Special Report To The Public:
Geysil Arroyo
Trustee Geysil Arroyo thanked representatives of the Academic Senates, student trustee Dalia Ramirez, and public commentors for speaking during the meeting, and acknowledged the great efforts all four student trustees have made this year in representing their fellow students and encouraging them to get involved. She reported that she attended the inaugural Measure HH Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee on March 4.
Mariah Jameson
Trustee Mariah Jameson reported that she just returned from Jamaica, and that in the past month, she met with the Black Contractors Association, along with Chancellor Gregory Smith, San Diego College of Continuing Education President Tina M. King, and San Diego City College President Ricky Shabazz, where she learned about the history of the organization and how to properly use a hammer. She also reported that on March 26, she attended the Social Justice and City Womxn Rock conferences at City College and recently has had two opportunities to honor President King at both the Cool Women Celebration hosted by Girl Scouts San Diego and during the March County Board of Supervisors meeting.
Dr. Marichu Magaña
Trustee Marichu Magaña reported that she attended the Cool Women Celebration, and that she is looking forward to the upcoming scholarship season.
Craig Milgrim
Trustee Craig Milgrim recognized Mesa College Pride Center coordinator Lucio Lira for being selected to receive the California Community Colleges Dr. Emilie Mitchell Rainbow Excellence Award which recognizes leaders who support LGBTQIA+ students and noted that he and Jaime Sykes Seiverd submitted the nomination. He reported he had lunch with Nicole Lillie and Aidan Lin-Tostado from Our Time to Act, a Gen-Z focused social justice organization, and he mentioned wanting to invite them to the Trustee Advisory Council in an effort to include more voices from that generation. He also reported that he was a part of continued conversations, alongside Trustee Jameson and Chancellor Smith, with San Diego Unified School District regarding affordable housing. He concluded by saying he had dinner with President King and confirms she is a “cool woman.”
Gregory Smith
Chancellor Gregory Smith reported that the District is advocating for Assembly Bill 323 (Fong) to extend Strong Workforce program funds to paid internships; AB 335 (Gipson) to build on a bill passed last year to establish Black Serving Institutions, for which City, Mesa, and Continuing Education colleges would qualify; AB 648 (Zbur) that would, like UC and CSUs, make California Community Colleges exempt from zoning regulations when creating student affordable housing; and AB 1433 (Sharp-Collins) which defines noncredit colleges and emphasizes the importance of noncredit education for career development into living wage employment. He also reported that the State budget is looking positive for this year and going into the creation of the 2025-26 budget, including funding unfunded growth during 2023-24 and 2024-25, which accounts for about $10 million at SDCCD.
Chancellor Smith reported that County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, who was scheduled to attend was called away to business in Washington, D.C., but wanted to acknowledge the recognition she and the County Board of Supervisors bestowed upon President King. He commended Dean Amertah Perman for her visit to Sacramento in March to represent the District in support of AB 323. He reported that he attended a recent districtwide meeting for San Diego Advance, a noncredit to credit alignment workgroup, and noted the important work being done there to build intentional pathways to earn a free certificate before transferring to a credit college for an associate degree. Chancellor Smith recognized Vice Chancellor Joel Peterson, Associate Vice Chancellor Aurora Ayala, District Architect Lance Lareau, and Project Manager Steve Dow, and the whole of the Operations, Enterprise Services, and Facilities team for their work on the bond implementation. He noted that their work is important to manage the bond in a way that will minimize cost to taxpayers and maximize the return to students, the colleges, and the communities. He concluded by saying he has asked college stakeholders and governance councils to provide input on the use of conducted energy devises/tasers on campuses, and he said he hopes to bring forth to the Board, by no later than May, the results of those efforts and make a recommendation for how to move forward.
Dalia Ramirez
Student Trustee Dalia Ramirez reported that various activities were held in recognition of Black History Month and the contributions, culture, and legacy of the Black community. She reported that Associated Students at Mesa College hosted a Student Leadership Week from March 24-26 with the aim of making AS more accessible to students and inviting students to engage more with student leadership. She reported that Miramar College hosted a ribbon cutting on February 24 for the new Veterans Resource Center, which included guest speakers and a performance by the 3rd Marine Aircraft Band from the Miramar Corps Air Station, and that College of Continuing Education President Tina M. King was recognized on March 14 as a 2025 Cool Women recipient from the Girl Scouts San Diego.
BOARD ACTIONS
At its regular meeting of March 27, 2025, which was conducted in-person, with online participation available, the Board of Trustees:
- Announced the following actions from Closed Session: the Board ratified the Separation Agreement of a contract faculty member at San Diego Mesa College; denied the appeal of an Administrative Determination of a Title 5 Complaint; and approved the disciplinary action of expelling a San Diego City College student #032796-316-4800-25, from all colleges, campuses, programs, sites and activities of the San Diego Community College District.
