Summary of the August 5, 2025 Board of Trustees Meeting
Published on Aug 5 2025I want to provide a summary of the August 5, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees. I only touched upon a few items, please read the minutes of this meeting if you want to know the details of each specific agenda item.
Consent Calendar Action Items
I want to thank the Board for approving the employment of four new classified staff members, sixteen new associate faculty, and one manager. Angela Cook (Instructional Support Specialist III – Lab Tech), Cheyenne Ty (Programmer Analyst), Aura Weis (Administrative Office Coordinator, Health Occupations) and Anna Banuelos (Early Childhood Education Assistant I) will join our college community as our newest classified staff colleagues. Sixteen new associate faculty will join our faculty cadre in fall 2025: Caitlyn Toogood-Reynolds (Nursing), Tonya Rott (Healthcare Ancillaries), Gian Tuccori (Coaching), Rachel Evans (Coaching), Garett Montana (Coaching), Konrad Kisch (Coaching), James Holland (Counseling), Rebekah Wilson (DSPS), Henry Solares (Anthropology), Tatum Loso (Psychology), Robert Child (Biology), Kristina Devenport (Biology), Laura Black (Nursing), Gretchen Hillman (Nursing), Douglas Hartling (Drafting), and Daniel Friedman (Biology). Jason Maki will serve as the permanent Director of Housing Operations. Jason has been serving in the interim role for two years.
I want to congratulate seven of our colleagues for their change in employment status. Kelly Carbone will move from Assistant Professor, Counseling Title IVA – TRIO to Assistant Professor, Counseling, Kevin Crotty will receive out-of-class pay to perform some duties of the Administrative Office Coordinator between July 1, 2025 to September 15, 2025, Kayla Hansen will receive out-of-class to perform Associate Vice President of Human Resources duties between July 1, 2025 – August 15, 2025, Sara Klobucar will move from Administrative Secretary II to Payroll Technician, Christina Morse will move from Enrollment Services Advisor, Admissions and Records to Enrollment Services Advisor, Dual Enrollment, Katelynn Towns will receive out-of-class pay to perform higher level duties for Dual Enrollment between February 15, 2025 and September 1, 2025, and Jennifer Machin will move from Administrative Secretary II TRiO to Student Development Advisor Pelican Bay.
The Board ratified my acceptance of two retirement requests. Alexandra Baker will retire from her Student Services Specialist IV position effective October 31, 2025. Barry Tucker (Student Development Advisor) will retire on December 1, 2025.
Our first Measure I bond project report was included in this meeting’s agenda. If you remember, the Board authorized the use of $120 million of our bond proceeds to support mission critical projects. There are two critical projects currently in progress. The $95 million Eureka Campus Student Housing Project as well as the $20 million Del Norte Healthcare and Revitalization Project are in various stages of development. The two projects will cost about $115 million. However, if we use the $28.4 million in State funds that Senator McGuire was able to secure for us and we keep the costs for the Student Housing and Del Norte projects within established budgets, we may have several million dollars of bond funds available for additional projects.
There are three projects that we have identified as a high priority for funding if funds are available. We want to build a baseball/softball field on the Eureka Campus, complete Phase II of the community stadium renovation, and take down the Old Administration and Forum buildings on the Eureka Campus.
Informational Reports
I recognized Associate Faculty Wendy Butler and the Adult/Community Education department for providing transformative education opportunities to inmates in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and our Fire Technology program for being featured in the ACCJC’s new paper “Building a Future-Ready Workforce: Highlighting Best Practices in ACCJC Member Institutions” as an example of how CR’s innovative partnership with CAL FIRE is meeting workforce needs. I congratulated Johanna Helzer for attaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Western Governors University. I neglected to include a recognition of Gussie Solem for completing her master’s degree in organizational leadership from Eastern Washington University this summer in my written report. I am corrected that oversight in my verbal comment.
Leslie Marshall provided an incredibly detailed capital projects update to the Board. What follows is a summary of a few of the projects:
- The design for new student housing on the Eureka Campus has been submitted to DSA and received its first round of comments back. The project will be resubmitted in conjunction with the Solar Microgrid Project for further review. The bid process is expected to commence Fall 2025. We would like the construction to begin in April 2026.
- tBP has been engaged as the architect for the Del Norte Healthcare and Revitalization Project. The design team’s project scope includes: demolishing the four existing end-of life-portable buildings; building a new 8,240 square feet of building space that incorporates space for several nursing related program needs as well as three faculty offices, one flex Associate Faculty Space to accommodate 2-4 workspaces, and restrooms, and a lactation room; replacing the HVAC for the DM & DA Buildings; renovating DA 4 & 5 for the Pelican Bay Program that has an open administrative and library space, one office, and one storage room; renovating DA 1 to include faculty offices; renovating/reconfiguring the current SASS/Light Center entrance from LRC for ADA access; renovating the DM & DA restrooms for ADA access and renovating the Student Commons Space to include the Basic Needs Pantry, Study Lounge, Collaborative Meeting Space, flexible furnishings in main rooms, and outdoor seating in Quad.
Leslie and representatives from tBP will discuss the draft designs and construction timeline with the Del Norte Campus faculty and staff on September 2, 9, and 16. It is important that the work is completed as soon as possible, and the project stays within the amount of bond funds budgeted. I would like to submit the designs to DSA by the end of the fall semester. Any delay in gaining DSA approval for the design and completing construction work will result in higher material and labor costs.
