Board of Trustees Report
Trade Tech College
June 30, 2010
Committee of the Whole
Moss Adams, the performance auditors for the bond program, reported to the Board
again. Due to the recent revelations that a number of bond programs are illegal under
Prop. 39, they’re reporting more frequently. Mona Field asked why they hadn’t
communicated until recent months with district bond legal counsel, Lisa Wells, given that
they've been our auditor for six years. Lead partner Chris Mathews said they were in
regular contact with the district legal office, which is the standard audit procedure.
Camille Goulet acknowledged that the poor communication with Wells was in part her
fault. She said the situation had improved considerably. Miguel Santiago wanted to be
sure there were no future problems. Field complained about the terminology of some
report items, which suggested less work had been done than is actually the case.
Mathews will change the language. Overall, he defended his firm’s efforts, and he noted
that the Prop 39 items constitute only .25 of 1% of the bond program.
John Clerx gave a summary of the Student Information System modernization project,
which he’s headed up this past year. SAP was mentioned at the outset, and consultant
Charlie Moran noted that very few community colleges use it even now. Clerx will
continue as a consultant (he retired on Friday). Jorge Mata will take over as the district
executive administrator. Clerx said an extensive modernization of business practices is
underway, owing to the SIS study, with one hundred processes reviewed so far. The
cost for a new SIS is 25% software and 75% implementation. He foresees a contract
awarded by spring of next year, followed by a pilot implementation at two colleges for
one year. It will take up to three years to fully install district-wide. Sylvia Scott- Hayes,
noting how far behind other districts we are, expressed regret that things can't be done
more rapidly. Clerx is determined that we don't make the same mistakes as with SAP,
and, in particular, that we’re sure everything is working smoothly before we go live at all
nine colleges.
Gary Colombo reviewed the recently completed District Governance and Functions
Handbook, with the final text presented to the Board. He said it should be reviewed and
revised every two years. This was followed by a review of the assessment by the District
Planning Committee of the District Strategic Plan. DPC’s conclusions will hopefully be
helpful to Chancellor LaVista, as he makes his own determination of district strengths
and weaknesses. The need to start a new planning cycle was also noted. The thirtythree objectives (grouped under the plan’s five categories) are ranked as "substantially
achieved," "some progress made," and "little progress made." Below are some of the
DPC’s assessments:
Substantially Achieved:

Institute a district-wide student success initiative


Launch a career and technical education initiative
Develop a district-wide culture of planning and accountability
Some Progress Made:



Revisit decentralization and the budget allocation model
Diversify modes of instructional delivery
Implement and use SLO's (77% of courses have been done, 55% of programs)
Little Progress Made:



