionals, and the Board of Trustees for their hard work and leadership throughout the past year.
Jesse Lopez
Student Trustee Jesse Lopez reported that the new Student Trustees for the 2026-27 academic year met with one another and District staff on June 8 during the welcome breakfast and orientation.
BOARD ACTIONS
At its regular meeting of June 11, 2026, which was conducted in-person, with online participation available, the Board of Trustees:
- Administered the Oath of Office to Student Trustees: Jesse Lopez (City College), Miranda Augelli Acuna (Mesa College), Michael Fuzy (Miramar College), and Luis Miguel Ecarri (College of Continuing Education).
- Heard public comment from San Diego County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, who addressed the Board about concerns surrounding personnel investigations and the discontinuance of apprenticeship programs; Monica Romero, who provided an update from the Management Association; Purita Javier and Cesar Javier shared concerns about ceramics emissions; and Serina Cruz, Grace Rojas-Jimenez, Daniel Gomez, Aivany Zazueta, and Angel Martinez, who urged the District to take action on several issues.
- City College Academic Senate (AS) President Mona Alsoraimi-Espiritu welcomed the new student trustees and shared recently approved resolutions focused on equitable leadership, faculty hiring practices, and the use of license plate readers on campus. She said that this is her last meeting as president, that the AS has produced an annual report, and that she is proud of what was accomplished this academic year. She also shared concerns about the SDCCD Corporate Council and the District’s relationship with companies and organizations that could be perceived as unethical. Mesa College Academic Senate representative Mary Gwin shared that the AS won’t meet until September. She said the college hosted a wonderful commencement and thanked all who participated and made it possible for students. She said the Muslim Student Association hosted a meeting as a response to the shooting at the Islamic Center, and she thanked Trustee Maria Nieto Senour and President Ashanti Hands for their participation. She also thanked the faculty for all their good work this academic year, including those in the STEM Engagement for the Enrichment of Diverse Students (SEEDs) Scholar Program.
- Adopted revisions to Chapter 2 – Board of Trustees, Chapter 4 – Instructional Services, and Chapter 5 – Student Services (first reading 5/14/26) board policies as part of a comprehensive six-year review to ensure currency; and had a first reading of Chapter 3 – General Institution, Chapter 6 – Business and Financial Services, and Chapter 7 Human Resources Board policies.
- Following remarks by Chancellor Smith and an in-depth report by Vice Chancellor Dan Troy, the Board approved the Tentative Budget for FY 2026-27. The total District Budget of $1,937,878,307 includes income, appropriations, and expenses for all District funds. The budget had been reviewed by the Board’s Budget Study and Audit Subcommittee (Trustees Marichu Magaña and Craig Milgrim).
- The Board authorized agreements with healthcare agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupation programs; and a study abroad program in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, for fire protection technology courses from January 4-31, 2027.
- The Board approved the two-year occupational review for City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges as mandated by Education Code 78016 and the career education industry advisory committee members for City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges.
- The Board entered into a service agreement with the University of California, San Diego, to jointly offer California State Fire Training-approved fire service education and training programs; into participation agreements with the Border Region Talent Pipeline Collaborative for the Regional San Diego County High School Life Sciences Pathway Curriculum and Alignment project; with High Tech High to implement the Biotechnology Outreach Program; and a facilities use agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration Designated Mechanic Examiner David Hainline, all at Miramar College.
- The Board Accepted grants from the Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges for education-to-workforce pathways from high school to postsecondary education in the region at the City College; and for Strong workforce program funding at Mesa College; from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office for the Puente Program at Mesa and Miramar colleges; from the California Department of Rehabilitation for the Cooperative Sub-Minimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment Project; and extended a grant from the Santa Clarita Community College District for District Office Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Institute work.
- The Board approved an agreement with the Neighborhood House Association to provide
meal vending services for the District’s Child Development Centers through the Child
and Adult Care Food Program.
The Board authorized Mission Valley Branch Library and Ibarra Elementary School as
off-campus facilities for the College of Continuing Education.
- The Board awarded bid 25260544 to APR Construction, Inc., for the College of Continuing Education Harbor View Campus Optical Instruction Tenant Improvement Project.
- The Board adopted consideration of projects to be included in the District’s five-year Capital Construction Plan commencing FY 2028-2032, subject to revisions and requirements as issued by the CCCCO.
- The Board reviewed and ratified Emergency Actions taken to repair the baseball outfield fence and netting at Mesa College; replace the leaking hot water rooftop tank on the MS Building at Mesa College; remediate water intrusion from a sink overflow in Room 301-lab in the MS Building at Mesa College; remediate water intrusion due to a failed hot water valve in the ceiling of the 1st floor restroom of the V-building at City College; remediate water intrusion due to an angle stop on the third floor causing damage through to the first floor at the District Office; and reviewed, ratified, and terminated Emergency Action to isolate and repair a broken water pipe near the C Building at Miramar College.
- Finally, the Board also approved purchase orders and contracts completed during May 2026; the District's report of participation in the San Diego County Investment Pool for the third quarter; applications for faculty sabbatical leaves and for the Reduced Workload/Early Retirement Program for the 2026-27 academic year; new or revised courses and programs; contracts of employment for certain president, vice chancellor, and vice president, and other positions; Measure HH Project Updates, notices to proceed, notices of completion, and change orders completed during May 2026; and various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after June 12, 2026