Mariah Jameson
Trustee Mariah Jameson thanked Miramar College President Wes Lundburg for hosting the board meeting and thanked the students and public speakers who brought various issues to the board's attention.
Dr. Marichu Magaña
Trustee Marichu Magaña thanked the public speakers for their comments and reminded everyone of the privilege we have as citizens to debate such important topics.
Craig Milgrim
Trustee Craig Milgrim briefly responded to several statements from people giving public testimony and assured them that he had heard their concerns and would look into them.
Gregory Smith
Chancellor Gregory Smith thanked and acknowledged Mesa College Vice President of Administrative Services Lorenze Legaspi, whose last day with the District is March 20.
Ariella O’Garro
Student Trustee Ariella O’Garro reported that the City College Associated Student Government hosted a Spring Fest Club Rush and an Open House; Mesa College ASG is developing a student leadership and advocacy training initiative; Miramar College ASG held a networking event to connect students with deans and executive leadership; and College of Continuing Education Associated Students is working with the Immigrant Student Success Program and Counselor Armando Carignan to share opportunities to continue career development and education at the District’s credit colleges.
BOARD ACTIONS
At its regular meeting of March 12, 2026, which was conducted in-person, with online participation available, the Board of Trustees:
- Announced the following actions from Closed Session: accepted the recommendation not to renew the employment contract of two regular academic employees at the San Diego Community College district, as required under Section 887732 of the California Education Code.
- Conducted a campus meeting in a hybrid format with Miramar College that included welcome remarks from President Wes Lundburg; and presentations, including What Powers Career and Life Design and Why it Matters by Associate Dean Jennifer Peña; the Future of Athletics by Athletics Director Nick Gehler and student athlete Victoria Coker; Public Safety by Dean Jaqueline Hester, instructors David Lee, Tevita Fifita, Jordan Omens, David Mehlhoff, Scott Moller, Mary Kjartanson, Matthew Jewett, Justin Matsushita, and Darren Hall, and students Wayne Wyatt and AJ Littlejohn; and Basic Needs: The Foundation for Student Success by Basic Needs Coordinator Shelly Parks; and closing remarks by Wes Lundburg.
- Heard public comment from Monica Romero who provided an update from the Management Association; Grant Guiomar and Hope Ess requested support for improved and dedicated facilities for Miramar College athletics; eight speakers urged the board to support a proposed resolution to improve the ethical standing of the San Diego Community College District; and Shahrokh Safavi, Zuri Williams, and Magdalena Kwiatkowski spoke about the campus climate at College of Continuing Education. City College Academic Senate (AS) Mona Alsoraimi Espiritu reported that, during the review of emergency response protocols, a faculty workgroup identified license plate readers as problematic and requested the reinstatement of a placard permit system; and shared a new faculty hiring prioritization process and criteria, voted upon by the AS. She also shared that the Associated Student Government body passed a resolution asking the AS to sponsor it, which asks the SDCCD to utilize a transparent review process for any organizations it might invite to become members of the District Corporate Council. She also read a letter from the AS questioning a new MOU between SDCCD and the Local AFT Guild regarding professional advancement processes. Mesa College AS President Mary Gwin thanked the Miramar College meeting presenters, shared about upcoming art exhibitions at the Mesa College Art Gallery, reported that Congresswoman Sara Jacobs was on campus March 12 to award congressional recognition to Mesa College as a Black Serving Institution, and thanked President Ashanti T. Hands for her intentional efforts and leadership. She also noted that the Mesa College Research Conference will take place on May 8 and that Trustee Geysil Arroyo will deliver the keynote speech. She said the AS met on March 9, where two main issues of concern surfaced, including work creep related to a new process for ordering common office supplies and a lack of transparency for current budget decision-making. Miramar College AS President Rodrigo Gomez welcomed the Board and Chancellor Smith to Miramar College and noted that the college continues to be a place where students are engaged and where faculty work to prepare them for academics, civic participation, and professional life. He said the college is celebrating Women’s History Month with various events, noted the upcoming Youth and Social Powwow on March 21, and that the college will join the Puente Program with its first cohort launching in fall 2026. He reported that the AS met on March 3 and discussed campus safety, as well as conversations about the rapid evolution of AI and agentic AI systems, and the opportunities and challenges they pose for higher education environments. College of Continuing Education AS President Richard Weinroth thanked Miramar College for its campus presentation and commented on its strong focus on career services, which he noted is important for College of Continuing Education students to see that they have a partner at the credit colleges to help them move forward. Miramar College Classified Senate President Malia Kunst reported that City College held a classified forum on the 36-hour workweek pilot. She noted that Miramar College classified professionals are highly dedicated individuals and thanked Chancellor Smith and President Lundburg for helping to fund participation in classified professionals' leadership events this year.
- Conducted the first reading of revisions to Chapter 3 – General Institution, Chapter 4 – Instructional Services, and Chapter 6 – Business and Financial Services board policies, with approval to proceed with the next steps of review.
- Adopted resolutions recognizing April 2026 as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awareness Month and Arab American Heritage Month; authorizing Finance and Business Services to make General Fund/Unrestricted budgetary and financial transfers effective April 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026; and authorizing the Issuance of Sale of SDCCD General Obligation Bonds following a presentation by Vice Chancellor Dan Troy.
- Approved new or revised courses and programs following comments by Vice Chancellor Susan Topham, and approved the program discontinuance of the San Diego Mesa College Neurodiagnostic Technology program.
- Accepted a grant from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) for the Emergency Aid for California Dream Act Application (CADAA) Filers and the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) for the districtwide Cooperative Sub-Minimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment Project.
- Authorized agreements with the Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges for the Strong Workforce Program (SWP) at College of Continuing Education and with the California Department of Social Services for Child Development programs at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges; and entered a facility use agreement with the Regents of the University of California for the use of San Diego Miramar College’s facilities in support of the University CARBTest referee program for heavy-duty vehicles.
- Awarded bids for Enhanced FF&E / Logistics Management Services to JE Moore Consulting, Inc., for the City College Building AH Overhead Garage Door Replacements Project to Creative Builds Corp., for Mesa and Miramar colleges Lighting Inverters Replacement Projects to Ready Electric, and for the Miramar College A2 Mat Room HVAC Replacement Project to Able Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.
- Reviewed and ratified Emergency Actions taken to repair the baseball outfield fence and netting at Mesa College; the York Chiller at the Miramar College central plant; to restore and replace flood-impacted areas at the College of Continuing Education Cesar Chavez Campus; And to repair a damaged sewer line at the College of Continuing Education's Educational Cultural Complex.
- Approved purchase orders and contracts completed during February 2026; Measure HH Project Updates, notices to proceed, and change orders completed during February 2026; and various personnel actions.
Prior to the regular meeting, the Board of Trustees held a special meeting during which the Board:
- Reviewed and ratified emergency action taken to repair a transformer providing power to the Learning Resource Center (LRC), M Building, and I Building at Miramar College.