Merced Community College District Board of Trustees Minutes for meeting held August 7, 2001

Transcription

1 Merced Community College District Board of Trustees Minutes for meeting held August 7, Public Session Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 5 p.m. in the Board Room at the Tri-College Center on the main campus in Merced. 2. Closed Session Chairwoman Troost referenced the items to be presented during closed session then closed the meeting to the public. Closed session items are listed below: C PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE/DISMISSAL/RELEASE C CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR, Benjamin T. Duran, regarding price and terms of payment for the proposed gift of property in Los Banos 3. Resume Public Session The public session reconvened at 6 p.m. Eric Price led the Pledge of Allegiance. Chairwoman Troost indicated there was nothing to report out of closed session. Members Present: Jinet Troost (Chair), Lew Braxton, Eva de Long*, Les McCabe, Eugene Vierra, Jim Glidden, Robert Haden, Eric Price *absent from the closed session Others Present: Benjamin T. Duran, John Spevak, Allan Grimsby, Dee Near (Faculty Senate), Vince Piro (Faculty Association), Manuel Costa (Classified Senate), Sarah Greene (Management Team), Attorney Jim Parrinello, Don Curtaz, Terry Ruscoe 4. Hearing of the Public An opportunity was provided for members of the public to address the Board; there were no comments or questions. 5. Minutes MSCU (Braxton/Glidden) to approve the minutes of the meeting held June 19, 2001; the student advisory vote was aye. 6. Consideration of Consent Agenda MSCU (Haden/Vierra) to approve the consent agenda as summarized below; the student advisory vote was aye. a. C u r r i c u l u m Revisions as Listed on Schedule 02-1

2 b. Purchase Orders as Summarized on Schedule 02-2 c. Contracts as Summarized on Schedule 02-3 d. Warrants, Payroll Registers and Trip Requests as Summarized on Schedule 02-4 a. Resolutions 02-1 through 02-6, Intrabudget Transfers a. Resolutions 02-7 through 02-14, Use of Unbudgeted Funds a. Personnel Schedule 02-5 a. Donations C golf cart from Bud Heitman for use by the Athletic Department C supplies and equipment from San Francisco City College for use in the dental lab 7. To the Board for Discussion and/or Action a. Adoption of Board Policy/Procedure 6620, Naming of Facilities, Buildings, Properties, and Programs Dr. Duran indicated no comments had been received since the policy and procedure were presented for first and second reading. Trustees Braxton and McCabe suggested a modification to the policy. Discussion followed. MSC (Glidden/Haden) to adopt the Board Policy and Procedure 6620 as presented; a no vote was cast by Trustee Braxton. The student advisory vote was aye. a. Adoption of Board Policy/Procedure 2745, Board Self Evaluation Chairwoman Troost indicated no comments had been received since the policy and procedure were presented for first and second reading. MSCU (Glidden/McCabe) to adopt Board Policy and Procedure 2745 as presented; the student advisory vote was aye. b. Establishment of Guidelines for MCAG=s Use in Developing Scenarios for Trustee Area Boundaries Dr. Duran introduced attorney Jim Parrinello, partner with Marguerite Leoni who was unable to attend the meeting due to a commitment with another client. Mrs. Leoni will serve as the primary contact for the college regarding redistricting. Dr. Duran explained that their law firm has been assisting Merced County Supervisors with redistricting. A contract for their services to work with the college was approved under the consent agenda. Mr. Parrinello reviewed the legal requirements regarding redistricting and discussed some of the factors resulting from the 2000 Census which will affect MC=s redistricting. Specifics of the firm=s analysis are outlined in the handout provided trustees and on file with the minutes of the meeting.

