Minutes 01/27/1998

A regular meeting of the Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board was scheduled to be held at 6:30 p.m. at the District Support Services Center, 2411 West 14th Street, Tempe, Arizona, pursuant to A.R.S. ¤38-431.02, notice having been duly given.

Present

Governing Board
Ed Contreras, President
Linda Rosenthal, Secretary
Nancy Stein, Member
Gene Eastin, Member
Donald Campbell, Member


Administration
Paul A. Elsner
William F. Waechter
Alfredo G. de los Santos Jr.
Rufus Glasper
Ron Bleed
Janice Bradshaw
Raul Cardenas
Larry Christiansen
John Cordova
Art DeCabooter
Stan Grossman
Homero Lopez
Morris Johnson for J. Marie Pepicello
Phil Randolph
Linda Thor
Tessa Martinez Pollack
Arnette Ward


Absent

State Board
Nick Balich


Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by President Ed Contreras.


Executive Session
There was no executive session scheduled to be held.

Pledge of Allegiance
The assembly pledged their allegiance to the United States of America.


Citizen's Interim

Jamie Taylor, representing himself, came forward to address the Board regarding issues at Mesa Community College. He expressed concern regarding 1) graffiti on the campus, 2) the placement of a radar van to reduce the number of speeding vehicles, 3) the inclusion of students in the decision-making process in the selection of a new chancellor, and 4) the difficulty of campus security personnel in finding parking permit decals on vehicles, resulting in unwarranted parking tickets.


Board Member Reports

• Don Campbell - no report.
  
  
• Nancy Stein attended the Martin Luther King Breakfast, the year-end celebration at Paradise Valley Community College, the Madrigal Christmas Feast at Mesa Community College, the groundbreaking for the integrated Library and Math Sciences complex, and was present when MCC was recognized by Cecelia Lopez for their student assessment model. Mrs. Stein also reported that she attended a meeting with Jim Zaharis, Superintendent of Mesa Public Schools and Mary Kay Meyers, a member of the Commission on Excellence Committee. A tour was conducted of some of the elementary and high schools. Mrs. Stein shared the quotes that are present on the pillars of the rotunda of a "quiet sitting place" for students at Las Sendas Elementary School.
  
  
• Gene Eastin attended a student seminar regarding social responsibilities of leadership held at GateWay Community College. Mr. Eastin commended President Randolph and the GateWay students on the quality of the seminar and the participation of the students.
  
  
• Linda Rosenthal reported that she attended the student seminar regarding social responsibilities of leadership held at GateWay Community College and an annual meeting of Westmark, a coalition of West Valley Maricopa leaders, where legislators provided predictions for the 1998 legislative sessions. Mrs. Rosenthal also attended two meetings regarding the Maricopa health initiative at the Faculty Convocation and at a meeting initiated by the occupational deans, and she expressed disappointment at some who appeared to be attempting to slow the process of implementation of recommendations made by the Healthcare Commission. Mrs. Rosenthal made the following statement: "I would like to take this opportunity to remind all that the Governing Board has established several Ends to be implemented. One has to go no further than the End which to speaks to, and I quote, "Students will complete certificate and degree programs with skills appropriate to the current need of employers." The Healthcare Commission work also would apply to our other ends about partnership with elementary and secondary schools and even the universities for an outcome for our students. I would hope that this initiative goes forward in an expeditious fashion. It is time to stop asking questions and get on with it."
  
  
• Ed Contreras made the following inaugural speech as Governing Board President for the calendar year 1998:
  
  "This is the first time I get to address members of the District at a meeting. I actually started preparing for this in the summertime. I met with different people within the District and looked at different areas where change was occurring, where change was not occurring, where we have problems, and then I talked to people in industry, people that I talked to in business, people in the community, in organizations. I wanted to get a sense of where we were at and what I perceived as areas that we need to improve upon that would set the agenda for my year. I first want to indicate my appreciation to the Governing Board members for their vote of confidence in electing me as their president for this year and to the individuals that I have talked to since that election who have given me comments of support in their intention to help me make the best of this year.
  
  In the three years that I have been connected with the District in my travels and in talking to people and hearing speeches from other individuals from outside our District, I constantly hear that we are the leader of the community colleges, that we are the ones to make the change, that we are the ones to set the example. But, that happens to a lot of companies that are considered by others or considered by themselves to be number one. What we can't do is sit on our behinds and not continue to make change or consider ourselves that we have made enough of a difference, have widened that gap, because then there is always that underdog that may pass us by. A perfect example is this past weekend in the Super Bowl. They were almost a two touchdown underdog and they passed them by because they made some changes. We have to look at better process, a more far reaching process than what we've enjoyed over the last twenty years under our chancellor, which has made us into a district that anyone can be proud of. We have to change our direction, we have to change the way that we plan, how we will handle the needs of this community. There is a quote that says, " A successful business is not planning to fail, but instead failing to plan." We see the changes occurring in front of us. We need to start planning. We need to know and understand what those changes are and make our plan for the future so that we survive.
  
