Minutes 12/09/2003

An executive session and regular meeting of the Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board was scheduled to be held at 5:30 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
Don Campbell, Member
Nancy Stein, Member
ABSENT - Gene Eastin, Member

ADMINISTRATION

Rufus Glasper
Steve Helfgot
Debra Thompson
Anna Solley
Ron Bleed
Jose Leyba
Pete Kushibab
Paul Dale
Gail Mee for Larry Christiansen
Ken Atwater
Art DeCabooter
Homero Lopez
Gene Giovannini
Corina Gardea
Linda Thor
Phil Randolph
Maria Hesse

CALL TO ORDER

The executive session was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Ed Contreras.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The Governing Board met in executive session, notice having been previously given.

The executive session recessed at 6:15 p.m.
The regular meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The assembly pledged their allegiance to the United States of America led by Governing Board Member Don Campbell.

CITIZEN'S INTERIM

The following individuals came forward:

1. Ernesto Escobedo, President, AACHE
2. Jim Lugo, Student at GCC
3. Richard Havens, Member, GCC MECHA
4. Emma Martinez, Students at GCC & Spokesperson for MECHA
5. Johnny Ray Martinez Jr., Member, GCC MECHA
6. Gabriel Cruz, Member, GCC MECHA
7. Manuel B. Frias, Coalition on Fairness, Equity & Quality in
   Education
8. Manual de Jesus Hernandez, Tempe Citizen
9. Stella Favela, Arizona Hispanic Community Forum
10. Cleopatria Martinez, Chair of Phoenix College Math Department
    and Member of AACHE
11. Gary Brown, Coalition for Fairness, Equity & Quality in Education
12. Milagros Gonzales, Coalition for Fairness, Equity & Quality in Education
13. Daniel Ortega, Coalition for Fairness, Equity & Quality in Education

There was extensive citizen comment regarding student complaints about a faculty
member's actions at GCC and opinions from MeCHA members about a perceived hostile learning environment.

Brief Summary of Comments by number:

1. Admidst widespread talk that Dr. Corina Gardea's contract would be terminated, as President of AACHE he wanted to affirm support for Dr. Gardea as President of Phoenix College. He stated that Dr. Gardea is an effective administrator and educator who has the support of Phoenix College faculty. He remarked that Phoenix College is fortunate to have her at the helm. The Latino Community stands behind her and the action rumored to be taken will have negative repercussions.
   
   As President of Arizona Association of Chicanos for Higher Education, Mr. Escobedo also voiced support for MECHA, a student organization within the Maricopa Community Colleges. As a former MeCHA student and advisor, he felt the e-mail labeling MeCHA as racist was highly slanderous. MeCHA students--like all students who attend the Maricopa Colleges--only want to participate in the American dream and he admired MeCHA students for working within the system. He encouraged the Governing Board to acknowledge the important contributions of MeCHA to the Maricopa Colleges.
   
   
2. Mr. Lugo commented that Professor Kehowski's website did not benefit the public in any way and felt that this had created a hostile environment. Students have gone to campus administration to rectify this perceived hostile environment and this has been to no avail. They have now come before the Governing Board to seek help in resolving this situation
   
   
3. Mr. Havens stated that he could not believe Mr. Kehowski accused GCC MECHA of being discriminatory. He has been a member of MECHA for several years, in spite of being a white Anglo-Saxon male. Any reference that MECHA is discriminatory is false and defamatory and should be not be on a public website. He felt that Professor Kehowski should be reprimanded and his website taken off the web.
   
   
4. Ms. Martinez commented that the issue of Professor Kehowski's comments was unsuccessful in being resolved at the campus level and were coming before the Governing Board in hopes of trying to resolve the issue.
   
   
5. Mr. Martinez provided statistics pertaining to minority enrollment at educational institutions and the projected population growth of the Latino community. He commented that diversity makes communities stronger and helps to make them more productive and useful for all. He asked that the Governing Board be mindful of all that was said this evening.
   
   
6. Mr. Cruz came urged upholding district policy and that MECHA stood firm in their commitment to resolve. Academic freedom stops at classroom door. Students are hesitant to take Professor Kehowski's classes because of his feelings and views and asked that his comments be removed from the website. Misplaced trust will lead to corrosion of policies. Discrimination deprives students of self worth and does not reflect what MCCD is all about. Students are not asking that Professor Kehowski be fired, however, colleges should be havens from this.
   
