February 2019
BOARD REPORTS
Board Member Debbie Justeson reported on a recent trip that Board members and District leaders took to Washington, D.C. to advocate with federal legislators about issues affecting community colleges. Highlights of the trip included meetings with Sen. Kamala Harris and Rep. Susan Davis, who both indicated strong support for community colleges.
 
Board Member Elena Adams, who also participated in the Washington, D.C. trip, praised the workshops that were held at the Association for Community College Trustees National Legislative Summit on expanding the Pell Grant and promoting student success.
 
Board Member Bill Garrett, also part of the group that traveled to Washington, D.C., noted that the Higher Education Act has its best chance in years of being reauthorized because Sen. Lamar Alexander, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, has announced he will not run for re-election, and wants the act reauthorized before he leaves Congress.
 
Board Member Brad Monroe commented on the trip to Sacramento that he and other Board members took to advocate with state legislators. He said Student Trustees Kyrie Macogay  from Cuyamaca College and Edwin Hernandez Armenta from Grossmont College did an excellent job representing the student voice in meetings with legislators.
 
Macogay reported on her attendance at the Sacramento and Washington, D.C. legislative trips, the Cuyamaca College Powwow, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade. 
 
She also reported that Hernandez was ill and unable to attend the Board meeting. However, she delivered his report, noting the achievements of the Grossmont College drone technology program; spring events for the Umoja program; and the redesign and upgrade of the learning common areas in the Building 70 Tech Mall that will provide a more functional space for students.
 
Board President Linda Cartwright said both the Grossmont College and Cuyamaca College convocations were inspiring experiences. She attended the legislative conferences in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., and also praised Macogay and Hernandez for representing our colleges well.
GCCCD
Governing Board
 Linda Cartwright
Debbie Justeson
Elena Adams
Bill Garrett
Brad Monroe

Student Trustees:
Edwin Hernandez Armenta
Kyrie Macogay

Chancellor
Cindy L. Miles, Ph.D.

Grossmont College
President
Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh, Ed.D.

Cuyamaca College President
Julianna Barnes, Ed.D.

Vice Chancellors
Tim Corcoran, Human Resources
Sean Hancock, Ed.D. Student & Institutional Success
Sue Rearic, Business Services
Next Meeting
The Governing Board's next regular meeting will be held Tuesday, March. 19, at Cuyamaca College's Student Center. The open session will begin at 6:30 p.m. following closed session at 5 p.m.

Site Reports

Meeting agendas are posted on the District website and in the district and presidents' offices 72 hours before regular meetings and 24 before special meetings. 
8800 Grossmont College Dr.
El Cajon, CA 92020 
(619) 644-7010
BOARD ACTIONS
At its February 19, 2019 meeting, the Governing Board:

  • Heard public comments from Research Attorney Nadia Keilani of the National Association for Women Judges praising Grossmont College’s partnership with Las Colinas Detention Facility to offer college classes to inmates. Also heard public comments from Janea Wirig, Grossmont College student; Jamie Shatwell, American Sign Language associate professor and chair; and Jennifer Carmean, ASL professor, regarding the size of the ASL space in the new Arts and Communication Complex at Grossmont College.
  • Approved and scheduled the 2019 Organizational Board Meeting for December 13, 2019.
  • Reviewed updates for Board Policy and Administrative Procedure 5030, Fees; BP and AP 5300, Student Equity Plans; and BP and AP 5530, Student Rights, Grievances, and Due Process.
  • Authorized travel to Washington, D.C. for two Associated Student Government leaders and Steven Hanna to attend the 35th annual National Student Advocacy Conference.
  • Accepted the budget status changes in accordance with Title 5 and the California Community Colleges Budget and Accounting Manual.
  • Ratified the sabbatical leave projects for 12 Grossmont and Cuyamaca College faculty members.
  • Granted authority to the chancellor to file a notice of completion and release of retention for a project bid to Good-Men Roofing and Construction.
  • Granted authority to the chancellor to file a notice of completion and release of retention for a project to renovate Cuyamaca College Exercise Building D and upgrade the audio-visual at the Cuyamaca College Student Center.
  • Ratified a five-year award for Print Center copier equipment.
  • Granted authority for for the the issuing of a bid for ADA improvements to the Grossmont College Track.
  • Granted authority for the issuing of a bid to provide a contract for the ongoing purchase and installation of furniture.
  • Ratified the hiring of Rita Arabo, Student Services Specialist in Outreach at Grossmont College; Caitlin Aragon, Science Lab Technician II at Grossmont College; Vergia Farrow, Specialty Lab Technician III in Sculpture at Grossmont College; Danielle Feliciano, Tutoring Center Specialist at Grossmont College; Sonia Galaviz, Administrative Assistant III in College Maintenance at Grossmont College; Angel Gonzalez, Director, Student Development at Grossmont College; Kayla Houston, Administrative Assistant III in Counseling Services at Grossmont College; Elias Lopez, Student Services Assistant, Senior, in Counseling Services at Grossmont College; Cynthia Nagura, Director, Community and Workforce Partnerships, District Services; Michael Williamson, Executive Assistant IV, Chancellor’s Office, District Services.
  • Ratified the 2019-2021 successor agreement with the American Federation of Teachers Local 1931.
  • Approved the retirement agreement with Chancellor Cindy L. Miles, Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District..

BOARD INFORMATION ITEMS

The Governing Board also:

  • Heard a presentation about the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee annual report given by CBOC board chair Gwen Miller. Miller noted that the District received a perfect score for the transparency of its information about the Proposition V construction bond program.
CHANCELLOR'S REPORT
The Board heard reports from the chancellor and her cabinet members:

Grossmont College President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh discussed a new program the college is offering that provides training in drone technology. The free program is funded by a grant through the U.S. Department of Labor.
 
Vice Chancellor Business Services Sue Rearic reported that the recent heavy rains caused damage and flooding to buildings at both campuses. Construction work on the Performing and Visual Arts Center was not affected by the rain.
 
Vice Chancellor Human Resources Tim Corcoran thanked members of the District and AFT negotiating teams for the work they put in toward reaching an agreement.

Chancellor Cindy L. Miles announced she decided it was time to retire after working in higher education for 30 years, including 10 years here as District Chancellor. She thanked the Governing Board for its support and expressed that she has been proud to represent the District over these years. She plans to remain through the end of 2019 to demonstrate stable leadership during the accreditation process and to allow ample time for selection of her successor.