- Heard public comment from Daniel Villegas who spoke in support of campus music programs, and Israel Soto who spoke regarding a closed session item and about affordable housing. City College Academic Senate (AS) President Mona Alsoraimi-Espiritu reported the senate had a first read of two resolutions and reviewed an AI position paper. The first resolution calls for a sustainability officer liaison position, the second deals with security cameras on campus. The AS is also having elections and reviewing the hiring process. She reminded the Board of the AS resolution pertaining to free speech from March 2024. She commended the Board and Chancellor Smith for their actions in support of faculty and students who are threatened by the federal government. She shared that as a Palestinian woman she worries about how classroom discussions are being interpreted. She also reported on a difficult vote that was recently taken on the issue of childcare at the college where many senators abstained. Mesa College AS President Andrew Hoffman said the Speech and Debate team took first place at a recent tournament, becoming the winningest team in the association’s history. He said the Environmental Sustainability Committee is working on integrating sustainability campuswide, including into several courses, transportation goals, student interns, reducing emissions, native plantings, creation of a woodland trail and meditation garden. On April 10 there will be a fashion show at Balboa Park. Pride Center coordinator Lucio Lira has been recognized as a CCC leader in supporting LGBTQIA+ students. He said the AS passed a resolution opposing the implementation of tasers on campus and calling for the funding to be used to support students. Miramar College AS President Pablo Martin acknowledged Dean Shelly Hess’s support of the college’s new bachelor’s program in Public Safety Management. The AS voted to approve a lower division program that leads to a bachelor's degree. He said there are several workgroups making good progress including a women’s empowerment group. He acknowledged all those who contributed to its success. College of Continuing Education Classified Senate co-Vice President Neill Kovrig reported that the senate is focused on the reclassification process and appreciates collaboration with the administration, and he acknowledged President King and the college’s executive leadership team for their effort in this regard. He recognized students who participated in the March in March advocacy visit to Sacramento, where they advocated for AB 1433 and met with representatives from Assemblymembers LaShae Sharp-Collins and Chris Ward. He acknowledged Professional Development coordinator Carla Grossini-Concha for her work preparing for the upcoming Staff Training and Retention conference. He spoke on the benefits of a 32-hour work week.
- Adopted resolutions in support of Assembly Bill 323 (Fong), Assembly Bill 335 (Gipson), Assembly Bill 648 (Zbur), Assembly Bill 766 (Sharp-Collins), Assembly Bill 1433 (Sharp-Collins), Assembly Bill 629 (Ward), Assembly Bill 1224 (Valencia), and Senate Bill 438 (Cabaldon); excused Trustee Maria Nieto Senour from attendance at the March 27, 2025, meeting due to a hardship; to established a new and increased an existing cash register change fund for the Culinary Arts/Culinary Management program at San Diego Mesa College; and authorized Finance and Business Services to make General Fund/Unrestricted budgetary and financial transfers effective April 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025.
- Appointed Trustee Advisory Council members Louis Avalos and Liliana Soriano Garista as nominated by Trustee Milgrim.
- Authorized agreements with healthcare agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupation programs.
- Authorized travel for San Diego Mesa College students to attend the 2025 CalWORKs Conference, April 28 through May 1 in Sacramento, California; for San Diego Miramar College students to participate in the Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE) National Conference from April 9-11, in Oakland, California.
- Accepted grants from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) for the Puente Campus program at San Diego City College; and Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Acceleration and the Rising Scholars Program at San Diego Mesa College.
- Accepted grants from the U.S. Department of Education for the HSI STEM Pathways and Articulation Program with San Diego State University at San Diego City College; from University of California, Santa Barbara to create data science pathways between California community colleges and 4-year institutions at San Diego Mesa College; from Cal Coast Cares Foundation for an Educator Grant program at San Diego Miramar College; and from California Native Plant Society for a mini-grant at San Diego Miramar College.
- Authorized agreements with the Foundation for Grossmont-Cuyamaca Colleges for the Regional Strong Workforce Program (SWP) Faculty Institute project at San Diego Miramar College and Accelerating Career Education Outcomes Investments at District Educational Services; and with the California Department of Social Services for Child Development programs at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.
- Entered into an agreement with the City of San Diego to move forward with the disposition of two Future Development site properties at 6901 and 6907-6921 Linda Vista Road and Balboa Theatre; ratified the commercial lease for office space for Bond implementation teams, consultants, and administration at 1450 Frazee Road; and increased the Board of Trustee approved claims settlement threshold authority for claim resolution to recognize inflation factors.
- Awarded RFQs for as-needed contracts for architectural, Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing, and civil engineering services for infrastructure and smaller bond measure HH projects districtwide; and for Project Management Organizations (PMO) Gafcon, Kitchell, and Cumming Group to provide oversight for Measure HH Bond projects.
- Entered into consulting contracts with Executive Construction Managers and Assistant District Architects to provide oversight and architectural support throughout Measure HH; a contract with FMX to streamline the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and Asset and Inventory Management System (IMS) across all campuses and within Operations, Enterprise Services, and Facilities.
- Entered into a California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA) Public Works contract with USA Shade & Fabric Structure to provide and install a shade structure for Mesa College Parking lot 2; and a licensing and royalty agreement with Planned Perfect Services to provide the Planned Perfect software to manage the Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E, including Education Technology and IT) removal, installation, procurement, storage, project requirement details, swing space (including associated tenant improvements (TI)) management, FF&E and personnel move management, and status tracking of FF&E across all Bond projects.
- Approved a change order with Chula Vista Electric for the Switchgear replacement at ECC; terminated an Emergency Action taken pursuant to PCC 22050 to locate and repair a in the hot water system that supplies heat to the majority of the buildings at Mesa College; and ratified an Emergency Action taken pursuant to PCC 22050 to replace a failed boiler necessary for heating at CE Mesa.
- Approved the nomination of Stephen Bass (Research and Planning Analyst, District Office) as the District’s nominee for the California Community Colleges Classified Employee of the Year Award for 2025, to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
- Approved purchase orders and contracts completed during February 2025; new or revised courses and programs; and various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after March 28, 2025.