REPORTS AND COMMENTS

 

• President Donald P. Wagner expressed concern about the California Performance Review (CPR). It includes recommendations that would move control of Community Colleges to Sacramento . He suggested that everyone study the issues and that the Board take an official position. He congratulated the College Presidents on an exciting month of events commemorating September 11, Saddleback Foundation fundraising kickoff for the Health Sciences Building , IVC Observatory, and groundbreaking of the IVC Performing Arts Center and Theatre. He acknowledged that Trustee Marcia Milchiker was unable to attend the meeting and extended the Board's wishes to her for a speedy recovery.

• Vice President Nancy M. Padberg expressed opposition to the CPR as she is not in favor of centralized control at the state level. She attended the impressive College events this month, including a Saddleback College football game. She invited everyone to attend and participate in the Saddleback College Alumni Association Gaucho Gallop 5K/10K on Sunday, October 24. [Additional information is available at www.saddleback.edu or by calling 949/322-5838.]

• Trustee Thomas Fuentes expressed opposition to the proposal in the CPR that would eliminate the Board of Governors and move Community Colleges and their 2.6 million students under the State Board of Education. He urged everyone to study the issues and convey their comments to the Governor. He reminded those in attendance that the library at Saddleback College is the James B. Utt Memorial Library honoring the contributions of the former Congressman. [The building was dedicated on June 27, 1973 .]

• Trustee William O. Jay thanked the many people who remembered him with flowers and cards during a brief stay in the hospital.  He attended an event celebrating the life of a “charter member of the faculty,” political science Professor Paul Brennan, who passed away recently.

• Trustee David Lang expressed his excitement about the wonderful new Saddleback College Health Sciences / District Offices Building that the Board toured prior to the meeting. He extended his congratulations to both Colleges and College Presidents on their September 11 ceremonies. He is looking forward to having the input from the new Student Trustee starting next month.

• Trustee John Williams expressed his opposition to the CPR.  He mentioned that there remains a continuing need for local control of our Colleges by officials elected by citizens. “Keep the community in Community Colleges.”

• Chancellor Raghu P. Mathur attended a summit of Orange County educators that included all four Community College Chancellors, the President of CSU Fullerton, the Vice Chancellor of UCI, and the Orange County Superintendent of Schools. They discussed the need to work together to communicate the importance of public education and to do something about the regulations and processes that affect the cost of construction. They plan to share and review concerns about the CPR, and meet again this fall. He congratulated Tracy Daly and PJ Schramel on their first place award for best video from the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations.

• IVC President Glenn Roquemore thanked the Trustees and Chancellor for their attendance at the College's September 11 commemoration and the Observatory ribbon cutting. He invited everyone to the groundbreaking of the IVC Performing Arts Center and Theatre at 11am on Thursday, September 30. Dr. Roquemore's written report included mention of: IVC alum Dustin Nguyen was a featured artist at an international comics convention this summer; the accreditation report is available in print and online in anticipation of the accreditation team visit October 12-14; Community Education is providing classes this fall in computer espionage, identity theft, wireless security, computer surveillance and counter surveillance.

• Saddleback College President McCullough thanked the Trustees for their participation in the College's September 11 commemoration, particularly Trustee Fuentes who was a featured speaker. He also thanked Trustees for attending the Foundation's fundraising kickoff for the new Saddleback College Health Sciences Building . Dr. McCullough 's written report included mention of: six Communication Arts students and three Travel and Tourism students who are high achieving in the work place; South Orange County Tech-Prep Consortium is collaborating with local employers; Marian Stewart and Angie Plunkett, two Saddleback graduates, have returned to teach art after receiving MFAs; baseball coach Jack Hodges was chosen as the California Community College Coach of the Year.

• Addressing the Board were: Dr. Carmen Dominguez , Saddleback College Academic Senate; Lewis Long , Faculty Association; Mary Williams , CSEA; and Rachel Hipolite , Associated Student Government of Saddleback College.