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Published on 6/1/2020.

Audit Committee Meeting

Discuss the Latest 2020-21 Budget Forecast: Julia and I discussed a modified 2020-21 budget forecast based on the Governor’s May Revised Budget Proposal. We also discussed a few expenditure reduction actions we’ve identified to address a $1,500,000 budget deficit. I attached the revised 2020-21 forecast to this article.

Tax and Revenue Anticipation Note (TRAN) Discussion: The Department of Finance intends to defer payments to community colleges next year as way to moderate the state’s budget shortfall. In preparation for the state's action, we asked the Audit Committee to provide us guidance on whether we should move forward with a standalone TRAN or go with a CCLC sponsored TRAN as a way for us to bridge funding gaps. The Audit Committee approved the looking at the CCLC sponsored TRAN.  I attached slides from a recent CCLC TRAN webinar that provide some background on this unique funding mechanism.

Consider Making a Recommendation to Board regarding Trustee Stipends: In recognition of the budget challenges facing the District, the Audit Committee agreed to forward an action to the July Board meeting that recommends that the Trustees forego their stipends for the next fiscal year.

Regular Meeting of the Board

Comments/Board Business

President of the Board Dr. Mullery read the following joint Board/Administration message at the start of the regular meeting. I attached the signed joint statement to this blog.

We thought that we had come a long way in dealing with race in this country. However, racism and racial motivated violence has been highlighted with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

We sympathize with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey when he said protestors’ anger was "not only understandable, it’s right.”

We are angry and disappointed. In a nation that formed Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Malcom X, Harvey Milk, Rosa Parks and modern incarnations such as Ashley Jackson and Erika Andiola, racial and gender discrimination persists in America. The George Floyd death last week and the Ahmaud Arbery shooting a few weeks ago are not isolated incidents. These are just two examples of people losing their lives because of the color of the pigmentation of their skin. These acts of violence are extremely troubling and we stand with so many others in this country to condemn systemic and institutional racism when those incidents occur.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a speech delivered at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C on March 31, 1968 spoke about the “appalling silence and indifference of the good people who sit around and say, ‘Wait on time.’” The Board of Trustees and the Administration are together saying that College of the Redwoods is not indifferent to the injustice we see. We believe that leadership is about speaking up for what is right. We encourage you to show support for students, colleagues and neighbors who are feeling sadness, fear and weight of these tragedies. 

To our students, faculty and staff of color please know that the Board and Administration are here to support you. The violent incidents that we see on the news and the instances of racial bias you face every day because of your skin color are not ok.  We recognize that and want to provide a safe, inclusive environment for everyone at College of the Redwoods.

General Public Comments:

Several people made public comment. I was not able to capture all the comments; however, two comments were received via email. I am including those comments below.

Lynn Durkee

Reduction of library positions is short-sighted.

Because not everything is available online, more library staff will be needed to research, scan and deliver information to students who need reliable information for reports and essays.

Eliminating library positions will result in higher mailing costs as the remaining library personnel have to mail books to students who do not live close to the largest CR library, located in Eureka. The smaller education sites will also suffer without local library services. The library provides information and technology not available anywhere else in our county.

Our libraries are essential for community and student research, paper writing and printing.

Kasey Leigh Hiner

My name is Kasey Hiner, I started as a student of College of the Redwoods (CR) at the Del Norte campus, located in Crescent City in 2013. I started as a student librarian in the Federal Work-Study program in 2014. Since then, I have earned two Associates Degrees and worked within the campus library almost continuously. In February of 2019, I went from being the Temporary Library Tech to becoming the Del Norte Campus Library Technician. The Del Norte satellite campus of College of the Redwoods is undoubtedly small, not the smallest CR satellite, but noticeably small compared to the Eureka campus. Despite this fact, the Del Norte campus has an unmeasurable impact on the community of Crescent City- Del Norte County’s only incorporated city. The Del Norte campus shares a parking lot with the local high school and serves as a steppingstone for the many Charter schools dotting the community. Besides the campus library, the Del Norte County Public Library is remarkably small and underfunded with highly limited resources. The two entities regularly work with each other to aid patrons of both.

