Published on 3/4/2018.
I want to summarize a few of the key points of the March 6, 2018 Audit & Finance Ad Hoc Committee of the Board and the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees if case you were not able to attend.
The Board's ad hoc committee overseeing audit and financial matters met prior to the regular meeting. Dr. Albert Harrison, Julia Morrison and I discussed several topics with the members of the ad hoc committee. Topics we discussed included the potential revision of the Monthly Budget Report and the tentative and final budget format; simplification of the Budget Development Timeline; and where we are with addressing the ACCJC Recommendations 7 and 8. We also provided an update on the development of a Board Policy related to general fund reserves.
Here's a brief summary of some of the key topics in the regular meeting of the Board.
Board Member Comments. Trustee Biggin spoke about the work Prudence Ratliff and the Community Education Program are doing in Hoopa. President of the Board Mathews mentioned that she attended my open forum on the Del Norte campus last month.
Board Committee Reports. Trustee Emad informed the Board that the Audit and Finance Ad Hoc Committee of the Board met prior to the regular meeting and discussed several topics (see above). Trustee Emad also let the Trustees know that the administration will discuss the new budget format and process during the Special Board meeting on March 20.
Annual Trustees Conference Friday May 4 - Sunday, May 6, 2018. The Trustees approved Trustees' travel to the Annual Trustees Conference.
Chapter 1 and 2 Board Policy and Administrative Procedure Review Process. The Trustees are going to start reviewing the BPs and APs directly under their purview according to the 4-year Comprehensive Review Cycle the District adopted. To facilitate the review process, the pertinent BPs and APs have been divided into three groups and Trustees assigned to each review group. Policies and procedures necessitating revision, by direction of the Board, will be submitted to College Council this next summer.
This work is key in our continued adherence to accreditation standards and eligibility requirements. I am attaching the BP and AP review groups to this Board meeting summary as information.
Approve/Ratify Personnel Actions. The Trustees approved or ratified the employment of Robin Alexander, Account Clerk III/Lead Cashier; Monique Desir, Scholarship Program Coordinator; Hilary Fleming, Student Services Specialist II in Del Norte; Joseph Hays, Research Analyst; Jorge Herrera, Public Safety Officer; Morgan Solem, Administrative Secretary for Career and Technical Education (CTE); and Amber Atkins, Counseling Administrative Secretary.
Several employee change of status actions were approved: Courtney Bishop from fulltime Student Services Specialist IV position in Enrollment Services to part-time Payroll Technician; and Karyn Clark from Student Services Specialist II to Student Services Specialist IV in Enrollment Services. Effective March 1, 2018 Angelina Hill went from VPISD to Vice President of Instruction and Accreditation Liaison Officer and Joe Hash moved from Dean of Students to Vice President of Student Development. Also approved was Kerry Mayer's appointment to the Dean of Career and Technical Education positon and George Potamianos to Dean Arts and Humanities effective July 1, 2018.
The Board also approved the change of status for Jennifer Lee from ECE Assistant I, .393 FTE position to ECE Assistant I at .788 FTE; Garry Patrick from Director, Maintenance and Operations to the Construction Manager; and Steven Roper from Director, Information Technology and Facilities Planning to Program Manager for Capital Construction. Garry and Steven's salaries will be paid by the State capital project funding.
Jose Ramirez and Charles Reed will receive 10% out of class pay to serve as leads in IT and Maintenance (respectively) from March 1 to June 30, 2018.
We are pleased to welcome two new nursing associate faculty to our college community. Cheri Ward was approved as a Nursing associate faculty on the Eureka campus and Blakely Winner as a Nursing associate faculty member at our Del Norte campus.
The Trustees also ratified the resignation of Morgan Reeves from the Financial Literacy Specialist position effective March 16, 2018 and the retirement of Holly Cunningham from the Account Clerk III position effective June 30. 2018. On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Morgan and Holly for their commitment to the college and the students and staff we serve. The District was a better institution because they worked here with us.
Monthly Financial Status Report. The Trustees approved the monthly financial report covering July 1, 2017 through January 31, 2018 (or 58.33% through the fiscal year). We are continuing to budget to transfer $90,000 to the CDC, $50,000 to Shively Farm, $300,000 to the OPEB fund, and $25,000 to our CalPERS/CalSTRS set aside fund. We are on track to finish the fiscal year with the 7.4% fund balance reserve.
Resolution to Support Measure Z Application. Our Board of Trustees, administration, and the campus community identified critical College safety needs, especially after events such as the tragedies at Umpqua Community College, in San Bernardino, California, and in Parkland, Florida. Recognizing the need to protect our students, faculty and staff we submitted a Measure Z application for $268,000 to fund two armed resource officers. This request would continue the MOU with the Sherriff’s Office and augment services by covering additional days with resource officer protection. If a resource officer were unavailable for a particular shift, then CR could use these funds to provide additional coverage through our Public Safety Department. In our minds, during active shooter and mass casualty events, improved protection and preparation will shorten response times and preserve human life. The Trustees approved a resolution urging the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to approve our funding application. I've included a signed copy of the resolution in with this article.