  It is an extremely enlightening time that I see myself today. It is almost like the moon and the planets have aligned themselves. We are coming up to the millennium, the year 2000, in a couple of years when things will change when we turn the clock past 1999. One of the changes that's going to occur in the new millennium and is already starting to occur is a change in the revolution. Early on in the history of America, we went through the Agricultural Revolution. Later on we went through the Industrial Revolution and it made some big impacts. People had to look at different ways of making a living. In the future it will be the Knowledge Revolution. The commodity will no longer be oil, gold, soy beans, wheat. It will be knowledge. We are fortunate in that we have a lot of great, knowledgeable people here within the District. We have a lot of innovators. We have a lot of good minds for teaching and providing new methods for teaching. We have to preserve that knowledge that we have. We have to look at new ways of disseminating the knowledge and we have to look at the people we are going to give that knowledge to. Can you imagine that we had all the knowledge in the world and we restricted it to only those select few that we elected to give it to? What kind of world would we have? There are lot of people who do not even understand that revolution that will be occurring or that is occurring now. We must go out and promote knowledge, make it a part of our life. Make it a part of everybody's life in Maricopa County.
  
  We are also facing a change in demographics, not just because more people are moving here, and let me tell you they are moving here everyday, almost by the van loads. We are taking up more land within our community and building on it every day. There are pieces of land that I have seen sit still for twelve years and now its got something on it. There is a piece of land that I remember I thought nobody would build on. It has a sub-station on the corner. How can somebody build something behind an electrical substation?. Well, let me tell you there is a video store and a drug store and people are coming there. We are changing movements within our district, movement of populations, as people move up, get better jobs, they are moving to a better subdivision. It is leaving tracts of land within our central communities where the less fortunate are migrating or left to take what is left. We need to change our methods, look at those changes and address them and our colleges so that we can make our colleges successful in meeting that demand.
  
  We are also facing competition. We already face competition in the vocational areas. We are facing competition on the Internet and by other colleges or individuals, private, that want our customers. The University of Phoenix, Ottawa and that new college that we don't even know about that will be planning a building probably right next door. What we must be is market driven. We must act like a business. We must know what the product is that we sell and add value to it. The value that the University of Phoenix adds to its course is time. You can go to them almost any time and get that course. We are still in the world of setting classes at nine o'clock or you don't get it. We have to be flexible. We have to add value to our courses. If we provide a course in English 101 and somebody else provides a course in English 101 and we don't add value to it, they will go to them. They will come up with a strategy, they will sell it, and the customer will go. And, what's odd is, the public may pay even more money because it is at a time they can use it. If you had told me, probably ten years ago, that we would keep supermarkets open 24 hours a day, I would have said, "Where are they going to get those customers?" There is a whole other world out there that works at a different time than we do, and we have to realize that.
  
  We also have to be customer driven. You know, a lot of people come to us thinking that we have all the money. We sign the checks and that we are the ones in control. There is a quote that reads, " It's not the employer that pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It's the customer who pays the wages." Henry Ford said that. You know, if you look at our money and how we get it we can't control the legislature unless we start a combined effort at doing it. But, if they don't give us our funding how can we pay you an increased wage? How can we hire more people? We have satisfy that customer. They have to know what we are doing. and they have to know that we are doing a good job with their money. Otherwise, they won't be willing to give us more money. We also have to present to them a need. We have to show them that a dollar invested in the community colleges is worth more than a dollar in its output - that we give a product out that meets their expectations, the student's expectations, and meeting businesses expectations. They have to know that. And so, we have to get our customer, we have to get business, we have to get ourselves saying that. Our long range plan needs to be revisited. This is a time of change. We have to look at a long range combined district plan that will extend out for at least the next five years and that it will meet that customer base that we want to get into - that it will meet the new customer bases that we should be getting into. Along with that, money aspect that I was talking about, you know that if the students aren't happy, they will not give us their money, and if the County citizens aren't happy, wait until it's time for the next bond election. We have to satisfy those people.
  
  Along that line, we have to be more community centered. One of the aspects that I will be looking at during the year is trying to align ourselves to be more community centered. There is a line that reads, "If you think education is expensive, wait until you see what ignorance costs you." Now when I first read that line, I thought of myself talking to one of my kids actually who doesn't want to go onto to college, or is thinking, "why do I need to have more education?" But, really this applies more to our district, itself. We need to look at the citizens we currently are not reaching, those at the lower level, because if we don't bring them up along with everybody else, the rest of us that do have that education will have to pay for them. They will be our burden. They are the ones that will create that unrest when the gap further widens within Arizona. I was just told before the meeting that the gap between the haves and the have-nots in all of the United States is greatest in Arizona. That gap is the widest right here. What do you think will happen when that gap widens more? We may see a burning of one of our cities. We may see unrest.
  
  We also have to be business centered. We have to align ourselves more with business. Business is no longer willing to accept a degree as a sign that they can be a good employee. What they want to see are - can you do the job and can you be effective with me right now? Can you start to work and give me a pay off right now? Do I need to put training into you before I actually have a return from you? They are no longer willing to invest that training. They want to see it up front. We will have to align ourselves more with business. We've had a college that has had a contract with Motorola, for I don't how many years, actually, but for quite a few. Why don't we have contracts with other large corporations to train their people up front so they know that they are getting that product and their maintaining that skill level?
  
