Board of Trustee Meeting

Dear Colleagues,

The Board of Trustees began open session on Tuesday, March 19 at 5:40 pm and it ended at 11 pm. Below are some highlights..

• ​During public comment, Bea Herrera spoke as a faculty member. She expressed concern over the presence of management at the VC Academic Senate when this group held a meeting with members of the Board of Trustees. Bea stated it created a chilling effect since it appeared the express purpose of the manager was to record the exchanges between BOT members and faculty. Later in the evening, this was re-visited when Trustee Torres said she was at that meeting and would have appreciated the chance to talk with faculty without a manager present. Trustee McKay responded that Academic Senate Meetings are public meetings under the Brown Act and no one can be excluded.  It appeared to me that Trustee McKay was missing the point. While technically correct, this type of behavior by management does not foster a climate of trust.
• I spoke at public comment for AFT 1828. An agenda item was a revision of the Board Officer rotation policy. Board Officers are the Chair and Vice-Chair. This new revision would require an additional layer of profession development in order for a Trustee to be rotated into those positions. Since we have two new Trustees, this revision was an unnecessary restriction and should not be added to the existing policy because it would block duly elected Trustees from fully participating in their new positions. This agenda item was eventually tabled for further discussion at the next BOT meeting.

• VC Michael Shanahan who is leaving to assume a position with a non-profit organization (4kids 2kids in Ventura) received recognition for his service to the VCCCD by the Chancellor and many others in attendance.

• The AFT Health Benefits Chair, Steve Hall, and the SEIU Chief Stewart, Maria Urenda, provided a presentation on Health Benefits. I previously sent out email about this presentation and several interested faculty where in attendance. While this topic is highly nuanced with multiple providers and different options, this presentation was extremely well done. The prospect of a new health provider (CalPERS) was contrasted with current plans in an objective manner. Both presenters addressed some of the pros and cons of the different options. In terms of CalPERS, it was clear not all the issues have been fully addressed at this point. Steve also pointed out the fact that the current Anthem Plan "pooled" risk factors between two different employee groups that resulted in rate increases that were not in line with past practices. This was never communicated to the Health Benefits Committee. After the presentation, and during various breaks in the meeting, I often heard praise from others on how clear this complicated issue was explained. Rest assured, this is only the beginning of the information flow that will continue on this important topic for all faculty. 

• An in-depth analysis of 2019-20 Budget Assumptions was given by VC David El Fattal. The State continues to send out information in terms of "revisions" to previously announced funding. The bottom line seems to be that as much as 8.5 million in additional funding to the VCCCD (based on performance funding) may or may not materialize. Definitive information should be available in a few months,

• During a continuing discussion on Budget Allocation Models and Infrastructure Funding Models, it was clear that both Trustee Chancer and Torres conscientiously review lengthy agenda documents. Trustee Chancer has previously targeted the 113 account at  BOT meetings which appears to budget for infrastructure needs to each college, but at the end of the fiscal year this money remains unspent and rolled over into the next year. He noted that the current amount in this account is around 22 million. Other members of the BOT also commented on this issue and Trustee McKay felt a more transparent way of reporting on this funding was needed. Trustee Torres also wanted to see more information on the intended purposes for this money. 

• A separate point was raised by Trustee Torres on the "guiding principles" in the Budget Allocation Model. She noted that there was language to provide updated equipment and improvements in physical structures, but no mention was made concerning faculty. In her visit to MC, she heard first hand how highly qualified F/T instructors have left for higher pay and lower cost of living to other colleges districts. She felt a guiding principle for budget allocations should include wording that faculty will be appropriately compensated. This issue received further comments from other Board Members. Trustee Kennedy commented on how well he remembered an instructor from a 1962 High School class in Ojai.  Which reinforces many or our own memories. We all remember instructors who made a difference in our lives for many years after we lose memories of the physical surroundings where this instruction took place. As Trustee Kennedy further expressed, VCCCD faculty are engaged in a "noble profession." The Board asked VC El Fattal to work with the DCAS committee to include a guiding principle that addresses the need to prioritize maintaining highly qualified faculty.

There were, of course, other agenda items including an interesting discussion on live-streaming the BOT meetings. Below is a link to printed agenda items.  When the document opens you can click onto a specific date. When that opens you can click on the agenda item and details will then appear.  

https://www.boarddocs.com/ca/vcccd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=B8QUMA778333

In Solidarity,

Doug Thiel
AFT 1828