3 On advice of counsel, the schedule for redistricting was revised to reflect an earlier submission of MC=s plan to the U.S. Department of Justice; submission is proposed for December, 2001, in order to receive preclearance in time for the 2002 election. In the opinion of legal counsel, the college does not have to seek approval of its redistricting plan from the County Committee on School District Organization. Several of the legal requirements and local goals discussed by the Board are summarized below: C equalization of population (The ideal population per trustee area is 30,451.); C compliance with Federal Voting Rights Act Sections 2 and 5; C maintaining three Hispanic majority minority trustee areas; (NOTE: It was pointed out by legal counsel that which trustee areas are designated majority minority areas may vary as long as three majority minority areas are maintained based on the 2000 census.) C not deviating more than 10% between the highest and lowest populations within trustee areas; C avoidance of any impassable barriers for voters who have limited transportation so that they can easily reach their polling places; and C as much as possible, keeping cities that feel a certain joint sense of community together in the same trustee area. MSCU (Glidden/McCabe) to adopt the revised redistricting schedule and that redistricting goals reflect a blending of the goals suggested by legal counsel with those suggested by the Director of Research and Development; the student advisory vote was aye. Don Curtaz will begin working with MCAG (Merced County Association of Governments) to develop scenario one for presentation to the Board at the September 11 meeting. Public notice regarding the college=s work on redistricting will also commence. Mr. Curtaz also suggested it might be helpful to the Board to schedule a time when the Board as a whole could visit MCAG to observe the process for developing boundary scenarios. Trustee area boundaries will go into effect with the next election. a. Acceptance of AVarious Painting Projects@ as Complete and Authorize Release Final Payment to Contractor MSCU (Vierra/McCabe) to accept as complete the project AVarious Painting Projects@ and upon proper receipt of the final closing documents authorize the remaining ten percent final payment to the contractor, D.C. Vient, Inc.; the student advisory vote was aye. Mr. Braxton asked that every effort continue to be made to make local vendors aware of products and services the college is bidding. 8. To the Board for Information

4 a. Workplace Learning Resource Center Contract Summary Dr. Spevak explained that classes offered through the Workplace Learning Resource Center take on many forms because they are custom designed for their clients. Once a year a list of contracts is presented to the Board to keep them informed on the variety of clients and classes served by the Center. A list of classes for was shared with the Board. b. Discussion of the Governor=s Budget Proposal Dr. Duran commented on the Governor=s budget which was not kind to community colleges. It was better in January and even better in January, but the final budget dealt community colleges a devastating blow. When the Governor finished his vetoes, community colleges suffered a disproportionate share of cuts when compared to the other segments of higher education. Efforts are being made across the state to try to have dollars reinstated for community colleges. The administration will be working with CBRR to develop a plan to meet the budget challenges MC will face this year. 9. Information & Questions a. From Board Members Jim Glidden was disturbed to hear of the network=s failure again this year just before the start of the fall semester. Lew Braxton congratulated John Spevak and Allan Grimsby on their election as president of their statewide organizations. ACCT is beginning to market its economic model. Mr. Braxton hopes the model will be helpful in assessing MC=s impact on this area. Eva de Long also extended her congratulations to Drs. Spevak and Grimsby. She participated in the County School Boards Fall Conference which she felt was most beneficial to her. Les McCabe strongly felt there was a need to have one voice for community colleges and reported on several of the agricultural issues he is involved with in the community. Gene Vierra referenced a letter received in June from a student in the nursing program commenting on the need for nursing instructors to address the growing need for registered nurses. He urged the administration and faculty to do whatever possible to address the shortage being experienced in this field. Dr. Spevak responded the administration is working with local hospitals to see if there is a way to

5 increase the number of nursing students perhaps as early as January, Robert Haden, although pleased that UC Merced received funding in the state budget to move construction forward, was disappointed with the ineffectiveness of the Chancellor=s Office given that the community college structure was given zero consideration in the budget process. He felt community colleges need to develop a political action committee that has dollars behind it to command the attention of the Governor. b. From Faculty Senate Dee Near reported on the second student success subcommittee meeting held over the summer. The subcommittee has developed a questionnaire telephone survey which will go to students before the start of the semester asking if they dropped classes, and if so, why? Responses will provide a basis for conducting research on why students drop out. As Senate President, Dee wrote letters to state legislators regarding the budget situation. A letter was also sent to the President of the State Academic Senate since the cut of state instructional funds directly affects MC=s instructional program. The first Faculty Senate meeting of the year will be held August 30. c. From Faculty Association Vince Piro commented on the devastating blow community colleges were dealt in this year=s state budget. d. From CSEA No one present to comment. e. From Classified Senate Manuel Costa reported Classified Senate elections have been held; however, he has been unable to convene a meeting of senators to ratify the slate of officers. He hopes to announce the officers at the next board meeting. f. From Management Team Sarah Greene announced the members of the Management Council for Nora Payan, Marilyn Scorby, Ron Pirtle, and Sarah. Management Team meetings will be held the Thursday after the regular monthly meeting of the Board. g. Superintendent's Report Dr. Duran announced receipt of a pledge in the amount of $100,000 from Ted Falaso, resident and businessman in Los Banos with holdings in