   
7. Mr. Frias expressed a desire to call attention to the inability to administrate policy. This inability to administrate has allowed a perceived hostile environment to exist and he was here to support the request of the students present here tonight. Mr. Frias was also present to express support of President Gardea in her ability to continue to serve in her capacity at Phoenix College. He urged that the micromanaging be discontinued and that the difference between policy making and administration be recognized and that the new chancellor be allowed to executive his duties. He asked that the canvassing of the community be discontinued as a means of assessing. He urged everyone to examine their conscience and address the perceived hostile environment.
   
   
8. Mr. Hernandez spoke about the hostile environment that is surfacing against the Latino community in Arizona. He called attention to the Pledge of Allegiance in which it spoke about "one nation under God and justice and liberty for all." He called upon the Chancellor and the Governing Board to support Dr. Gardea.
   
   
9. Ms. Favela stated that she represented the Arizona Hispanic Forum who support Dr. Corina Gardea as President of Phoenix College. They are aware that Dr. Gardea has had to make decisions that are not very popular but she is very well liked and accepted at the college and in the community. She stated that MCCCD is not a hot spot for businesswomen and Latina women need not apply for college president. She questioned where role models for Latina women were at MCCD. Community colleges need to understand the "community" in "Maricopa Community Colleges." History does not reflect that MCCD understands the needs of community as a whole and especially the Hispanic community. She felt that a couple of board members had a personal vendetta against this lady. She stated that there will be repercussions if action is taken again Dr. Gardea and that this should be a considered a threat.
   
   
10. Cleopatria Martinez stated that she represented Phoenix College AACHE and was Chair of the Math Department at Phoenix College. Phoenix College AACHE met on November 7 and again on December 4 regarding the negative impact of Walter Kehowski's negative attitude. There was also discussion regarding rumors that President Gardea may be in jeopardy and Phoenix AACHE wanted to go on record as being in support of her. She stated that Dr. Gardea has attempted to bring vision to maturity through open communication. Phoenix College AACHE members fully support Dr. Gardea's presidency.
    
    
11. Gary Brown appealed to the Governing Board to let the Chancellor do his job, stating that it was destructive to get involved in running the operations and exert pressure to make personnel decisions.
    
    
12. Milagros Gonzales came forward as a representative of the United Business Latino Coalition to express support for Dr. Corina Gardea who has been very positively accepted by the Hispanic Community.
    
    
13. Attorney Daniel Ortega came forward to stated that he was in full support of MECHA students' concerns. He also explained that he had been informed that Dr. Gardea was to be on the meeting agenda this evening but was told he had received wrong information. However, he commented that Dr. Gardea was part of some board members' agenda to push her out but that this would be a preemptive strike as Dr. Gardea has widespread support in the community and her college. She has received excellent evaluations and anything different will be me by a legal challenge. He stressed that it was time to move forward on something more positive and he believed that Dr. Glasper had the potential to be an excellent chancellor and deserve the opportunity to work with all. He urged that the number of Hispanics be allowed to increase and not decrease.
    

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

Mrs. Stein reported that this past month she had attended the Asian Pacific Islander Association's dinner honoring Dr. Rufus Glasper as new chancellor. She also attended GateWay's Associated Student Winter Wonderland and MCC's Winter Extravaganza.

CHANCELLOR'S REPORT

There was no report.

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 REPORT

Students from South Mountain Community College and Glendale Community College were present this evening to report on their activities as follows:

GCC reported that the Gauchos had been the winners of the Valley of the Sun Bowl and that their Forensics Team came home with many victories from their trip to Spain to compete for the world title. They were also very proud to announce that their day and evening student government groups had been combined after numerous rewrites of their constitutions.

SMC expressed their appreciation to be present to report on their activities during the fall semester which included their "Welcome Back Bash", a leadership workshop, dramatic readings during Hispanic Week, recognition of Domestic Violence Month, attendance by four students to the MCC Multicultural Retreat, participation in the Emerging Leaders Program and an Octoberfest celebration for children. They also celebrated the formation of three new student clubs and participated in a hunger banquet, as well as World Aids Day. Upcoming activities were also announced for the Spring Semester.

ACCA/AADGB REPORT

There was no report.

