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Board of Trustees Meeting Update – February 19, 2020

In an effort to help our community stay informed about actions taken during governance meetings, I’m pleased to share a report from the most recent meeting of the Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees.

The board moved to refinance roughly $25.3 million in outstanding Measure P bonds that were authorized in the 2002 election. By changing the payoff schedule and the interest rate of the bonds, the college will save local taxpayers roughly $11 million in property taxes over the next seven years.

  • The board authorized a resolution stating its support for Proposition 13, the statewide measure before voters in the March 3 election that would raise $15 billion for community colleges, public universities, K-12 districts, and preschools across California.
  • March 2020 will be recognized as Women’s History Month thanks to a resolution passed by the board tonight.
  • The board signed off on a number of agreements with its collective bargaining units, including:
    • An agreement with the classified employee union granting a 3.0% pay increase retroactive to July 1, 2019,
    • A tentative agreement with the Police Officers Association covering a range of work conditions and economic proposals, and
    • Memoranda of understanding with the Faculty Association changing the status of the head football coach, redefining the FLEX professional-development program, changing rehire rights of adjunct faculty, establishing an evaluation form for music students, and describing the establishment of faculty chairs for each division.
  • Non-resident students will pay fees of $307 per semester thanks to action taken by the board tonight.
  • Dale Pittman, who retired from the college’s Information Technology Services office in 2014, spoke in memory of Paul Visick, whom he called “a gentle bear” of a friend and former PCC colleague who passed away unexpectedly earlier this month. Board President James Osterling moved to adjourn the meeting in honor of Visick.
  • In closed session, the board directed the college to release three classified personnel and eliminate two vacant classified positions as part of a broader administrative restructuring of the college.
  • High school students enrolled in TRIO programs at PCC will travel to the Bay Area in March and April, for a four-day university tour and a STEM activity at the Google campus in Mountain View, thanks to action taken by the board tonight.
  • The board approved travel for faculty advisors and team coaches with the Speech and Debate team to the state championship tournament in Fresno in March, as well as an April trip to Albuquerque for the national championship.
  • Many areas in the college have new carpeting and other floor covering thanks to work done by G&S Carpet Mills, which the board accepted as complete tonight.
  • The Human Resources office is exploring applicant tracking and recruitment software to help the office perform key functions in support of the college’s workforce. The board approved a process to solicit proposals with an authorized annual price tag of $80,000.
  • Business, Engineering & Technology instructor Douglas Cook will travel to a Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Boot Camp in Ogden, Utah, in March thanks to action taken by the board tonight.
  • The board approved yearlong sabbatical leave in the 2020-21 academic year for the following 11 faculty members:
    • James Aragon, Counseling
    • Jillian Blatti, Natural Science
    • Martha Bonilla, English
    • Rosemarie Cervantes, Disabled Student Programs & Services
    • Jeffrey Cole, Natural Sciences
    • Lindsey Jang, Visual Arts & Media Studies
    • Jens Kristen, Math & Computer Science
    • Jennifer Nobel, Social Sciences
    • Dan Raddon, Business
    • Shellie Samtani, English
    • Zoe Xiu-Zhi Wu, Languages
  • The board also voted to rescind the Spring 2020 sabbatical for Business instructor Michelle Lee.
  • The board approved a number of personnel actions:
    • James Bull joined the college as a learning assistance center assistant in the Pathways: First Year Experience office, and Robert Lazo was appointed custodial supervisor in Facilities Services.
    • Eugene Chang (Purchasing & Contract Services), Stephanie Lopez (Economic Workforce Development), Cuc Nguyen (Human Resources), and Rocio Perez (Admissions & Records) received promotions under action taken by the board tonight.
    • Kathy Cervenka, an instructor in Health Sciences, retired yesterday after 27 years of service to the college. Leticia Sanchez will retire May 1 after 22 years of service in the careers office. Sharis Davoodi (Freeman Center) and Matthew Kiaman (Information Technology Services) both leave the college this month for other opportunities.

If you’d like to know more, you can access the full board packet online (click “Feb 20, 2020” under the “Meetings” tab). Video of the meeting is also available on our YouTube channel.

The next regularly scheduled board business meeting will be Wednesday, March 18, at 6 p.m., in Creveling Lounge. There will be a special meeting the week of March 9 to handle certain personnel matters before regulatory deadlines.

Thank you,

Alex Boekelheide