  We have also look internationally. We are no longer a community that is self contained. We have to deal with customers in the businesses around us with people from all over the world on a day to day basis. Some of us have to speak more than two languages, or even the basic one. In order to compete in the future, we will have to know more languages. We will have to know cultures. We will have to know ways of life. We will have to get to know that customer.
  
  Our learning is going to have to be focused. That means that we are going to have to look at new ways of learning and sometimes that will indicate changes in our philosophy of how we teach. We are going to be more competency based in the future. We are also going to have to look at different ways of delivering education. We will no longer be able to look upon our courses being offered in three to four credit modules. In the future, it may be one credit and maybe the need for those credits or the need for that education will be taken up in different bites. In talking to one of the District people, we are already doing this. We are already creating subset modules of one credit hour in order to meet the demands in the high tech industry. When they first started out, they could not get everyone to agree on what set of three hour or four hour courses because people wanted different types of competencies to be taught and so they divided the courses that they intended to teach into one credit hour, one block modules. That way if a different company wanted ten of those modules out of fifteen, another wanted twelve, another wanted ten or twelve, they could pick and choose. That was more customer driven. Because of this, we will have to be even more nimble in our course curriculum development. I think currently we have talked about that it takes us fifteen or eighteen months in order to develop a course and get it on line. We may have to be a lot more quicker than that or may be have to be continually revising our courses in module sets in order to meet changes in the future.
  
  Two years ago in 1996 the Commission on Health Care Reform was established. They were facing a lot of changes in the health care area and if we don't meet those changes we are going to be lost. They were falling behind. They have done a lot of hard work. They included on the commission faculty, staff, senior people and business in order to meet a new need, a new change that was required in order to meet the coming health care needs. They have developed a new model for health care programs. They are proposing an integrated educational system that will include three levels. Level one will include competencies common to all health care programs. Level two will include common competencies at a higher level and shared competencies across programs. Level three will include both shared competencies and actual program competencies. This model was designed to allow students several options for career paths in a flexible, unduplicated manner. They've done a good job. But one of the things about doing a good job is getting it on line - getting it to a product stage so that it can be given out, sold. Remember, I talked about us being Number One? A lot of people depend on us when we say we are going to get something done. Look at what happens in the new software industry when they say they are going to bring out a new software by a certain date, and when they don't meet that date the trust drops and their stock drops. We need to get this thing on line. Next month this model will come before the Governing Board and in the next two months, curriculum will be presented to the Board. It is my understanding that work continues on the operational model and that it is a critical step in that process that we must address. There have been some problems with the operational model and more discussion. I urge the presidents at the six colleges to help provide leadership in this area and to work with the administration in providing that model so that we can get on and provide that course level to our students. We are going to have to build new collaborations or additional collaborations with schools, businesses, organizations, cities and towns. We can't do it alone. We have to work with them to overcome some of these problems and to get to the customers that we need to get to.
  
  I am also hoping that we get a discussion on FTSE. Our budgeting system is currently FTSE driven. I know we get our money in FTSE, but we need to talk more about how we disseminate that money among our colleges and our skill centers. The current way is causing problems. We don't look at satisfying the needs of the community. We look at satisfying our colleges and our skill center so that they can keep the money that they have or get new, additional money. What we need to do is re-focus that on something more needs based. Now, maybe it needs to be a hybrid of both worlds in order to accomplish this, but we need to sit down and look at this area, look at the disadvantages of where we are right now with this system, look at what the advantages are and see if there is not a better model that we can work from.
  
  This district also needs to be a better team. It is almost like a family. When one college has a crisis, we should feel sorrow. We should feel the need to help that college. When college receives an honor, we should all rejoice. We should also all share in that glory, because really we all one District and all of us are part of that team.
  
  My next comments will look at addressing different components within our District and what they need to do.
  
  The first area is students: I am glad to see some students here tonight. I am glad to see that students are coming to these meetings and are voicing their opinions more and more. It gives me a lot of comfort when I hear our students speak because they do a good job of it. It tells me that we are doing something good, something right. They are the reason we are here. They are the reason for our existence. We must never forget that. I encourage the students to participate in all of our functions and to give us their information from their perspective. It is very difficult to understand somebody and do the best job you can for them if you don't understand them and they don't understand what you are doing. We need to know what their thoughts are, what their criticisms are, and what their goals are so that we can better align ourselves in the job in we do.
  
  To the CEC, the members of the CEC are a distinguished group. We need to work better as a Board with the CEC. We need to do more things together so that we can understand and work together as a group. They have to be considered or feel that they are considered by the Board as a working member of a body that governs the District and not just a go-for that we assign for what has to be done and bring the results back. I am asking them to give vital input on our agenda. I think our agenda needs to be handled differently. I think it needs to be more focused and we need to come up with some method or agreement between all of us so that we are not just parading in front of the Board or giving us their aspects as to how good they are doing or we are doing so that we can really get down to discussing the meat of our problems and listening to community input. We also need the help of the CEC to really look at the committee structure that we have right now and how it affects the Board. I am not sure that the Board Members need to be on those committees or at least maybe their involvement needs to be reduced. I think the Board Members need to be out in the community. We need to be getting information from the community. We need to be bringing that information back and sharing that with the rest of our people so that we can make better decisions, because, really we represent the community and sometimes I think when we are in the committee structure we represent ourselves and not the community.
  
