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Published on 4/6/2021.

Comments/Board Business

Land Acknowledgement:  Vice President of the Board Carol Mathews read a formal statement that recognizes and respects the Indigenous Peoples as the original stewards of the land that College of the Redwoods occupies. 

We acknowledge that the land on which we are gathered today is unceded territory of the Wiyot people who continue to live and thrive on this land today. It is surrounded by the traditional, ancestral, and present homeland of several indigenous nations including the Hupa, Karuk, Mattole, Tolowa, Wailaki, and Yurok that make up Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.

Member Comments: Trustee Biggin reminded the Trustees of the May 5-7 CCLC Conference.

Board Committee Reports: Trustee Mullery reported that the President’s Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee released the survey to Trustees and appropriate constituent group leadership on April 1. She asked evaluators to complete the survey by April 16. The Board will discuss the survey results in closed session in May. I will meet with the Board in closed session in June to discuss the results.

Trustee Mullery also reported that the Ad Hoc Committee on Student Success met and discussed the scope of their work and requested that certain student success reports be included on the Board’s webpage. Here is the link to the Board’s page with the relevant reports: https://www.redwoods.edu/board

Vice President Mathews reported that the Board’s Audit Committee would meet on May 4, 2021.

Review Mission Statement: The Trustees conducted its annual review of the District’s Mission Statement.

College of the Redwoods puts student success first by providing accessible and relevant transfer, career and adult education of the highest quality. We strive to create an inclusive environment that promotes and values diversity among students, faculty, and staff. We partner with the community to contribute to the economic vitality and lifelong learning needs of our service area. We continually assess student learning and institutional performance which leads directly to the continuous improvement of our curriculum, programs and services.

To achieve its mission, the Redwoods Community College District follows the mission of the California Community College System as determined by the State Legislature.

Trustee Biggin noted that several Statewide constituent groups including the student senate and the academic senate are discussing mission statements. The Trustees agreed to bring the Mission Statement back for review and possible revision in June or July. They will consider the feedback from the statewide groups in their review process.  A revised Mission Statement, codified in BP 1200, will go through the District's constituent review process if the Board decides to revise the statement.

Approve Return to In-person Board Meetings on May 4, 2021: At the March Board meeting, the Trustees agreed to discuss resuming in-person Board meetings. Subsequent to that meeting, I asked the Board to consider returning to in-person meetings starting with the May 4 regular and audit committee meetings.

The Trustees and I understand that people may be concerned about resuming in-person meetings while we are dealing with the COVID virus; however, the county’s vaccine protocol provides a foundation of optimism.  We will follow the CDC and the Humboldt County Health Department’s guidelines on gathering in public spaces. Furthermore, we will maintain a distance of 6 feet between Trustees and limit the number of people in the boardroom.

The Board agreed to resume face-to-face meetings starting May 4. I am very proud that our Trustees are leading by example! We are lucky to have a Board comprised of professionals of integrity and true leaders.

Resolution 779 Affirming Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: The Trustees approved a resolution that recognizes diversity, equity and inclusion and highlights the role that student, faculty and staff play in furthering our equity efforts. I attached the approved resolution to this blog article.

Consent Calendar Action Items

Approve/Ratify Personnel Actions: By Board action, we welcome Matthew Shell (Student Services Specialist III) and Daniel Chick (Assistant Professor, Communication Studies – Del Norte and Pelican Bay) to our college community. We also congratulate several of our colleagues for their reclassifications and employee change of status:

Reclassification

• Elisa Abelleira from Student Services Specialist II to Student Services Specialist IV effective July 1, 2021
• Amy Miller from Account Clerk III to Account Clerk IV effective July 1, 2021
• Eric Naslund from Student Services Specialist II to Student Services Specialist IV effective July 1, 2021
• Taryn Whitaker from Student Services Specialist II to Student Services Specialist IV effective July 1, 2021

