Special Report to the Public:
Geysil Arroyo
Trustee Geysil Arroyo thanked Dr. Anthony-Thomas for joining the meeting and sharing her comments. She said she’s looking forward to the Pride Parade and appreciated that the T-shirt was designed by SDCCD student Melinda Nguyen. She said she attended the student trustee orientation, which was excellent.
Dr. Marichu Magaña
Trustee Marichu Magaña said she participated in the Mira Mesa 4th of July parade and that she hoped Miramar College would participate in the future. She wished luck to the organizers of the Mesa College Olympian Open Golf Tournament fundraiser on July 24. She said she was pleased to hear comments complimentary of Chancellor Smith and his support of professional development activities, and she echoed Trustee Milgrim’s comments about the value of classified professionals.
Craig Milgrim
Trustee Craig Milgrim thanked classified professionals for the job they do. He said he looked forward to seeing all those participating in Saturday’s Pride Parade.
Dr. Maria Nieto Senour
Trustee Maria Nieto Senour said she hopes everyone is enjoying their summer and reported that she attended the recent Muslim healing event at Mesa College, where there was a discussion on how best to address the needs of Muslim students.
Gregory Smith
Chancellor Gregory Smith shared that Governor Newsom has signed the state budget for 2026-27 with many positive developments for California Community Colleges. The budget reimburses the system for about $400 million in deferrals from the prior year. For the first time since the passage of Prop 98 in 1988, the budget deal changes the 10.9% historic split between California Community Colleges and K-12. It moves to 11.1%, a $215 million boost to the system, and recognizes that we make up over 15% of enrollment while collecting only 11% of funding. There is additional funding to pay for 14 weeks of paid pregnancy disability leave for employees. The District will meet with employee bargaining and meet-and-confer units regarding implementation, which is required to start January 1, 2027, although it will begin earlier if possible. There was a technical change to the SCFF which allows us to be paid based on either the three-year average or the prior year, whichever is higher, a significant positive development. While there was additional growth funding, we did not see as much as we would have liked, and we continue to serve more students than we are reimbursed for by the state, a credit to the District’s strong financial management. For the first time since 2022, the Student Equity and Achievement Program will receive a COLA, along with the rest of the categorical programs. The Chancellor will send a districtwide email with a budget update once the trailer bill language is released. On the federal side, the House committees passed a number of appropriations bills, including the Department of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development budgets, where the District is slated to receive $2 million to support Child Development Center expansion at Mesa College and $850,000 for the Applied Automation Innovation and Robotics Center at College of Continuing Education should the pending bills be passed by both the House and Senate and signed by President, though there may be delays surrounding the midterm elections. Additionally, he had a great meeting with the new student trustees after saying goodbye to an excellent group of student trustees in May. The Chancellor was recently invited to join the California Community Colleges LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee, along with College of Continuing Education’s Neill Kovrig. He is now also a member of the California Student Aid Commission CEO Advisory Council on advancing Cal Grant reforms, and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has invited him to apply to join its Board. Chancellor Smith has been invited to speak at the Board of Governors meeting next Tuesday at the invitation of Chancellor Sonya Christian to talk about the budget and its impact on our District. Finally, Miramar College President Wes Lundburg has just sent an email to employees sharing news that he will be retiring at the end of the 2026-27 academic year. President Lundburg has made a tremendous impact on the college over the past six years.
Miranda Augelli Acuna
Student Trustee Miranda Augelli Acuna reported that City College administrators and student representatives met to identify a new coffee vendor, Mesa’s Dreamer Resource Center hosted DACA Day, the Miramar College Jet Fuel Resource Center hosted a free farmers market, a welcome back resource fair will be hosted, and on June 18 College of Continuing Education commemorated Juneteenth with an event at ECC.
Board Actions
At its regular meeting of July 16, 2026, which was conducted in-person, with online participation available, the Board of Trustees:
- Announced the following actions from Closed Session: the Board approved the termination of a classified employee; denied the appeal of two Administrative Determinations of a Title 5 Complaint; and approved the disciplinary action of expelling a San Diego Mesa College student from all colleges, campuses, programs, sites and activities of the San Diego Community College District.