Rethink basic skills math and language arts instruction
Improve equity outcomes for all students
Expand job placement
I noted that some goals may no longer be feasible, citing "Increase outreach to
disconnected youth." Candaele wondered if we wouldn't be better off focusing on three
or four major goals, rather than have a plan with over thirty.
Among other points, Colombo noted the 500% increase in DE offerings over five years,
the 40% increase in foundation grants, and the success of the Administrative Leadership
Program (ALP), as well as FTLA.
A review of this year’s Board evaluation followed. The report consists of trustee self
evaluations and evaluations from college presidents, district senior staff, and resource
table representatives (Senate, Faculty Guild, other unions). Since the trustees were
seeing this for the first time, the discussion was fairly brief. As a first impression,
discrepancies between the self-evaluations and others were noted. For example, 70% of
trustees gave themselves a top rating in terms of “(stating) clearly what (they) expect
from the Chancellor and college presidents in terms of personal qualities, conduct, and
job performance,” but only 15% of those at the resource table agreed.
The Board's retreat in January was reviewed, as was a draft of Board Goals for 2010-11
that Colombo wrote in response. Given the lack of time, there was little discussion about
these, but I noted that one of them, which stated that “the Board will require the district
and district colleges to develop and implement innovative...action plans designed to help
students achieve their educational goals more efficiently...” would be an intrusion into
curriculum, a faculty prerogative. Georgia Mercer suggested it would be better to hold off
on approving any goals until Chancellor LaVista had a chance to review them. She said
that all of the goals could change in three months.
Open Session
The meeting started with a tribute to John Delloro, the director of the Huerta Labor
Institute, who died suddenly June 4 of a heart attack at the age of 38. John McDowell
began the program, recounting Delloro's very impressive teaching at the Trade Tech
Labor Center, as well as his sharp labor organizational skills. McDowell then introduced
a series of speakers, including Kent Wong from the UCLA Labor Center and Joanne
Waddell. The program concluded with a brief video tribute and mention that over $7,000
has already been raised to support his wife and two young children.
Velma Butler complained about the lack of classified participation in shared governance
proceedings (no specifics were mentioned). She also criticized what she sees as the
district's lack of commitment to the Wellness Program established a few years ago.
Acting Chancellor Barrera said a committee would be set up to address this.
A student from City's Environmental Club described the recent Higher Ed Sustainability
Conference hosted by Trade. Over 1,000 attended from UC's, CSU's, and community
colleges around the state, and some of our own students participated.
One item was reported out of Closed Session: Betsy Regalado has been named the
Acting President of West Los Angeles College. She will serve for approximately two
months while an Interim President is chosen. The Interim is then expected to serve for
about a year while the search for a permanent president takes place.
Georgia Mercer gave a short report on the Committee of the Whole (see above). She
noted the "incredible job" done by Gary Colombo on accreditation.
A resolution honoring two retiring classified employees was passed.
A second resolution, calling for the elimination of bond program bench contracts, as well
as strict limitations on "sole source procurement" in the program, was tabled by the
author, Miguel Santiago, so that the issues could be further discussed.
Certificates of Appreciation were presented to the following departing members of the
District Senior Staff: Deb Hirsh, Dawn Bastin, John Clerx, and Gary Colombo. Outgoing
West Los Angeles President Mark Rocha was also presented with a certificate. John
Clerx is the only one who is retiring; all others are either leaving the district for other
assignments or, in the case of Colombo, returning to the classroom.
The Consent Calendar was passed after a few minor questions were answered and after
a discussion about contract items related to Chevron. Eisenberg described them as
"clean up" matters.
A long dispute followed regarding an action item dealing with classified retiree health
benefits, with Butler arguing that coverage was going to be reduced for some of those
living outside the Los Angeles area, unless they're willing and able to pay substantially
more. Barrera and Don Sparks (representing JLMBC) described the action as more of
an accounting adjustment. General confusion ensued, however, and the items were
tabled, pending clarification.
The tentative budget for 2010-11 was approved without discussion.
In response to a resolution before the Board for an energy savings plan at Mission
College, I mentioned that I’d been informed that it had some troubling aspects, and that
it hadn't gone to the Energy Oversight Committee. I added that I’d hoped to discuss this
with Ernie Moreno in advance of the meeting but was unable to do so. I said that I was
not able to be more specific. This led to a motion by Santiago to table the item, but my
comments were challenged by Eisenberg, Judith Valles, and other trustees, especially
Candaele, who characterized my action as "throwing a stink bomb into the room." I
responded sharply (and out of order) that that was not the case. Valles insisted that the
item had gone through regular shared governance review. I responded that shared
governance re facilities at Mission was very problematic, according to Angela Echevveri.
I said that I'd be glad to speak individually to trustees as to why I wasn't being more
specific. The motion to table failed 6-1.
Finally, Chapdelaine announced that Trade had won the Education Design Award from
the Los Angeles Business Council for its two new buildings on Grand Ave.
Field pointed out that the new Whistle Blower Policy would be voted on at the next Board
meeting. This would be for general district operations, not for the bond program, which
has its own new policy.
Comments
The proposed Board goal requiring action to improve our student success numbers
stems from Sylvia Scott-Hayes’s long time desire for the district to offer far more shortterm math and English basic skills courses. She sees short-term classes as a major
step forward. We share her concerns in the Senate, and that’s one reason we pushed to
start the Student Success Initiative in 2004. There is no single answer to the problem,
however, and short term classes have vehement critics as well as proponents. In any
case, while the abysmal numbers cry out for action, dictating it from above won’t work.
We need to work together.
I probably shouldn’t have said anything at the Open Session about that Mission item,
given that I wasn’t free to be specific (nor am I free here). It’s a $4.5 million contract,
however, and I just couldn’t sit there and not say anything. Hopefully, we won’t have
more of these rocky moments. I had a very good conversation with Kelly Candaele after
the meeting, and we both have a much clearer sense of each other’s perspective now. I
will back up my comments at a later date.
All the best,
David