Employee Change of Status

• Dave Bazard from Dean, $133,722.81/Annually to Professor, Geology, $112,344.00/Annually effective July 31, 2021
• Peter Blakemore from Professor, English, $112,344.00/Annually to Interim Dean, Math and Science, $133,722.81/Annually effective June 1, 2021
• Paul Chown from Director of Institutional Research, Information Systems, and Institutional Effectiveness, $109,899.38/Annually to Director of Institutional Research, Information Systems, and Institutional Effectiveness, $114,675.57/Annually effective April 5, 2021
• Mike Haley from Interim Dean, Math and Science, $127,528.01/Annually to Interim Dean, Career Education, $127,528.01/Annually effective May 17, 2021
• Rory Johnson from Director, Del Norte Education Center, $97,041.65/Annually to Dean, Del Norte Education Center, $101,854.99/Annually effective April 5, 2021
• Kerry Mayer from Dean, Career Education, $133,722.81/Annually to Interim Vice President, Instruction, $143,612.57/Annually effective May 17, 2021
• Tina Wahlund from Interim Assistant Director, Human Resources, $97,041.65/Annually to Human Resources Manager, $87,294.89/Annually effective April 5, 2021
• Colin Trujillo from Interim Director, EOPS, $68,911.39/Annually to Interim Director, LRC, EOPS, and CARE Programs, $78,903.75/Annually effective April 5, 2021

The Board ratified my acceptance of the resignation of Lydia Leonard-Rhodes (Student Services Specialist II) and Erin Tresidder (ECE Assistant II). They also ratified my acceptance of Professor of David Holper’s request to revise his retirement date to May 15, 2021 and Professor Katie Schoenfield’s request to retire as of June 30, 2021.

Approve Request for Proposals to Revise the District's Facilities Master Plan:  I had originally planned to start the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) revision process a year ago. However, I decided to delay the revision of the FMP to give us ample time to make more progress in the revision of the Education Master Plan (EMP).  

Now that the EMP is well underway under the expert facilitation of Professor Chris Gaines, I believe that it is time to restart the FMP revision process. The Board approved my recommendation to invite proposals from qualified consultants to help us revise the FMP.  Our intention is to have the consultant guide the process and make sure that the revised FMP reflects the College's mission and vision and aligns with the new EMP.

Action/Discussion Items

Monthly Financial Status Report:  Our April report covered the July 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021 period. Here are few takeaways from the report:

• We did not make any budget adjustments since the February 2021 Board meeting.
• Overall, revenues and expenses are less now than last year.
• Salary and Benefits expenses are coming in slightly under budget and lower now than last year. 
• Transfers out are comprised of the following:

  $90,000         Child Development Center

  $50,911         Shively Farm

$645,000         OPEB fund

$785,911         Total

• Revenue contingent transfers out are comprised of the following:

$1,500,000      OPEB fund

   $500,000      Pension Contribution fund

$2,000,000      Total

• The monthly financial status report showed a projected 2020-21 ending fund balance of 10.5%, or $3,287,334.  However, at this time, we will have $5,000,000 in apportionment deferrals.  Therefore, although the fund balance is $3,287,334, we may not have the cash to back it until the deferred payments are received from the State.

Construction Management Services for Creative Arts Request for Proposal Recommendation: The Board approved my recommendation to award the Creative Arts Drop and Replace Project construction management services to Critical Solutions, Inc. (CSI).  CSI has 27 years of project and construction management experience with public sector agencies. Community colleges and K-12 districts have been the firm's primary clients for the last 9 years.

Authorize Sale of Construction Technology Tiny House #01, with an $89,000 listing price and Authorize the President/Superintendent to Accept a Reasonable Offer and to Execute the Required Documents: Our tiny house is done and will be marketed through a local real estate agency. Devon Bollan is a local real estate agent who will assist with this sale. The Board approved the recommendation to give me the discretion to accept an offer that I think it is in the best interest of the District.  Several Trustees expressed interest in seeing the tiny house.  Kerry Mayer agreed to conduct a socially distanced tour of the tiny house following the May 4 Board meeting. She will also make pictures of the tiny house available too.