  To the Faculty, full-time and part-time, PSA, MAT, Crafts, and M&O: You have done a good job of communicating better with the Board in the last year. I applaud each and every group. That communication has strengthened our relationship and made us a better District. The one item I ask for you look at in the coming year is to building trust. We still have that wall between us, that feeling among us, that when the Board does something they will not do it in my best interest. They will do it for their own good. They will do it for somebody else's good. They don't have me in mind. I speak for the Board, my fellow Board Members, I think, in saying that if we had another dime, we would give it to you. When it comes time to work on the budget , one of our primary concerns is our people. We always look at what we can do with the money that we have. We are going to be there and we want to increase that trust among us. If we can have that trust, we can be an even better district.
  
  To the Board: I would ask my fellow Board Members to be more involved in the community and less in operations, to work as a team - all for one and one for all. Only then can we handle the real issues of our community, of the County. We need to remember that when we talk about a subject matter and we question what is happening, sometimes you win - sometimes you lose. But, hopefully, the best decision for our community is being done, being met. Sometimes I have been the lone vote against or for, but we don't stick with it, we go on. Our problem is that we need to handle those needs, we need to address those needs and we can't worry about winning all of the time. Fellow Board Members, I ask you to also look at the agenda so that we don't have to just be entertained at the Board meetings, but that we can actually get some real work done. I would like to see some more community involvement. I would like to see some more presentations to the Board from outside community members and right now without changing the agenda or changing the willingness to how we operate through the agenda committees or the agenda system, we cannot do that. I would also like you to look at the committee structure also and give me your input as to how much involvement we actually need to have within those committees.
  
  Lastly, since the middle of the summer, I have been working with some individuals in the Office for the Community Agenda. We have developed some draft material for tonight's meeting to set one area of new focus for the year. I will give you this information now for the your reading and only read a small part of it. If community people would like to get a copy of this draft you can contact the college, the Office for the Community Agenda, and they will be glad to give you a copy. "Since the community colleges serve many functions, they cannot be content with waiting for change to occur, but must assist in managing change, accepting change, and shaping change. This requires synergy with leadership in the surrounding corporate, government, and local communities. Since the community colleges are a reflection of the community, they become a microcosm of the community's problems and successes. It is imperative that college leadership be actively involved in assessing concerns, solving problems, and envisioning a positive future for the community at large." In about mid-summer, I read an article that was in the Republic. It was about a report that was being issued by the Morrison Institute and it talked about their research into areas that affect the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. They did the survey and ranked the order of importance among nine specific areas - education ended being number one. But, there were other concerns - public safety, crime, health, health care, economy, families and children, community, arts and culture. What we have developed as a draft is called the Community Destiny Series. It will be a series of meetings with the Morrison Institute and other individuals to assess those areas and to come up with how we impact them. We will be looking at a number of those areas as a challenge for the District to be implemented over several years. My hope is that this will bring us in better contact with the community and will show other entities that we not only do education but we impact the community and we make change. I think that's what we are here for. Thank you.
  
  

Chancellor's Report
Chancellor Elsner recognized and commended Nancy Stein her for her leadership report as Governing Board President for the previous year. Dr. Elsner also congratulated Mr. Contreras on his election as Governing Board President for 1998 and complimented him on his vision and statements made in his inaugural speech.

Secretary's Report
There was no report.


Faculty Report
There was no report.


Employee Group Reports
There were no reports.


College Reports
There were no reports


Student Government Reports
Randy Amavisca and Eric Arvayo, representing the MECHA from Phoenix College, provided information regarding the upcoming the student leadership conference to be held February 27 and 28 at Phoenix College. It is anticipated that approximately 1,500 to 2,500 high school and college students from throughout Arizona and parts of New Mexico and Texas will attend. A report was also provided on the activities of the Phoenix College MECHA organization, which included assisting the Murphy School District with a clean-up day, an adopt-a-street program, a Christmas in April event to help fix up houses in the neighborhood, a high school mentoring program, provided Thanksgiving dinners to those in need, and adopted two families at Christmas. Board Members and others present were invited to attend the student leadership conference in February.

Jared Langkilde, Student Government President from Mesa Community College, reported activities and accomplishments, which included an editorial page that has been regularly placed in the student newspaper and ratification of the student constitution, with amendments made reducing the number of students necessary to establish a campus club from 15 to 6 and reduction of the number of credits necessary to be eligible for a student government office. Six new clubs have been established on the MCC campus and a club carnival was held in an effort to recruit students into the campus clubs. Other activities included the Into the Streets Program and a holiday adopt-a-family program which provided for 31 families. Work is being done to establish a discount list for students, a web site for student government, placement of bike lockers, and working with Restaura on creation of a $.99 menu (including tax) for students.

