April 2020
BOARD REPORTS
Board members, meeting by Zoom, praised district employees for adapting to the remote learning and working environment. Board President Linda Cartwright thanked faculty and staff for their hard work, flexibility, and patience. Board Members Debbie Justeson and Elena Adams said they looked forward to the time when the board can meet in person again.

Board Member Bill Garrett reported on a San Diego and Imperial Counties Community College Association Trustees meeting that he virtually attended. He also praised the colleges and the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges for providing financial support to students affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Board Member Brad Monroe complimented Grossmont College Culinary Arts Coordinator James Foran for winning on an episode of the Food Network show Chopped! He also acknowledged two Cuyamaca College students for their efforts to create ‘ear savers’ that are used by essential workers who wear masks.

Grossmont College Student Trustee Amy Bianchi attended a virtual college Student Services meeting, while Cuyamaca College Student Trustee Sonia Mendoza-Reyes gave a shout-out to the students who will be having a virtual commencement in June to mark their graduations. The Student Trustees also expressed appreciation for all of the support that the colleges have been providing to students.
BOARD ACTIONS
At the April 21, 2020 meeting, the Governing Board:

  • Changed the starting time of Governing Board meetings to 4:15 p.m. When a special workshop is held, the workshop will begin at 4:15 p.m. and the open session of the board meeting will begin at 5 p.m.
  • Approved an updated version of the Districtwide Goals and Strategic Priorities for 2020.
  • Selected the nine candidates for the California Community College Trustees Board to receive votes from the Board.
  • Reviewed and approved the 2019-2020 Student Trustee Privileges.
  • Amended the bylaws of the District’s Auxiliary Organization.
  • Adopted an updated resolution declaring an emergency as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. A previous version of the resolution was passed on March 18.
  • Approved course, certificate, and degree changes for Cuyamaca College.
GCCCD
Governing Board
 Linda Cartwright
Debbie Justeson
Elena Adams
Bill Garrett
Brad Monroe

Student Trustees:
Amy Bianchi
Sonia Mendoza-Reyes


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
Sean Hancock, Ed.D. Student & Institutional Success
Sahar Abushaban, Business Services, Interim
Next Meeting
The Governing Board's next regular meeting will be held Tuesday, May 19. The open session will begin at 4:15 p.m., with closed session to follow.

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
  • Approved an annual expenditure plan for the Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act of 2012.
  • Approved issuing a bid for the Grossmont College Science Math Career Tech Complex relocation of restroom utilities.
  • Approved awarding a bid to Bingham Construction Co., Inc., for the Grossmont College orchestra shell in the Performing and Visual Arts Center.
  • Approved release of retention for Grossmont College infrastructure Buildings 36 and 41; Cuyamaca College Building H renovation; and Grossmont College track ADA improvements.
  • Approved reducing retention to 1% for Grossmont College Interim Swing Space utilities because the work is nearly completed.
  • Approved awarding a bid to SWCS, Inc. for improvements to the District Services Program Management and Facilities trailer, renovations to District Services Building 80, and upgrades to security alarms.
  • Approved awarding a bid to 2A Construction Corporation for renovating the play area at the Grossmont College Child Development Center.
  • Approved personnel actions.
  • Approved salary increases for confidential administrators noting the increase was initially approved by the board along with other groups in December 2019.
CHANCELLOR'S REPORT

Chancellor Lynn Neault expressed her deep gratitude for employee efforts to quickly transition more than 2,200 classes and support services to remote delivery. She noted that faculty, classified professionals, and administrators have all contributed to the effort so that students can continue to be served, all while maintaining a focus on access, equity and success.

Neault, Grossmont College President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh, and Cuyamaca College President Julianna Barnes highlighted several noteworthy examples of events and accomplishments during the transition, stressing that these represented only a small number of many more:

  • The District has gone virtual, including classes, president’s town halls, training, meetings and student forums that are being held on Zoom.
  • The Remote Report, a daily newsletter put out by Anne Krueger and Della Elliott in the District’s Marketing and Communications office, has helped to keep employees connected. A popular feature in the Remote Report is My Home Office, in which employees describe their working conditions.
  • Grossmont College’s Respiratory Therapy department loaned 18 ventilators to two local hospitals and the state Office of Emergency Services.
  • Grossmont College Chemistry Instructor Jeff Lehman, in his capacity as a disaster relief responder, spent three weeks assisting passengers on a cruise ship with a coronavirus outbreak.
  • Grossmont College nursing faculty and staff sewed masks out of outdates uniforms that will be used by essential employees at local health care providers.
  • Cuyamaca College students Nicholas Snyder and Dillon Johnson used their 3D printers and skills they learned at Cuyamaca to create ‘ear savers’ for hospital workers who must wear masks all day.
  • When supplies were unavailable from vendors, Cuyamaca College custodians created 50 hand sanitizing stations that were used around the campus before the shutdown and will again be used when the campus reopens.
  • Cuyamaca College Vice President for Student Services Jessica Robinson helped hand out laptops with VPN to employees from her car in the parking lot of the college.
  • The District and college Information Technology departments set up remote access for more than 400 employees; prepared more than 100 laptops; extended help desk support hours; adjusted the new phone system to handle calls off-site; and is working to program Colleague to handle student Excused Withdrawal requests.
‌