- Broward Construction has started work on the PE Gymnasium/Fieldhouse soldier pile retaining wall at the fieldhouse site and is beginning to lay out the foundation and utilities for the gymnasium building. The final completion of the buildings is estimated for the end of July 2027 and the demolition of the current Gym and Fieldhouse in October 2027.
- S&B James is close to completing the remediation work on the Del Norte Main Building.
- The Community Stadium Upgrade project is approximately 95% complete. We expect to complete the installation of track rails and pole vault bolt this month.
There has been a lot of political and media attention focused on preventing financial aid fraud in higher education. Although financial aid fraud is a concern, made more challenging with the growth of artificial intelligence, financial aid fraud at CR is low thanks to the outstanding work of our Admissions and Financial Aid colleagues: Lauren Larsen, Marlia Luzier, Christina Morse, Ashley O’Hanen, Hart Mendenhall, Samantha Broadstock, Andre LaRocque, Shawn Murphy, and Eric Naslund. Tiffany Schmidtke (Director of Admissions and Financial Aid), Anna Duffy (Manager, Financial Aid), and Courtney Sousa (Manager, Registration Services) discussed the College’s efforts to prevent admissions and financial aid fraud. We have done a lot of work to reduce the number of fraudulent admissions and the incidence of “ghost” students receiving financial aid. Below is a summary of financial aid disbursed to students who were later reported as suspected fraud cases (due to identity theft).
- During the 2023–24 Academic Year, twenty-four cases were suspected of being fraudulent. Of the 24, 22 were admitted before June 2023. Only $98,374 was disbursed to these students. This only represents 0.74% of all Pell Grants, Cal Grants, SSC, and loan disbursements.
- During the 2024-25 Academic Year 2024–25, five cases were suspected as fraudulent, four of which were admitted before June 2023. Only $23,520 was disbursed to these students. This represents 0.13% of all Pell Grants, Cal Grants, SSC, and loan disbursements.
Organizational and Administrative Reports
Academic Senate President Bernadette Johnson welcomed Wendy Riggs, Professor of Biological Sciences, to the Academic Senate Vice Presidency for 2025-26. She noted that
Wendy has served in many roles at College of the Redwoods including exceptional leadership in Distance Education, particularly assisting faculty in swiftly learning how to “keep teaching” during the COVID -19 Pandemic. Wendy is known to be student centered, enthusiastic and dedicated. I am thrilled to have her by my side this year as we face a rapidly changing system of higher education. CSEA President Rachel Warze summarized the things she learned at the CSEA annual conference this summer. Management Council President Leigh Dooley noted that the Management Council is developing a needs assessment survey for their members to ensure that activities are aligned with member needs and expectations. Student Trustee Dalila Shelton summarized several of the actions taken by the ASCR recently including approving funds to participate in the CCCSAA Student Leadership Academy, the SSCCC Advocacy Academy and the SSCCC Federal Advocacy Academy. Dalila also presented a proposal to the Board to consider constructing a student-focused building on the Eureka Campus.
In my administrative report I mentioned that Irene Gonzalez will serve as CR’s representative to Equity Arcata and I asked Vice President Julia Morrison and Vice President Crystal Morse to discuss the new buildings we intend to build with an eye to maximizing student space. Julia Morrison was one of the few outstanding California community college administrators selected to participate in the Wheelhouse Advancing Leaders Institute held at the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center July 9- 12. In her written report, she noted that during the three ½ day event, she engaged in lectures from scholars on topics of extreme relevance, participated in discussions with seasoned community college leaders, networked with colleagues from varying professional backgrounds, and engaged in deep self-reflection. A few of the sessions that resonated the most for her were “Before the Presidency,” “Unlearning Silence,” “Rivers of Life,” and “What I Wish I Knew.”
“Before the Presidency” focused on critical decisions that have shaped academics leaders historically and now. “Unlearning Silence,” touched on the power of voice and the power of silence. She and her colleagues were provided with guidance on how to speak our minds and to engage in disagreements constructively. She also learned about the detrimental impact of unexpressed ideas and perspectives. “Rivers of Life” was a self-reflection exercise. Using only a large piece of paper and some markers we had to visually represent the path that got us to where we are today, or our river of life. We were tasked with including the bends, eddies, rapids, milestones, and obstacles we faced on our route to becoming CCC leaders. We then had to share our “rivers” with a partner and then the group. To be in that space and see how her own challenges, shaped by privilege, differed so drastically from those faced by my colleagues with diverse backgrounds was truly humbling. “What I Wish I Knew” was a session that featured reflections from two sitting presidents. Both presidents shared insights and lessons learned during the first year of their presidencies. It was interesting for her to hear from each President the mistakes they had made in their new roles as well as their accomplishments.
Crystal Morse shared that CR has been selected to participate in a statewide community of practice focused on developing and implementing shortened course offerings within a program. Supported by the Success Center at the Foundation for California Community Colleges through a grant from Ascendium, this project will provide funding, resources, and access to experts (including peers) to enhance CR’s shortened course offerings, align with Vision 2030 goals, and lead innovation of colleges in the CCC system. She also noted the number of auto awards we completed in the 2024-2025 academic year. Marty Coelho noted that the Foundation had several new scholarships finalized in July, including: The Palmer Family Nursing Scholarship to support Del Norte County residents majoring in nursing, the McCullough Family Dental Assistant Scholarship to support heads of households enrolled in CR’s dental program, and the McCullough Family Nursing Scholarship to support parents who are returning to college for a second career in nursing.