Maria Rodriquez, Vice president of Associated Students, and John Hershey, Evening Student Representative, South Mountain Community College, reported on activities which included the observation of Hispanic Heritage Month with the assistance of a local radio station coming to the campus, a Halloween party attended by over 200 community children, and a trivia contest event held at Thanksgiving. Another activity was the adoption of an entire local school (from kindergarten through eighth grade) as a service project for the Christmas Holiday. Upcoming events include an income tax service that will provided free for students, staff, and community members, participation in women's week and multicultural week events, a jazz showcase in April, the spring fling, and Cinco de Mayo activities.


State Board Report
There was no report.


AADGB Report
Linda Rosenthal reported that a joint meeting of the AADGB and ACCPC was held on January 15. An item discussed was the trustee's role in the legislative arena, where most agreed that governing boards should take positions on selected vital issues and communicate those positions by sending letters to legislators. Legislation and budget recommendations were looked at and actions and possible proposals of the Higher Education Study Committee were reviewed.


Legislative Report
Jack Lunsford provided information on pending legislation. House Bill 2009 regarding community college ownership failed in the House Education Committee. The bill concerning the community college expansion appropriation is due to be heard the next day. The writer of proposed legislation regarding the optional retirement bill requiring governing boards to offer optional retirement plans has agreed to amend the wording back to "permissive" from "mandatory." Legislation has been proposed by Representative Carruthers regarding public education partnerships in the amount of approximately two million dollars in grant funds. Mr. Lunsford also discussed legislation that would allow the Board to authorize charter schools, which the Governing Board had not previously wanted due to being put into a regulatory position. Mr. Lunsford also noted the importance of the involvement of the presidents and students on behalf of the District regarding legislative and budget issues.


Rewards and Recognitions
There were none.


Approval of the Agenda
Approval of the agenda was recommended. Mr. Contreras requested that Item C-7 be moved to the front of the items to be considered for action.


MOTION 8723
Linda Rosenthal moved that the agenda be approved with the amendment that Item C-7 be moved to the front of the items to be considered for action. Motion carried 5-0.


Consideration of Consent Agenda
President Contreras asked if there were any requests to remove items from the Consent Agenda. Mrs. Stein requested that Item E-4 be removed from the Consent Agenda. Mr. Contreras requested that Items E-7 and E-4 be removed from the Consent Agenda. Dr. Christiansen requested that Items C-19 and C-20 be removed from the Consent Agenda. Citizen requests were made to speak to Items E-4 and C-20.

The following items are included in the Consent Agenda:

(A-1) APPROVAL OF MINUTES - of the December 9, 1997, and January 13, 1998 Governing Board meetings.

(B-1) CONSIDERATION OF EMPLOYMENTS, RESIGNATIONS, RETIREMENTS AND TERMINATIONS - Approval of the Employments, Resignations, Retirements and Terminations Item as presented.

(C-1) CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL FOR A NEW SCIENCE CLASSROOM/LAB BUILDING AND FOR EXPANSION AND REMODELING OF THE EXISTING MATH BUILDING AT GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Provide conceptual approval for the following capital development project at Glendale Community College: New Chemistry and Applied Science Classroom and Lab Building, and Mathematics Classroom Building Addition and Remodel.

(C-2) CONTRACT AWARD FOR WATER WELL SITE IMPROVEMENTS AT SCOTTSDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Approve awarding a contract in the amount of Five Hundred Forty Thousand and no/100ths Dollars ($540,000.00) to Trombley Electrical Contractors, Inc. for water well site improvements at Scottsdale Community College.

(C-3) SRP UTILITY EASEMENTS AT CHANDLER-GILBERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Approve the following: a. Granting a new utility easement to the Salt River Project, and b. Forwarding this item to the State Board for its action.

(C-4) SRP UTILITY EASEMENTS AT RIO SALADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Approve the following: a. Granting a new utility easement to the Salt River Project, and b. Forwarding this item to the State Board for its action.

(C-5) CURRICULUM - Approve as submitted by the Maricopa County Community Colleges and State Community College Board.

(C-6) INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH SCOTTSDALE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT - Authorize entry into an intergovernmental agreement with the Scottsdale Unified School District for GateWay Community College to offer dual enrollment courses for students enrolled in the Scottsdale Unified School District.

(C-8) FRANKLIN-COVEY LEADERSHIP COURSE FEES - Approval for the following course fees for Franklin-Covey Leadership classes taught by both GateWay and South Mountain Community Colleges and forward to the State Board.

(C-9) ARIZONA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER NETWORK AND LEAD CENTER - Approve acceptance of a negotiated contract in the amount of $2,377,528 between the Small Business Administration and the Maricopa Community Colleges.

(C-10) TECH PREP GRANT - Accept a sub-grant in the amount of $13,357.25 from Paradise Valley Unified School District, who is acting as fiscal agent for the NORTH EAST VALLEY TECH PREP CONSORTIUM.

(C-11) ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP IN ARIZONA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION - Enter into an associate membership relationship with the Arizona School Boards Association. This membership will be paid by GateWay Community High School. The estimated annual cost is $250.00.