Informational Reports

Student Success Data: Enrollment by Gender and Ethnicity: The following data was offered as information on the District's enrollment by gender and ethnicity.

Demographics	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21
Male	46%	47%	46%	46%	41%
Female	52%	52%	53%	53%	58%
Other/Unknown	2%	1%	1%	1%	1%
Average Age	27	28	28	28	28
Ethnicity
American Indian	6%	6%	6%	6%	5%
Asian	3%	3%	3%	3%	3%
Black/African American	3%	4%	3%	3%	3%
Pacific Islander	1%	1%	1%	1%	1%
Hispanic	20%	22%	22%	21%	22%
Two or More Races	9%	9%	8%	8%	8%
Other/Unknown	2%	2%	3%	8%	6%
White	57%	55%	54%	51%	53%
DSPS	7%	8%	9%	9%	8%
Unduplicated Headcount	8,459	7,542	7,574	7,605	4,683

Update on Eureka Campus Capital Projects: We provided a brief update to the Board on three of our capital projects.

• The Utility Infrastructure Replacement (UIR) Project is approximately 80% complete with many of the eight smaller projects complete and moving toward final sign off.  We expect to install individual gas meters on most Eureka Campus buildings, complete the fencing at the Waste Water Treatment Plant, and install flooring in the Server Room in the LRC over the next few weeks. The final phase of the UIR project includes the construction of two new 300,000-gallon water tanks and supporting equipment near the softball field and the demolition of the Life Science (LS) and Physical Science (PS) buildings.
• The Creative Arts Replacement Project has received final approvals from the Division of the State Architect and is now at the Chancellor’s Office and Department of Finance for final review and approval to move to the construction bid phase. We anticipate going out for bid in early summer.
• The Physical Education/Field House Replacement Project has moved into the working drawings phase of final design and engineering. We hope to submit the completed drawings to the Division of the State Architect mid –summer with the expectation of permit issuance late 2021.

Administrative Reports

President/Superintendent's Report: Here are a few topics I covered in my written report:

• We will hold our first annual Workforce Summit to support our Education Master Plan revision work on April 9 from 10-noon. Several public and private sector industry leaders as well as CR faculty and staff have been invited to participate. The theme of the summit will be, “What do we need to invest in to better support your industry and the jobs of the future?” 
• Institutional Research and Planning deployed a comprehensive employee satisfaction survey that will be used to inform planning. A similar survey was disseminated to students to measure student satisfaction with CR.
• The screening committee for the Vice President of Student Services reviewed a pool of applicants for the position. The committee agreed to invite 13 candidates for semi-finalist on April 13. 
• We entered into a contract with EMSI to conduct a study on the impact College of the Redwoods has on the economy of the District's service area. The study will measure the economic impacts created by CR on the business community and the benefits the College generates in return for the investments made by its key stakeholder groups—students, taxpayers, and society. Paul Chown and I have had the opportunity to review the preliminary findings of the report. The final report will be released within the next few weeks.

In my verbal comments, I thanked our custodians for the work they are doing to install MERV 11 and 13 filters in most of our buildings in preparation for fall reopening.

I also mentioned that Governor Newsom announced today that California is ready to fully reopen its economy by June 15 if vaccine and hospitalization numbers remain stable. The two specific criteria to fully reopen on June 15 are 1) the vaccine supply must be sufficient for Californians ages 16 and older who wish to be vaccinated and 2) hospitalization rates must remain stable and low. With the full reopening, everyday activities will be allowed and businesses can open with common-sense risk reduction measures, including encouraging vaccinations and mandating masking. When California fully reopens the economy, the tiers will end, but common-sense health measures such as masking will remain across the state. Testing or vaccination verification requirements will remain in relevant settings.

