The Board of Trustees received a comprehensive report on student financial aid. The presentation was given by Jessica Robinson, Vice President for Student Services at Cuyamaca College, Ray Reyes, Director of Financial Aid at Cuyamaca College; Marsha Gable, Vice President of Student Services at Grossmont College; and Michael Copenhaver, Director of Financial Aid at Grossmont College.
Board members praised the workshop presentation on how financial aid helps to increase student access, success and equity.
Board Vice President Debbie Justeson said she has been a big advocate for providing employee healthcare coverage. She said she has gotten many emails about the current healthcare proposals and asked the Chancellor to provide information to employees to clarify some of the misinformation she has seen. She said the board is listening to the concerns of classified staff.
Board Clerk Elena Adams said she is glad to see that the Financial Aid departments are offering financial literacy information to students. She received the district’s Annual Report and said it was delightful. Adams said she is wearing her Dreamer button to support undocumented students.
Board Member Bill Garrett noted that enrollment is down at the district, and asked for a comparison with other community colleges in the region and statewide.
Board Member Brad Monroe urged everyone to register to vote. He commended the presidents’ reports that highlight happenings at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges.
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GCCCD
Governing Board
Linda Cartwright
Debbie Justeson
Elena Adams
Bill Garrett
Brad Monroe
Student Trustees:
Benjamin Blevins
Robert McClain
Chancellor
Lynn Ceresino Neault, Ed.D.
Grossmont College
President
Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh, Ed.D.
Cuyamaca College President
Julianna Barnes, Ed.D.
Vice Chancellors
Tim Corcoran, Human Resources
Sahar Abushaban, Business Services, Interim
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Next Meeting
The Governing Board's next regular meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 10. The open session will begin at 4:15 p.m., with closed session to follow.
Site Reports
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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
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Cuyamaca College Student Trustee Robert McClain also urged everyone to vote. He said he is working with the Umoja program for Black Consciousness conference being held October 21. McClain said more clubs are starting to hold virtual meetings for their members.
Grossmont College Student Trustee Benjamin Blevins said numerous get out the vote activities are being held at the college. He said he was happy that public wifi is being offered for students at the colleges.
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Board President Linda Cartwright said she attended the virtual Association of Community College Trustees conference, which featured topics including legal issues during the pandemic, the community college baccalaureate and food insecurity. She also attended the media event at Cuyamaca College about the goats that are being used to clear brush.
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At the Oct. 13, 2020 meeting, the Governing Board:
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Heard public comments from John Ryland, (check spelling) the father of an employee; and Patty Sparks, CSEA President, about budget issues. Natalie Ray, Grossmont College counselor, spoke about the need for everyone to work together to move forward.
- Approved Resolution 20-023 declaring October 19-23 as Undocumented Student Action Week.
- Approved updates to Board Policies 4235, Credit for Prior Learning; 5010, Admissions and Concurrent Enrollment; 5020, Nonresident Tuition; 5030, Fees; 5040, Student Records, Directory Information and Privacy; 5050, Student Success and Support Program; 5520, Student Conduct Procedures; 5530, Student Rights and Grievances.
- Approved the 2020-2021 Adoption Budget. The budget is balanced with $10.8 million in budget reductions and includes a 4% reduction in anticipation of a midyear cut.
- Approved the annual renewal of the Child and Adult Food Care Program at Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges.
- Approved public works projects.
- Approved personnel actions.
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Heard an annual activities report of the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges by CEO Sally Cox. This year was a top fundraising year for the foundation, with more than $869,000 raised by private donors.
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Chancellor Lynn Neault reported that the San Diego Taxpayers Foundation gave a high rating to the District for its bond transparency. The District was one of 17 school and college districts that received an A-, the highest grade given this year.
Neault said the District is planning to offer mostly remote classes in the spring, with some classes being offered on campus that are hard to deliver online. The state has issued updated guidelines for higher education including defining the capacity for classes and group gatherings based on the county’s COVID-19 tier, and updated requirements for athletics.
Neault said the District will be moving forward with the Supplemental Early Retirement Plan (SERP), which will be brought to the board on October 27. Thirty-five employees are participating in the SERP, fewer than the more than 50 employees that had been expected. The early retirements will save the District about $670,000 in the first year, which is much less than the anticipated $2 million initially projected. The decreased savings are because fewer people signed up to participate, and seven employees who are retiring are in categorical programs that come from restricted funds. In addition, some of the critical positions will need to be filled.
With the retirement of Grossmont College President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh, Neault said the college will have an interim president between January and June, with plans to select a permanent president by July 1.
Cuyamaca College President Julianna Barnes said almost 300 goats are being used to clear about 50 acres of brush at the campus for fire mitigation. A recent small fire at the campus demonstrated the need for clearing brush, she said.
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Grossmont College President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh highlighted activities being held at the college for Latinx Heritage Month and Filipinx American History Month. He noted that the college was recognized by Hispanic Outlook in Education magazine for ranking 55th in the country for the number of associate degrees awarded to Hispanics/Latinx and 65th for Hispanic/Latinx enrollment in 2018-19. Abu-Ghazaleh also showed a video of him skydiving with the U.S. Army Golden Knights, showing the college’s close relationship with the military and veterans.
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