Budget Assumption Priorities: The Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) forwarded six assumptions to the administration that they believed should be considered as the College's 2021-22 budget is developed.

1. Provide resources to support relevant professional development opportunities and have a responsible party who will assess the effectiveness of what is provided.
2. Identify budget for technology and facilities infrastructure renewal to support instruction and the overall student experience.
3. Identify which Chancellor’s Office provided/free resources are necessary for the District, and secure funding for those resources that will no longer be free to the District.
4. Create a dedicated budget for the funding of Program Review ranked plan resources and clarify for the [district] campus community the budget allocation process for unfunded ranked plan resources.  Ensure the final list of ranked plans is distributed to Program Review authors and posted to the website, and that the steps to acquire the resources for the funded plans are clear.
5. Leverage COVID-19 funding to address the District’s technology and technology infrastructure needs.
6. To the extent that is allowable, use COVID-19 funds for retention, and for outreach to potential students who may not be enrolling due to COVID-19 or to re-engage students who stopped out.

The Trustees reviewed the BAC’s recommended budget assumptions through a very simple lens—the College’s budget should reflect our institutional values. It was from that perspective that the Board directed me to include three additional strategically important assumptions to the budget development process.

1. Increasing the fund reserve to 17% over time.
2. Allocate resources to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
3. Allocate resources toward enhancing the health and well-being, safety, and security across the District.

I agreed to operationalize an Interim BP 2800 that reflects the revised fund reserve target.  I also agreed to include a budget dashboard in the appropriate District budget approval agenda items that shows to what degree the District’s budget satisfies the budget assumptions.

We will communicate the above information to the BAC as well as the IEC.

Results of Ad Hoc Committee Per Board Policy 2715: President of the Board Danny Kelley appointed an ad hoc committee comprised of Vice President of the Board Carol Mathews and Trustee Dr. Colleen Mullery to investigate the alleged violation of Board Policy 2715. After much discussion, the Trustees unanimously agreed that Board members must be careful not to cross the line between appropriate and inappropriate Trustee behavior when interacting with faculty and staff. President of the Board Kelley agreed to form an ad hoc committee to review, and possibility revise, BP 2715.