Vice President of Instruction/HR Report: Angelina’s written report included the following information:

• CR's new Career Center is now available for all students. It is physically located in the Learning Resource Center, and it can be visited online at www.redwoods.edu/careercenter. Angelina thanked Montel Vander Hork III, for making this vision a reality.
• We are going to hold the annual plant sale this year in-person, with a COVID safety plan in place, of course.
• Members of Instruction and Human Resources are working tirelessly to recruit and hire two new tenure-track faculty to be the first of that classification to join the ranks for the Pelican Bay Scholars program. Rory Johnson and George Potamianos are leading these hiring efforts with the help of several faculty and staff. 
• The Office of Human Resources (HR) is working with IT and stakeholders to redesign the HR website. This team effort is expected to result in a newly revised website before the end of the semester.
• HR is re-launching the College's Professional Development Committee and EEO Committee with requests for participation from the Academic Senate and CSEA.
• HR is undergoing a review of the College's APs related to employee recruitment and hiring (AP 7120s). The Academic Standards and Policies Committee and HR strongly believe that this work is timely and important to the forward progress of the College. 

In her verbal comments, Angelina thanked the custodial staff for keeping the CDC clean and safe. She also thanked George Potamianos for his contribution to the ACCJC annual report.

Vice President of Administrative Services Report: Julia’s administrative report spoke to the following:

• On March 11th, 2021 the Business Office held the spring 2021 Business Office Training.  The topics covered were purchasing procedures, travel procedures, general ledger codes, budget management, budget reports, accounts payable, revolving cash, and Cal Card procedures.
• To help assist in a smooth fiscal year transition, and to help ensure a timely fiscal year close, Ericka Barber distributes the Fiscal Year Transition Plan to all District employees. Adherence to the plan has played a role in on-time annual audits, and allows for next year purchasing beginning on July 1, or shortly after. 

Interim Vice President of Student Services: Alia Dunphy’s written report included:

• A two a part assessment plan was created to gather quantitative and qualitative data of the transfer student experience.  Incentives for student participation will be provided by HSU.
• We thanked HSU Vice President Dr. Mason Meriwether for inviting CR students to attend the April 14, 2021 discussion with best-selling author Angie Thomas on her book Concrete Rose and the Hate U Give. Ms. Thomas will speak to the heart of race, activism, and social change in America today. She will explain why young black people need to see themselves in fiction—especially as they are forced to see themselves, traumatically and routinely, as the victims of discrimination, poverty, and police brutality. She will also demonstrate why we need more compelling depictions of black girls in art, often lost in discussions of black youth in general.
• Additional efforts of the joint educational partnership include providing Priority registration for CR Transfer Students, extending deadlines for CR Transfer Student Enrollment, inviting HSU admissions counselors to attend the April 20, 2021 CR Counseling and Advising meeting, and recognizing HSU students who are CR transfers at this their commencement ceremony.
• The CR Multicultural and Diversity Center hosted a Virtual Support Space on Tuesday, March 30 from 4-5 pm for Asian and Pacific Islander students, alumni, and colleagues to speak openly, in a safe environment, about their own experiences and reactions to in anti-Asian violence.
• The CR Multicultural and Diversity Center honored the life and legacy of civil rights and labor movement activist Cesar Chavez Cesar Chavez Day on March 31, 3021.

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

• He is working with Julia Morrison, me, and the Foundation's Del Norte Committee on various proposals for 2nd Chance Scholarships.
• He and Rory Johnson met with Del Norte County’s director of Office of Emergency Services (OES) to offer Foundation support similar to what is provided in Humboldt County.
• Major gift/planned giving materials have been finalized, are going into print production, and will be sent to attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors who offer estate planning in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.
• He is leading the COVID Economic Resilience Consortium’s committee on a campaign to promote COVID vaccine adoption in Humboldt County.
• He is working with the Business Office, Sheila Hall, and Executive Director are reviewing all Foundation accounts to close or consolidate inactive accounts.

Approve a Trustee Request to Place an Item on a Future Agenda or Direct Staff to Give a Regular Report: The Board directed me to provide a report on the District’s succession plan. They also asked for a report noting the top five concerns CSEA and CRFO have on reopening in the fall.

Closed Session

The Board approved my recommendation to confer tenure to Professors Bert Hafar, Levi Gill, and Jon Pace. Please join me in congratulating Bert, Levi, and Jon on receiving tenure!