(C-12) ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AWARD - WYLE ELECTRONICS - Accept an award in the amount of $33,500 to the Maricopa Community College District for a workforce recruitment and custom training program with Wyle Electronics for the expansion of their operations in Phoenix, AZ.

(C-13) ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AWARD - TECHMETALS, LLC. - Accept an award in the amount of $42,000.00 to the Maricopa Community College District for a workforce recruitment and custom training program with TechMetals, LLC. for the expansion of their precision sheet metal fabrication facility in Phoenix, AZ.

(C-14) ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AWARD - BUILDTECH ARIZONA - Accept an award in the amount of $112,000 to the Maricopa Community College District for a workforce recruitment and custom training program with BuildTech Arizona for the start-up of their operations in Gilbert, AZ.

(C-15) ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AWARD - AMERICAN ROAD RECOVERY - Accept an award in the amount of $182,000 to the Maricopa Community College District for a workforce recruitment and custom training program with American Road Recovery for the start-up of their operations in Mesa, AZ.

(C-16) THINK TANK - EXCEL - Approve the intergovernmental agreement between Think Tank and Phoenix Union High School District (PUHSD) for the district/community college collaboration for the ExCEL (Exchange for Effective Learning) program.

(C-17) ALLIANCE FOR TRAINING K-12 TEACHERS IN INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY - Approve the subcontractor agreement between MCCCD/Think Tank and the Stevens Institute for the ñAlliance for Training K-12 Teachers in Instructional Technologies.î

(C-18) LIBRARY INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHANDLER-GILBERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT WILLIAMS CAMPUS AND ASU EAST - Approve an intergovernmental agreement between Chandler-Gilbert Community College and ASU East to provide expanded library facilities and services at the Williams Campus. The initial term of this agreement is from February 1, 1998 to June 30, 1998. There is an intention to establish a long-term agreement beyond June 30, 1998.

(D-1) BUDGETED EXPENDITURE REDUCTION FOR FY 1996-97 - Approve the reduction of budgeted expenditures as shown below to reflect the same amount as actually expended in the General Fund, the Auxiliary Enterprises Fund, the Restricted Fund, the Unexpended Plant Fund for FY 1996-97 per the audited financial statements.

(E-1) INFRASTRUCTURE CABLING INSTALLATION - PARADISE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Approve awarding a contract for cabling infrastructure at Paradise Valley Community College to DATEL Communications in the amount of $172,148.08. This contract is to be awarded under Contract No. 01935.

(E-2) INFRASTRUCTURE CABLING INSTALLATION - PHOENIX COLLEGE - Approve awarding a contract for cabling infrastructure at Phoenix College to DATEL Communications in the amount of $95,146.12. This contract is to be awarded under Contract No. 01935


MOTION 8724
Don Campbell moved that the Consent Agenda be approved with the exception of Items C-7, C-19, C-20, E-3, and E-4. Motion carried 5-0.

(C-7) CHANDLER-GILBERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT THE WILLIAMS CAMPUS/PROSOLVIA IVS PARTNERSHIP - President Arnette Ward recommended that the Governing Board approve the five-year agreement and three-year projected budget starting in fiscal year 1998 between Prosolvia IVS and the Maricopa County Community College District. President Ward introduced Ken Schultz, Director of Facilities and Administrative Services at Williams Education Center, and special guests Motz Johannson, President of Prosolvia IVS in North America; Larry Wallace, Director of Marketing and Sales for the Western Region of Prosolvia; Colonel Lin Carroll, Military Liaision and Director of Armstrong Labs at Williams GateWay Airport; Marvin Relik, Director of Marketing for the Air Force Research Labs; and Mike Lesiecki, Director of the MATEC Program. Ken Schultz provided an overview of the partnership and project. He described the virtual reality project as an innovative teaching mode which is new to the District. He also provided a brief history of virtual reality which came into being approximately twenty-five years ago when invented at the Patterson Air Force Base and eventually moved into the federal labs. Mr. Schultz described Prosolvia as an established Swedish company. Although virtual reality technology is very expensive, the partnership will allow the District to develop a new, effective tool for learning, will help students learn easier, and make education more accessible to them. The technology will be shared with the other colleges in the District for use in their programs. Mr. Schultz provided an overview of a slide presentation that explained the partnership, a copy of which is included as a part of a record of this meeting. The presentation included the goals, partners, objectives, funding and expenses of the recommended program. Mr. Contreras congratulated Mr. Schultz on a fine presentation and indicated his pleasure that the technology would be shared with the other colleges, indicating good teamwork. Mr. Schultz indicated that it is anticipated that the first major initiative will be toward the semiconductor industry. The healthcare, manufacturing, and math programs may also benefit from this technology, as well as learning the culture of foreign countries through the virtual environments. Once the District has the technology, many more students will come as the District will be one of the first to engage in the virtual applications. Mr. Schultz indicated that it is hoped to have the facility opened by April 1 of this year, and with MATEC support, to have curriculum and application materials in place by January, 1999.

