April, 2021 Courier

April 2021

EAST COUNTY EDUCATION ALLIANCE

JOINT BOARD MEETING

Members of the Governing Boards for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, Grossmont Union High School District, and the Mountain Empire Unified School District met jointly to review the progress of the East County Education Alliance and to reaffirm their commitment to the Alliance.

The Alliance was formed in 2014 to promote college and career readiness for East County students. It also encompasses the Grossmont & Cuyamaca College Promise, which provides free tuition at the colleges to first-time, full-time students. The Promise now has a duplicated head count of almost 5,400 students, up from about 1,400 two years ago.

GOVERNING BOARD MEETING

BOARD REPORTS

Board Vice President Linda Cartwright welcomed new Cuyamaca College Student Trustee Priscilla Ortiz and praised the East County Education Alliance presentation at the joint board meeting.

Board Member Elena Adams said she would like to see more high school students participating in dual enrollment. She noted the guilty verdicts handed down that day in the Derek Chauvin case, and said it is a time for peace and healing and to continue to make changes.

Board Clerk Debbie Justeson said she is glad more articulation is occurring between high schools and the colleges through the Alliance. She shared her own experiences with dual enrollment and said it is important to maintain relationships with the high schools so that more high school students can be encouraged to continue their education.

Board Member Julie Schorr said she has spoken to many colleagues at the Grossmont Union High School District about dual enrollment, and all favor it. Schorr extended her thanks to classified professionals and acknowledged the events held during Classified Professionals Week. She also attended several online activities held by the colleges during DEI Awareness Month. Schorr also noted that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. She attended the virtual East County Gala, where the District was honored.

Grossmont College Student Trustee Benjamin Blevins welcomed new Student Trustee Priscilla Ortiz and congratulated the three finalists for the Grossmont College presidency. He is a student in Political Economy, and was pleased that the program is being spotlighted at the board meeting.

Cuyamaca College Student Trustee Priscilla Ortiz attended numerous college events, including a spring planning and evaluation workshop, an advocacy session with legislators, and a civic engagement leadership workshop. She also noted other events at the college, including the Cuyamaca Cares Pantry food distribution, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and a workshop she attended on Arab perspectives.

Board President Brad Monroe commended the presentation about the East County Education Alliance, and said he is glad to see that the number of students in the Promise program has grown.

GCCCD

Governing Board

Brad Monroe

Linda Cartwright

Debbie Justeson

Elena Adams

Julie Schorr

Student Trustees:

Benjamin Blevins

Priscilla Ortiz

Chancellor

Lynn Ceresino Neault, Ed.D.

Grossmont College

Interim President

Marsha Gable, Ed.D.

Cuyamaca College President

Julianna Barnes, Ed.D.

Vice Chancellors

Tim Corcoran, Human Resources

Sahar Abushaban, Business Services, Interim

Next Meeting

The Governing Board's next regular meeting will be held Tuesday, May 18. The open session will begin at 4:15 p.m., with closed session to follow.

Meeting agendas are posted on the District website 72 hours before and 24 hours before special meetings.

Site Reports

Grossmont College

Cuyamaca College

Facilities Status Report

8800 Grossmont College Drive

El Cajon, CA 92020

(619) 644-7010

www.gcccd.edu

BOARD ACTIONS

At the April 20, 2021 meeting, the Governing Board:

Administered the oath of office to Priscilla Ortiz, the new Cuyamaca College student trustee.
Heard a presentation highlighting the Grossmont College Political Economy program from Shahrokh Shahrokhi, Chairman of the Political Economy Department, and Professor Richard Crespo.
Approved a resolution affirming the Governing Board’s commitment to the reform strategy to improve diversity in hiring, which will improve student success and close equity gaps in achievement.
Approved a resolution in support of declaring April as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awareness Month at California’s community colleges.
Agreed on the District’s votes for seven candidates for the California Community College Trustees Board of the Community College League.
Reviewed the rules and regulations regarding student trustee compensation and privileges in BP 2015.
Developed and updated Board Policy 3410, Nondiscrimination; BP 4500, Student News Media; BP 7320 Fingerprinting; and 7510, Domestic Partners.
Approved the College and Career Pathways Partnership Agreement with the Mountain Empire Unified School District.
Approved the College and Career Pathways Partnership Agreement with Helix Charter High School.
Approved student fees for Fall 2021.
Approved additional audit requirements for Proposition V bond funds, as recommended by the San Diego County Taxpayers Educational Foundation.
Approved a notice of completion for the Grossmont College Performing and Visual Arts Center.
Ratified an award to Soltek Pacific Construction Company. for construction of the Grossmont College Career Tech Complex Building.
Approved a notice of completion for the Grossmont College Science, Math, Career Tech Complex relocation of specialty restroom utilities.
Approved personnel actions.
Ratified the nomination of Cindy Emerson, Administrative Assistant III at Grossmont College’s College Planning and Institutional Effectiveness, for the California Community Colleges Classified Employee of the Year Award.

CHANCELLOR'S REPORT

Chancellor Lynn Neault said she is planning is continuing to return to the campuses in a safe manner, with work underway on preparing facilities. She noted the verdicts in the Derek Chauvin case, and said the District will continue its efforts to dismantle racism in an authentic way.

In response to a previous board inquiry, Neault provided information about the salaries and benefits that are provided to employees at the college bookstores. She noted that federal stimulus funds have been used for the cost of any salaries and benefits for bookstore employees.

Cuyamaca College President Julianna Barnes and Grossmont College Interim President Marsha Gable shared the variety of events being held at their colleges this month, which is DEI Awareness Month, and highlighted student stories. Cuyamaca College has a series of workshops, many focused on the Middle Eastern community, that are being held as part of the Culture and Community Circle programs. A giving campaign is also being launched for the college’s Umoja program.

Gable said the month was kicked off at Grossmont at an event in which participants described how they define DEI. The college also had programs to celebrate Arab American Heritage Month. She said the college is digging into its equity data to inform its strategic goals and priorities.