Board of Trustees Report
District Office
December 15, 2010
Committee of the Whole
Moss Adams, our performance auditors for the bond program, presented their quarterly
report. They described the preparation going into the annual report that will be presented
to the Board in early 2011. Due to new government requirements, the audits must now
adhere to stricter standards. Changes will include more checking of internal controls.
They reported that some problems were found but are being fixed (no details were
provided). The meeting lasted only half an hour.
Open Session
Georgia Mercer discussed the recent Board retreat. An outside consultant facilitated,
and roles and practices were reviewed. Tina Park said it served as a bonding experience
for the trustees.
From the resource table, Joanne Waddell offered the Board best wishes for the holiday
season.
I reported that my questions about the accuracy of the student success data that Yasmin
Delahoussaye presented earlier had been answered (see Nov. 17 report,
www.laccd.edu/das). The Vice Chancellor had argued that the Shulock/Moore data was
based on too broad a cohort and that the ARCC data was preferable, since it was based
on a narrower sample. Due to the initial strenuous objections of George Prather, our
head researcher, I disputed that. However, after subsequent conversations with Maury
Pearl, Prather does now concede that the ARCC data produces markedly better results.
I added that in my review, while our transfer rate is significantly lower than the state
average, our student success rate is on a par. Sylvia Scott-Hayes stressed that the
important thing is that our students should be doing much better.
Dan Wright, from the Atwater Coalition, spoke about the legal cases they are pursuing
against the Board.
Miguel Santiago briefly summarized the Committee of the Whole meeting.
No actions were reported out of Closed Session. A resolution in support of Martin Luther
King Week was passed, as well as one honoring retiring five classified personnel (two
with over 33 years in the district each).
Chancellor LaVista began his report with a comment about the continuing VDK Coalition
complaints. He restated his two basic responses: that there is no money at present for a
regular center there, and that, given that reality, the site is being put to good use.
He then introduced Christine Marez, the Inspector General, who reviewed her duties and
plans and then introduced her main staff of three. The position was formally established
on Oct. 6, and her office looks into three areas: performance, financial integrity, and
legal compliance. The IG reports directly to the Board, and is under the chancellor's dayto-day supervision. A draft of a board rule detailing the role of the office was presented.
Trustees had a number of questions, dealing with priorities and communication. Marez
will report back to them in three months. She said that the issues raised in the Capstone
study will be covered in her upcoming audits. LaVista noted that he's impressed with the
progress Marez and her staff have made so far.
The rest of the Chancellor's Report was given over to a Harbor College presentation.
LaVista reviewed the history of the college, noting its current 7,600 FTES and very
diverse student body. Marvin Martinez was praised for taking a proactive stance, setting
up a college summit, for example, with a second one planned for February. Partnerships
are being formed with the aerospace industry, and new grant money has come in, with
one for $2.5 million just announced.
Saying that he wanted to highlight an outstanding program at Harbor, Martinez
introduced two members of the Architecture Department, Michael Song and Scott
Callahan. They each said a little about their professional pasts, then gave an overview of
the department, covering its new programs, its extensive use of technology, the new
Tech Building in which it’s housed, as well as describing how some classes are taught.
Two students also spoke, Melisa Reyes and Sergio Pedroza. The trustees seemed to be
very impressed. They had a few questions, one about the relative lack of female
enrollment in architecture programs district-wide.
The Consent Calendar was approved. Among the items discussed was the agreement to
purchase a more sustainable type of concrete (pervious, recycled, and containing fly ash
are some characteristics). Given the size of the contract, Larry Eisenberg said that it will
lead to considerable savings and will change the concrete industry, not only in the state
but nationally.
The Board agreed to put property at West up for sale. This is the land adjacent to the
new road from Jefferson Blvd. It was bought in 2006-08 and appraised recently at $40
million. Nancy Pearlman expressed regret that the land couldn't be used for educational
purposes, but the college needs the revenue badly, given their bond project overruns.
Laura Gutierrez and Miki Jackson from the VDK Coalition followed. Jackson sharply
attacked the new Inspector General, claiming that she was not qualified and had been
unprofessional in her behavior.
Comments
In the last report I promised some comments about the West LA College bond overrun. I
had intended to make a statement to the Board at this meeting, but decided to hold off,
as I wasn’t able to talk with other faculty leaders in advance. It can wait till a subsequent
meeting.
The presentation by the Harbor architecture professors was really appealing. The
dedication of both the faculty and students was clear, as was their excitement about their
new building. The Board seemed very engaged.
I do wonder if the new concrete contract will have the repercussions Eisenberg is
claiming. I’ll ask about it in Bond Steering.
Happy New Years to all of you!
David
District Academic Senate President
213-891-2294
dbeaulieu@email.laccd.edu
www.laccd.edu/das