6 Merced as well. plaza. Funds will be used to assist with financing the student Board members were invited to the opening day convocation on August 17; this years keynote speaker will be Dr. Marvalene Hughes, President, CSU Stanislaus. In addition, trustees were invited to Dr. Duran=s home on August 14 to meet new members of the teaching staff and on August 17 for the back-to-school barbecue for the college community. On August 30 the President=s Circle will hold its annual meeting at Dr. Duran=s home. h. Correspondence Dr. Duran acknowledged receipt of a letter notifying Merced College that two Merced College students (Morgan Dieckmann and Jessica Wood) were each awarded Coca-Cola Two-Year Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each. 10. From the Board for Discussion and/or Action a. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Process to be Used for Handling the Adoption of Revised Board Policies and Procedures Chairwoman Troost reminded board members of the discussion which took place at the Board=s May workshop when board members reviewed a first draft of the Board=s portion of district policies and procedures which were revised using the guidelines provided by CCLC=s policy service. At that time, discussion was held on how best to approach the revision of these policies and procedures. No decision was made and trustees agreed to revisit this item in the fall to determine how the board would like to proceed. The Board Chair offered three options for consideration: 1) to review and act on two or three policies at each meeting; 2) to form a subcommittee that would work with Dr. Duran in reviewing the proposed policies and procedures; or 3) to hold a special meeting for the sole purpose of reviewing policies and procedures pertaining to the Board of Trustees. MSCU (Haden/McCabe) that three policies/procedures be reviewed at each meeting of the Board until completed; the student advisory vote was aye. a. Supervision of Instructional Laboratories At the previous board meeting Trustee Glidden asked for a report on how labs are supervised. His concern was that faculty be present in labs for which they have been assigned load. If labs are being supervised by classified paraprofessionals, the college would be in violation of Ed Code. Dr. Spevak distributed a list of open labs at Merced College and a copy of

7 Ed Code Section pertaining to Aimmediate supervision and He stated the number of open labs maintained by the college creates a staffing challenge but that every time a lab is open for which MC collects FTES, a full-time faculty member is assigned supervision of that lab. There have been alleged instances when an instructor has left the room; however, he personally has never encountered such a situation. Dr. Spevak will be writing a letter to all faculty informing them of the Board=s concern and of the need to follow Title 5 regulations. The memo will stress the importance of proper lab supervision. Dr. Spevak also indicated he and the deans in the Office of Instruction would be conducting spot checks of the labs. 1. Future Discussion Items from Board Members Trustee Haden said he wanted to hear the outcome of the CBRR meetings scheduled in the upcoming weeks, particularly with respect to how money will be allocated in light of the Governor=s actions. He also asked for a report on how the network is doing and what will be done to keep this situation from occurring again next year. Trustee Glidden asked for a report on the dollars that have been spent on the network. Trustee Braxton asked for a report on ASMC and DSS. He indicated this could be done at a board meeting or through an appointment with Dr. Grimsby. Dr. Duran indicated it would be helpful to the administration if trustees would provide more specific information regarding questions or items they would like the administration to investigate or report on. Trustee McCabe asked for a report on the list of items submitted approximately six months ago by a former ASMC President regarding maintenance items needing repair on the main campus; he referred to Science 9 and 10 in particular. Terry Ruscoe responded that a bid is going out for replacement of the seating in these classrooms and that the rooms will be ready for use during the spring semester. Trustee McCabe felt there are liability issues on campus that need attention. The Board Chair reminded trustees that the Board will meet twice in September. On September 4 the Board will convene at 3 p.m. for a goal setting workshop, followed by a budget workshop. At the September 4 th meeting the Board will also conduct its self evaluation. Trustees were asked to complete their evaluation forms and be prepared to conduct the self evaluation on September 4 th. The regular meeting of the Board will be held September 11. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

8 Approved Secretary to the Board of Trustees