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

Jack Lunsford indicated that the Legislative Special Session continues without resolution and that we continue to develop our budget issues for next year and complemented Dianne Johns for her leadership in working with the legislature on the issue of retiree insurance. The firm of Parry, Romani, DeConcini and Sims (who represent the District in Washington, D.C. indicated that federal funding has been secured for several projects but everything is being held at this point as the budget moves through congressional processes. Projects being worked on include Court Reporters Program, Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, Bilingual Nursing Program, and the Omnibus Appropriations Bill.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

GCC President Dr. Phil Randolph reported that the Gaucho football team won its eighth "Valley of the Sun" Bowl over Hutchinson Community College on December 6. He also announced the installation of Dr. Ernesto Escobedo, GCC math faculty, was installed as incoming president of the State Arizona Association of Hispanics for Higher Education Conference held in Tucson on November 21, and that Dr. Rene Diaz-Lefebvre, GCC psychology faculty received the AACHE Distinguished Faculty Award for his work on multiple intelligences. Lastly, he announced that GCC Advancement Services Director George Martinez won the Chair Academy's 2004 Exemplary Leadership Award recognizing Mr. Martinez's work in revitalizing and integrating GCC's efforts in marketing, media and government relations, community outreach, and development.

Rio Salado College President Dr. Linda Thor announced that Rio had been awarded Fortune Magazine's National Award for Quality Customer Service for their ATT/RSC Educational Services Partnership.

Phoenix College President Dr. Corina Gardea announced that they had been the recipients of the Gold CASE Award for their work with the ACE Program

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

President Contreras requested a motion to approve the agenda.

MOTION NO. 9209

Dr. Campbell moved that the Governing Board agenda be approved. Motion carried 4-0.

CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA

Mr. Contreras asked for any requests to remove items from the Consent Agenda. Mrs. Stein requested that Item C-2 be removed for comment. Dr. Helfgot requested that Item F-2 be pulled from action.

The following items are included in the Consent Agenda:

(A-1) APPROVAL OF MINUTES of the November 20, 2003 Community Listening Session.

(C-1) APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDED EMPLOYMENTS, RESIGNATIONS, RETIREMENTS AND TERMINATIONS - Approval of personnel actions with addendum as presented.

(D-1) APPROVAL OF CURRICULUM PROPOSALS - Approve curriculum course and program proposals with addendum (revisions to pages 2 and 4 and new page 40a) as presented.

(D-2) APPROVAL OF EAST VALLEY TECH PREP CONSORTIUM GRANT - Approve administration of the East Valley Tech Prep Consortium Incentive Funding Grant, funded at $175,000, effective July 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004.

(D-3) APPROVAL OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND SHOW LOW HIGH SCHOOL - Approve an Intergovernmental Agreement between Mesa Community College (Regional Academy) and Show Low School District on behalf of Show Low High School.

(D-4) APPROVAL OF CORPORATE TRAINER FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Approve a one-year extension of the contract agreement in the amount of $76,555 to provide technical training for Ford Motor Company dealership automotive technicians throughout the state. The contract period will be from January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2004.

(D-5) APPROVAL OF GENERAL MOTORS TRAINING CENTER - GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Approve a three-month extension of the contract agreement in the amount of $130,283 to provide technical training and assessment for General Motors dealership automotive technicians throughout the state. This agreement is between Raytheon Systems Company on behalf of General Motors Corporation and the Maricopa Community College District through THE INSTITUTE for Business, Industry, and Technology at Glendale Community College. The contract period will be from January 1, 2004-March 31, 2004.

(D-6) APPROVAL OF TEACHER PREPARATION CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES - Approve a set of Special Education policies and procedures required by the State Department of Education for the Teacher Preparation Charter High School.

(D-7) APPROVAL OF CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANT (KJZZ) - Accept a grant award for KJZZ from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting totaling $364,147. Approval of the two-year allowable expenditure period is requested for October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2005.

(D-8) APPROVAL OF CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BOARDCASTING COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANT (KBAQ) - Accept a grant award for KJZZ from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting totaling $181,174. Approval of the two-year allowable expenditure period is requested for October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2005.

(D-9) APPROVAL OF RECEIPT OF TUCSON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ON BEHALF OF SUN SOUNDS OF ARIZONA - Approve entering into an Intergovernmental Agreement on behalf of Sun Sounds of Arizona with the City of Tucson for $10,000 to provide radio reading services to blind, visually impaired, and print-disabled people in Tucson, Arizona for a term of July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004.