Mr. Schultz introduced Motz Johannson, who presented a taped greeting from the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Prosolvia who also provided the background, philosophy, and goals of his company.

Mr. Schultz introduced Colonel Carroll, who indicated that better tools for education will provide a better population and the support of community colleges, such as the District, is very important to that effort. Colonel Carroll stated that bringing in a partner, such as the Air Force, widens the pool of resources and focus. It is a positive environment that the community has come together, joining a government agency, the community colleges and industry to meet industry requirements to be set for future workers and the campus developing the programs so those requirements can be met by the students.

President Ward also recognized District staff - Margaret McConnell, Rufus Glasper, Bertha Landrum, Ron Bleed, Marilyn Anderson, and Alfredo de Los Santos - for their assistance and work on this proposal.


MOTION 8725
Linda Rosenthal moved that the Governing Board approve the five-year agreement and three-year projected budget starting in fiscal year 1998 between Prosolvia IVS and the Maricopa County Community College District. Motion carried 5-0.

(B-2) PSA COLLABORATIVE POLICY DEVELOPMENT - Approve the modifications as presented regarding the Professional Staff Association Policy Manual which are recommended as a result of the collaborative policy development discussions conducted over several months between the Professional Staff Association and Governing Board representatives.



MOTION 8726 Linda Rosenthal moved that the Governing Board approve the modifications as presented regarding the Professional Staff Association Policy Manual which are recommended as a result of the collaborative policy development discussions conducted over several months between the Professional Staff Association and Governing Board representatives. Motion carried 5-0.


(C-19) MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE AAS IN JUDICIAL STUDIES OUT-OF-COUNTY OFFERINGS - STOP PROGRAM MINI GRANT - Accept the Mesa Community College mini-grant award of $21,174 to fund domestic violence prevention and intervention program activities. Funding is being provided through the Arizona GovernorÍs office for Domestic Violence Prevention to implement ñSTOPî Program objectives. Funds expended under this mini-grant will be used to provide training information to law enforcement agencies statewide regarding new Federal legislation on domestic violence and to educate court staff on the dynamics of domestic violence. This funding is in addition to a current grant of $102,762, which was previously approved by the Governing Board, and represents an expansion of those activities. This funding is a continuation of a multi-year initiative through the National Institute of Justice to research issues related to violence against women and is part of the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. It is also recommended that the Governing Board approve forwarding this item to the State Board for approval.

(C-20) MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE OUT-OF-COUNTY OFFERINGS - STOP PROGRAM GRANT - Accept the Mesa Community College grant award in the amount of $235,733 to fund domestic violence prevention and intervention program activities. Funding is being provided through the Arizona Governor's office for Domestic Violence Prevention to implement ñSTOPî Program objectives. Funds expended under this Grant will be used to hire a full-time program coordinator, a half-time assistant program coordinator, develop and implement specialty training programs for law enforcement, probation and parole officers in the areas of sexual assault, and elder abuse, domestic violence, as well as establish a clearinghouse on violence against women information. This funding is the third phase of a multi-year initiative through the National Institute of Justice to research issues related to violence against women and is part of the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. It is also recommended that the Governing Board forward this item to the State Board for approval. Dr. Christiansen recommended approval of Items C-19 and 20 with clarification made of the titles as follows: Remove "AAS in Judicial Studies" from the title. Change was so made and indicated.

Jamie Taylor, a citizen, came forward to express concern regarding Item C-20 in that the program appears to only be for "violence against women," and inquired why it did not also apply to violence against men and children. Mr. Taylor also inquired as how the program is being funded. Dr. Christiansen indicated that the Governor's Office for Domestic Violence Prevention is the funding source. He also indicated that statistics show millions of women are in the numbers being victimized. The program will allow those in judicial studies to examine the criminal side of the problem and will help to sensitize many who will be working in this area.


MOTION 8727
Don Campbell moved that the Governing Board accept the Mesa Community College mini-grant award of $21,174 to fund domestic violence prevention and intervention program activities, accept the Mesa Community College grant award in the amount of $235,733 to fund domestic violence prevention and intervention program activities, and approve forwarding this item to the State Board for approval. Funding is being provided through the Arizona GovernorÍs office for Domestic Violence Prevention to implement ñSTOPî Program objectives. Motion carried 5-0.

(E-3) INFRASTRUCTURE CABLING INSTALLATION - GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Approve awarding a contract for cabling infrastructure at Glendale Community College to DATEL Communications in the amount of $764,852. This contract is to be awarded under Bid No. 2052-2. Mr. Larry Zimmerman came forward on behalf of AZ Data Com Solutions, to protest the awarding of the contract to DATEL Communications. Mr. Zimmerman indicated that his company was surprised that DATEL was awarded the contract as it was the highest bidder, more than $175,000 over the low bidder, NetComm, and $96,000 over his company's bid. The project was bid as Siemen, which is a manufacturer, or "equal to." Mr. Zimmerman stated that he did not receive justification why the manufacturer he bid, Nordex, was not equal to Siemen. Mr. Tubbs came forward on behalf of Netcomm Management, to protest the awarding of the contract to DATEL and that further consideration be given and investigation be done before approving the awarding of the contract.