Authorize Sale of Construction Technology House #42. The Board approved of the sales plan for Construction Technology House #42, at 2581 Boone Street in Fortuna and gave me the authority to accept a reasonable offer and to execute the required sale documents. The suggested listing price of $349,000 is recommended.
First Read of Board Policies and Administrative Procedures. The Trustees executed a first read of two policies and three procedures. Administrative Procedure 2220 Committees of the Board was revised to show when the ad hoc committee for the President’s evaluation is formed. The language of BP 2435 and AP 2435 Evaluation of the President was changed to include new language for the semi-annual evaluation process. Additional language was included in BP 2715 Code of Ethics/Standards of Practice to allow some flexibility in when the advocacy process. Administrative Procedure 4021 Program Revitalization, Suspension or Discontinuance parallels the interim AP 4021 already in use.
Budget Study Session. The Board will hold a special meeting—budget study session on March 20 at 1pm to give the administration an opportunity to present the status of the budget for the current year, discuss what we know regarding the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 budget status and the three year budget forecast, and give the Trustees a chance to provide direction to me on the items to be included in the 2018-19 budget. I will post the technical information relative to the budget prior to the March 20 budget study session.
Informational Report: Foundation Report. Marty’s area has been extremely busy lately. Over the past few months tested an online giving campaign “Redwoods Strong” on Facebook using profiles of CR scholarship recipients; launched an employee giving program; hired Monique Desir as the new scholarship coordinator; agreed to co-sponsor a joint CR/HSU Homeless Community Summit on April 25; and received $7,000 in scholarships for the Truck Driving Program.
Informational Report: Student Success Data. The Trustees had a chance to review the Guided Pathways data reports in the CTE Launchboard. The data showed that of a cohort of 651 students who were new to college in 2015-16 418 persisted from term fall to spring semester, 65 successfully completed transfer-level math in one year, 167 successfully completed transfer-level English in one year, 355 successfully earned 6 or more credits in the fall, 141 successfully earned 12 or more credits in the fall, 242 successfully earned 15 or more units in their first year, and 111 successfully earned 24 or more units in their first year.
The data also showed that CR students are completing transfer-level math and English is almost identical to averages across the state. The statewide completion of transfer-level math was 10% and CR student completion of transfer-level math reached 10%. The statewide completion of transfer-level English was 25% and CR student completion of transfer-level English was 1 percent better at 26%.
Informational Presentation: Nursing Program Update. Dr. Alison Pritchard, our Director of Health Occupations, provided an update on the District's Nursing Program. Alison discussed our the Associate Degree Nursing and LVN Programs, the potential Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing at HSU, the CR LVN-RN Program in Del Norte, and the challenges we will face as we move forward.
The Trustees were very engaged in the conversation and clearly demonstrated their commitment to making sure our Nursing program has the tools it needs to meet community demand.
Organizational Report: CRFO. Professor Mike Haley thanked the Trustees for continuing to agendize CRFO in the board meeting.
Organizational Report: CSEA. Tami Engman informed the Board that she sent me a request to have the Board of Trustees formally recognize the tremendous work of our classified staff colleagues. A resolution to that affect will be included in the April Board of Trustees meeting agenda.
Tami also mentioned that she was selected to participate in a leadership professional development program. Thank you to the CSEA membership for supporting Tami’s application and congratulations to Tami!
Organizational Report: Management Council. Kintay Johnson highlighted the successful Auto Body Collision Repair class. Fifteen students enrolled in the inaugural class with nine graduating with jobs in hand! The next class will run from March 26 to June 29, 2018.
Organizational Report: Student Trustee. Zach informed the Board that ASCR has been working on solutions to student food insecurity and homelessness. He also let the Trustees know that ASCR worked with Joe Hash and Jordan Hamill to convert the Mendocino Hall dorm lounge into a general ASCR/student space.
Organizational Report: President Report. In my written report to the Board, I recapped the State budget process and summarized the three legislative bills that are particularly important to College of the Redwoods and two budget trailer bills the Department of Finance released on February 1. I also shared the white paper Area 1 Presidents (Butte College, College of the Redwoods, College of the Siskiyous, Feather River College, Lake Tahoe College, Lassen College, and Shasta College) sent to the Chancellor's Office relative to the proposed new funding formula.
Organizational Report: Vice President of Instruction Report. In Angelina's written report, she discussed the District’s College Access Program where first-time students who apply to CR for Fall 2018 and/or Spring 2019 will have their enrollment fees waived. To qualify, students must be a first-time college student, a California resident and take 12 or more units per semester. For your information, students who took classes at CR while still in high school will qualify as first-time students.
She also discussed the 2nd Annual Tutor Training Day on Saturday, February 10. Angelina wrote that: “The training program is truly a collaborative effort. Instructional faculty, counselors, and student development staff worked together to make the event a success. I have heard a desire for a comprehensive and centralized tutor training program since I first started working at CR, and I am so appreciative of everyone who made it a reality.” I second that!
In closing the meeting, Trustee Emad led the Board in recognizing Dr. Angelina Hill for her work as the Vice President of Instruction and Student Development. We are truly lucky to have someone of Angelina’s intellectual prowess, competence, and talent working at CR. On a personal level, I am lucky to have her as an executive colleague. I can't imagine doing this work without her!