(D-10) APPROVAL OF 2003-2004 INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN ESTRELLA MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE NURSING ASSISTING PROGRAM AND DYSART UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 89 - Approve an Intergovernmental Agreement between Estrella Mountain Community College and Dysart Unified School District No. 89 for the 2003-2004 academic year..

(D-11) APPROVAL OF ARIZONA SYSTEM READY/CHILD READY (AZSRCR) EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT - Accept the Arizona System Ready/Child Ready (AzSRCR) Early Childhood Professional Development Project between Arizona State University, Maricopa Community Colleges, and the U.S. Department of Education. The two-year grant will commence on October 1, 2003 and conclude on September 30, 2005 and will amount to $298,982 over the two-year period.

(E-1) APPROVAL OF PROPOSED NEW COURSE FEES AT CHANDLER-GILBERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR FY2003-2004 - Approve new course fees for FY 2003-2004 as presented.

(E-2) APPROVAL OF PROPOSED COURSE FEE AT MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR SPRING 2004 - Approve a course fee for a new Network Academy course being offered for Spring 2004 at Mesa Community College.

(F-1) APPROVAL OF STUDIO 28 REMODELING AWARD AT MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Approve awarding a contract in the amount of two hundred forty thousand six hundred eighty-nine and no/100ths dollars ($240,689.00) to the job order costing contractor, 3D/International, Inc., for the remodeling of Studio 28 at Mesa Community College.

MOTION NO. 9210

Mrs. Rosenthal moved for approval of the Consent Agenda with the exception of Item C-2, which was removed for comment, and Item F-2 which was pulled from action. Motion approved 4-0.

(B-1) APPROVAL OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO GOVERNING BOARD POLICIES - Adopt the proposed changed to its Governance Process (Annual Planning Calendar and Board Operations) and General (Operations) policies.

MOTION NO. 9211

Mrs. Rosenthal moved for adoption of proposed changed to its Governance Process (Annual Planning Calendar and Board Operations) and General (Operations) policies. Motion approved 4-0.

(C-2) APPROVAL OF FLEX CREDIT BENEFIT PROPOSAL 2004-2005 - Approve EBAC's recommendation for implementation of the Flex Credit Benefit Proposal to be effective July 1, 2004.

MOTION NO. 9212

Mrs. Rosenthal moved for approval of EBAC's recommendation for implementation of the Flex Credit Benefit Proposal to be effective July 1, 2004. Motion approved 4-0.

(C-3) APPROVAL OF ACTIVE RETIREMENT POLICY - Approve the revised Active Retirement Policy as presented, including allocation of $600,000 in FY04-05 to four colleges that have historically experienced difficulty in funding the program and received very low or no funding when the program was decentralized in FY94-95.

Mrs. Stein questioned what the advantage would the $600,000 be to the four colleges. HR Vice Chancellor Dr. Jose Leyba responded that the arbitrary amount of $600,00 would allow the colleges to implement funding and this amount would be reevaluated in two years by the committee.

Mrs. Rosenthal commented that she was pleased that the Active Retirement Program had been modified to allow the younger colleges to participate and make the program fair throughout the entire system.

MOTION NO. 9213

Mrs. Rosenthal moved for approval of the revised Active Retirement Policy as presented, including allocation of $600,000 in FY04-05 to four colleges that have historically experienced difficulty in funding the program and received very low or no funding when the program was decentralized in FY94-95. Motion approved 4-0.

MONITORING REPORTS

(VI.A.) Budget Analysis Report Summary
Fund 1 - General Unrestricted Fund
For the Five Months Ended November 30, 2003

Expenditure analysis indicates 35.6% of the budget has been expended so far this year as compared to 36.0% expended at this same point in time last year. 27.1% of budget remains unexpended or unencumbered compared to 26.3% in the prior year. Revenue analysis indicates that 62.5% of the budget has been recognized to date. Projected fund balance will increase by about $24 thousand during this fiscal year. 8.2% of budgeted expenditures are projected to be unexpended and projected ending fund balance for June 2004 is $69.3 million and equates to about 47 days of operating budget, or more than six payrolls

NEXT BOARD MEETING

The next Governing Board Meeting will be a Community Listening Session on Thursday, December 11, 2003 at the Chandler-Gilbert Community
College.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

———————————
Linda B. Rosenthal
Governing Board Secretary