In response to an to an inquiry from Mrs. Rosenthal as to why the recommendation was made to approval DATEL Communications as the contractor, Mr. Bleed indicated that the evaluation committee and purchasing personnel determined that NetComm and AZ Data Communications did not fulfill the specifications under the requirements. Also, regarding compatibility, the existing units at the campus are Siemens, a system that the college is very pleased with. Mr. Bleed asked K. C. Hundere from Glendale Community College to come forward. In response to inquiries from the Board Members, Mr. Hundere indicated that the consultant who was hired to assist with putting the specifications together for the bid found the two lowest bidders to not be compliant with the specifications. There are approximately six companies that are Siemen's installers that could have bid. Three bids were received for three different manufacturers. The protesting companies are saying their product is not Siemens, but "equivalent." Mrs. Rosenthal expressed concern that based on compatibility issues, it may cost more in the future if another system is installed and made a motion to approve the award of the contract to DATEL. Concerns were expressed from Mr. Contreras that if Siemen's was the only system desired, then it should be so stated in the bid. Dr. Campbell made a motion pull this item for further review and study. Dr. Elsner recommended that the bid process be reviewed and that purchasing, fiscal and technology personnel come together to look at the flow of the bids. Mrs. Rosenthal withdrew her motion and recommended that the item come back to the Board at its February 10 meeting. The motions follow.


MOTION 8728
Linda Rosenthal moved that the Governing Board approve awarding a contract for cabling infrastructure at Glendale Community College to DATEL Communications in the amount of $764,852. This contract is to be awarded under Bid No. 2052-2. Mrs. Rosenthal withdrew her motion.


MOTION 8729
Don Campbell moved that the item recommending the awarding a contract for cabling infrastructure at Glendale Community College to DATEL Communications in the amount of $764,852 be pulled for examination and review and come back for consideration by the Governing Board at the Board meeting on the second Tuesday in February. Motion carried 5-0.

(E-4) VIDEO CONFERENCING SYSTEM - Approve a contract with View Tech Inc. for the purchase of a Video Conferencing System at a cost not to exceed $200,000. This contract is to be awarded under Request For Proposal 2043-4. Mrs. Stein inquired if the system will be connected to the colleges and centers in the future. Dr. Thor indicated that the system will be used for Rio Salado College's distance learning programs, and is one that could easily be expanded should other colleges also wish to purchase equipment. In response to another inquiry made by Mrs. Stein, Dr. Thor indicated that the cost of maintenance following the first year will be $12,000 per year and will come from Rio's operating budget.


MOTION 8730
Linda Rosenthal moved that the Governing Board approve a contract with View Tech Inc. for the purchase of a Video Conferencing System at a cost not to exceed $200,000. This contract is to be awarded under Request For Proposal 2043-4. Motion carried 5-0.


Information Items

(VI.A.) Policy Manual College Safety Employees First Reading

Dr. Waechter indicated that this is a First Reading, but if approved when it comes forward for action, it will establish a new policy group.

(VI.B.) Domestic Partner Benefits First Reading

Diane Johns came forward to answer questions by the Governing Board regarding this item. Dr. Campbell inquired if offering these benefits was within the confines of the laws. Ms. Johns indicated affirmative. Mr. Contreras inquired as to the definitions of "other domestic partners." Ms. Johns indicated that there is criteria to be followed to determine who are domestic partners. Mr. Contreras expressed concerns that "common law" may not be within the confines of the law in the state. Dr. Waechter indicated that the committee had addressed such concerns and would share documentation with the Board. Mr. Eastin asked if the affidavit of domestic partnership could be enforced under the law. Ms. Johns indicated affirmative. In response to an inquiry from Mr. Contreras, Ms. Johns indicated that medical and dental benefits would be extended to the domestic partner of an employee and their dependents, should they fall under the criteria and guidelines. The insurance company is in favor of offering this benefit and has agreed not to increase the premium. In response to an inquiry from Mrs. Rosenthal, Ms. Johns indicated that many companies are offering same sex and heterosexual domestic partners benefits. Mr. Contreras inquired if a single employee taking care his mother would qualify for the domestic partner benefit. Ms. Johns indicated negative, as they would fall under the criteria of he Arizona marriage laws, which legally states who can marry and who cannot.. Ms. Johns indicated that the purpose of this policy is toward a spousal equivalent. Insurance companies do not offer these coverages as such for relatives of employees. Employees will be trusted to be honest in signing the affidavits, and would be subject to disciplinary action if they are not honest in doing so.

(VI.C.) Change of Fiscal Agent for the Western Maricopa Consortium Tech Prep Program


Monitoring Reports

(VII.A.) Budget Analysis Report Summary Fund 1 - General Unrestricted Fund For the Six Months Ended December 31, 1997

(VII.B.) 1994 General Obligation Bonds Series A (1995) and Series B (1997) Receipts and Disbursements Analysis and Capital Development Plan Summary As of December 31, 1997


Next Board Meeting
The next Governing Board meeting will be a strategic conversion on February 10, 1998.


Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.