The Del Norte campus library, albeit small, is a major hub for the student-body. The library provides many services, including but not limited to: textbooks for limited use, computer access for those without or with minimal computer interaction, calculator reserves, various research and technological aids, test proctoring for both CR and outside Universities, as well as access to materials which instructors deem necessary for hands-on learning—all being carried out by one person throughout the day and another person for a few hours in the evening. We have CR Graduates who utilize the CR Del Norte Library to continue their four-year degrees online; we have community members who would only be comfortable pursuing vocational classes because of the support offered in the library; high schoolers routinely dual enroll in classes and take on tutoring positions which utilize the campus library for operations—the list goes on.

The closure of the Del Norte campus Library could see enrollment for the Crescent City Campus drop dramatically. As it stands, the only on-site classes likely to be held on the campus are for the nursing program. Even if all other classes are online, nothing compares to being able to talk to someone in person about a paper with strict research requirements or the frustrating world of formatting. In conclusion, no matter how dire the situation seems, a college is not an institution of learning without a functioning on-site library. Reducing the hours of operations would be the most drastic suggestion moving forward.

Member Comments: Trustee Biggin commented that she enjoyed watching CR’s virtual commencement. She also commented that there are professional development opportunities available to Trustees.

Trustee Kelley commented that he attended a virtual graduation celebration for the Addiction Studies Program.

Board Committee Reports: Trustee Dorn asked that Trustees who have not completed the Board Evaluation survey please do so.

Trustee Mathews reported that the Audit Committee met prior to the regular meeting of the Board and discussed the revised 2020-21 budget forecast. They also agreed to send a recommendation to the full Board in July to forego their stipends and approved moving forward to research participation in the CCLC sponsored TRAN.

Consent Calendar Action Items

Approve/Ratify Personnel Actions: The Trustees took the following personnel related actions:

• Pre-Retirement Workload Reduction: Chris Romero, Professor, Computer Information Systems, effective 2020 – 2021 academic year at 85 percent
• Resignations: Natalie Barbero, DSP Specialist – last day of employment May 15, 2020 and Megan Schroeder, Student Services Specialist IV – last day of employment May 31, 2020
• Retirement: Trish Blair, Professor, Lead Learning Disability Specialist – last day of employment May 21, 2022

Action/Discussion Items

Resolution Continuing Budgetary Authority: We usually present a tentative budget to the Board at the June meeting that gives us permission to start spending on July 1.  However, we decided to delay forwarding a recommendation until July or August since the state will not have a final budget until late this summer. The Board passed the resolution that authorizes us to spend money before the tentative budget is approved.

Monthly Financial Status Report: This report covered our unrestricted general fund revenue and expenditures from July 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020.  The report showed a reduction of approximately $8,200 in the transfer out to the Shively Farm this fiscal year. It also reconfirmed that this year’s budget included the planned transfer of $90,000 to the Child Development Center, $86,177 to Shively Farm, and $520,000 to the OPEB fund.

Review Mission Statement: The Trustees reviewed the college’s Mission Statement. They suggested that the statement include the word "safety". I will bring a revised Mission Statement to the Board in July in the form of BP 1200.

Approve EEO Plan: This item was pulled from the agenda.

First Read of Board Policies and Administrative Procedures: The Trustees executed a first reading of AP 3830, BP 2750, BP 2716, AP 2710, AP 2515, BP 2515, BP 2715, BP 2735, BP 2310, BP 2200, BP 2310, BP 2410, BP 2710, BP 2730, BP 2740, AP 2712, AP 2740, and BP 2315.

Organizational Reports

CRFO: President Haggerty’s written report noted that:

• CRFO has been working closely with the District on MOUs that were needed to enable courses to be taught online in the fall.  
• CRFO had a general membership meeting two weeks ago to answer any questions that faculty have as they are preparing for the move to distance education in the Fall. There is anxiety among the faculty, but everyone is willing to step up and meet these challenges to support our students and the college community.
• CRFO approved becoming a contract college with FACCC. 