- Heard public comment from Geneviéve Jones-Wright, who addressed the board on a closed session item; Sarah Eltawely-Dolsky, who shared concerns about due process violations; Joel Pointon, who shared concerns about seniors being able to access the emeritus program; and Purita Javier and Cesar Javier shared concerns about ceramics emissions. City College Academic Senate (AS) President Nick Slinglend said he looks forward to working with the Board and that there are a lot of great things happening at the college. He hopes that we continue to grow and serve our students. He encouraged the Board and others to reach out and see him if they have questions. Mesa College AS President Mary Gwin welcomed the college’s new Dean of Humanities, Dr. Eliza Hoyos Vences, said the college hosted Junior Achievement interns, and that a follow-up meeting was held with the Muslim Student Association, with many ideas discussed. She continued that support sessions are being offered with Health and Human Services representatives, Summer CRUISE (Creating Rich Unique Intellectual Student Experiences) has started for first-year students, that Disability Pride will be celebrated with a flag raising next week, that the Olympian Open Golf Tournament fundraiser will be held July 24 with a helicopter ball drop, and that the Pride Scholars program is accepting applications with a September 24 deadline. Miramar College AS President Rodrigo Gomez shared the senate has not met over summer. College of Continuing Education AS President Richard Weinroth reported that faculty participated in the faculty leadership institute; he acknowledged the District’s Pride committee for its work preparing for this year’s parade, as well as student designer Melinda Nguyen, who developed this year’s T-shirt. He thanked Chancellor Gregory Smith and the Chancellor’s Cabinet for their support and shared details on this year’s parade. College of Continuing Education Classified Senate President Dr. Esther Anthony-Thomas recognized Miramar College Classified Senate President Brenda O’Connor, who is leaving the District, and wished her well. She shared that Classified Senate representatives attended a recent leadership institute in Riverside. At the conference, District representatives presented on how collaboration across colleges has strengthened their collective impact. The presentation included participation by District leadership, and it was well received. She expressed her gratitude to Chancellor Smith, who challenged classified senate representatives to increase their presence throughout the state and supported professional development for classified professionals.
- Adopted revisions to Chapter 3 – General Institution, Chapter 6 – Business and Financial Services, and Chapter 7 Human Resources Board policies.
- Approved new or revised courses and programs following a presentation by Vice Chancellor Susan Topham.
- Authorized agreements with healthcare agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupation programs; and with Neighborhood House Association for Child Development programs at City College and Mesa College.
- Accepted revisions to the 2026 Family Handbook for Child Development Centers at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.
- Following a public hearing, adopted the College and Career Access Pathways
(CCAP) Dual Enrollment Partnership Agreement with the San Diego Unified School District
and participating charter schools.
- Approved master agreements with Foundation for Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community Colleges for Strong Workforce including Accelerating Career Education Outcomes Investments at City, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges; Work Based Learning at City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges; at Job Placement Case Manager at City, Mesa, and Continuing Education colleges; Sector Investments Projects at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges; and Faculty Institute at College of Continuing Education; and for the Border Region Talent Pipeline Collaborative with Mesa College and College of Continuing Education.
- Extended a service agreement with San Diego Workforce Partnership, Inc. and Miramar College to implement EMT and Fire Academy workforce training; and with California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and Miramar College to provide the Academy Instructor Certification Course (AICC).
- Accepted grants from the California Department of Education for the operation of Child Development Centers at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.
- Awarded cooperative agreements to Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) for the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), the PeopleSoft ERP System, and the Oracle Fusion ERP Upgrade; and awarded an amendment for the PeopleSoft Supplier Contract Module Implementation to Astute Business Solutions.
- Awarded bids to Sign Age Identity Systems Inc., for the College of Continuing Education Promotional Banner Project; to Able Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. for Miramar College Science Building S-6 AHU Refurbishment Project; to Van Pelt Construction Services for Measure HH Program Controls Audit & Services; to Baker Electric & Renewables, LLC for the City College Lighting Inverters Project; and adopted a resolution finding that no competitive advantage is justified for the procurement and installation of a specialized kiln for the Ceramics Program at the Miramar College.
- Approved change orders for work that exceeds 10% of the original contract price to Bender Dean Engineering for additional design services work on the City College Building-V HVAC Replacement Project; to C.W. Driver LLC for preconstruction and design services the Mesa College Athletic Complex Project; and to Kitchell/CEM for direct campus support at Mesa and Miramar College based on staffing needs for Measure HH Projects.
- Terminated 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; and 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.
- Reviewed and ratified Emergency Actions taken to remediate water intrusion from a sink overflow in Room 301-lab in the MS Building at Mesa College; remediate water intrusion due to an angle stop on the third floor causing damage through to the first floor at the District Office; to repair failed HVAC coils on the V-building at City College; and reviewed, ratified, and terminated Emergency Action to isolate and repair a broken underground water pipe at Miramar College.
- Approved purchase orders and contracts completed during June 2026; Measure HH Project Updates, notices to proceed, and change orders completed during June 2026; and various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after July 17, 2026.