CSEA: President Engman dedicated her June report to staff who will be released from the District.

Administrative Reports

President/Superintendent's Report:  My written report noted that:

• The Cabinet members agreed to decline their step increases next year in recognition of the budget challenges facing the District. The savings will be reflected in the general fund, axillary fund, and the Student Equity and Achievement budget.
• Our summer 2020 enrollment is up approximately 15% over the prior year.  We will not have the final enrollment numbers until June 3.

Vice President of Instruction Report: Angelina’s report noted that:

• Faculty and staff are working diligently to offer high quality online instruction and remote student services in the fall.
• Professor of Biology, Wendy Riggs, has worked diligently with Reno Giovannetti and others to develop a site that provides self-paced assistance to faculty so that they can convert their classes efficiently and effectively. 
• Staff developed a Tech Help Line for ongoing assistance to students.
• Student services staff are ramping up efforts to provide quality remote services.  
• We are offering Work 201, a self-paced five-part online course, designed to assist for K-12 educators develop online courses. Angelina verbally reported that Pacific Union, Orick, Cuddelback, Eureka City Schools, Academy of the Redwoods, Loleta, Fortuna Elementary, Jacoby Creek, Blue Lake, and Fieldbrook Elementary have requested that CR’s survey be sent to their faculty.

Vice President of Administrative Services Report:  Julia’s report noted that we are offering a Debt Forgiveness Program to eligible former College of the Redwoods students. We will waive up to $1,500 for the completion of a Chancellor’s Office approved Certificate of Achievement, or up to $2,000 for the completion of a Degree.

Executive Director of Foundation Report: Marty’s report included:

• The Chromebook Lending Library Campaign has raised more than $19,000 to date, and fifty Chromebooks have been purchased. Major gifts were made by Dave & Gaby Somerville and Dan & Cynthia Phillips.
• The Foundation Board is beginning to develop an Adopt a Worker campaign where individuals, businesses, and organizations can sponsor Humboldt County's unemployed workers to return for training and education at CR.
• The Foundation Board passed two actions to generate funds to assist in covering the Foundation’s operating expenses.

Closed Session

Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release:

The board took action in closed session to approve the elimination of certain classified services pursuant to Education Code § 88017. The following positions were eliminated:

• (5)  1.0 FTE         Student Development Advisor positions
• (1)  .86 FTE         Student Development Advisor position 
• (1)  .34 FTE         Instructional Support Specialist I position
• (1)  .32 FTE         Instructional Support Specialist II position
• (1)  .50 FTE         Instructional Support Specialist II position 
• (1)  .69 FTE         Instructional Support Specialist III position 
• (1)  1.0 FTE         Administrative Secretary I position
• (1)  1.0 FTE         Administrative Office Assistant III position
• (1)  1.0 FTE         Student Services Specialist I position
• (1)  .50 FTE         Student Services Specialist I position
• (1)  1.0 FTE         Student Services Specialist II position
• (1)  .60 FTE         Scholarship Program Coordinator position
• (1)  1.0 FTE         Shipping and Receiving Clerk           
• (1)  1.0 FTE         Web Specialist position
• (1)  1.0 FTE         Lead Cashier position
• (1)  .78 FTE         Library Technician position
• (1)  1.0 FTE         Purchasing Specialist position
• (1)  1.0 FTE         Human Resources Analyst position
• (1)  1.0 FTE         Principal Accountant
• (1)  1.0 FTE         Assistant Director, Residential Life position
• (1)  1.0 FTE         Director, Adult Education position

The following positions were established:

• Administrative Office Assistant III        12-month / .50 FTE   
• Human Resources Analyst                  12-month / .50 FTE
• Instructional Support Specialist II        12-month / .25 FTE
• Purchasing Specialist                          12-month / .50 FTE
• Scholarship Program Coordinator       12-month / .47 FTE
• Shipping and Receiving Clerk             12-month / .50 FTE
• Student Services Specialist I               12-month / .25 FTE
• Web Specialist                                     12-month / .50 FTE

An employee was released during their probationary period.