Aug 14, 2024 Board Meeting

[00:00:05]

OUR SPECIAL BOARD MEETING. AND WITH THAT, WE WILL OPEN OUR REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14TH, 2024. I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THIS MEETING.

ROLL CALL PLEASE. BOARD PRESIDENT SANDRA SALAZAR.

[1.01 Roll Call]

HERE. BOARD CLERK. DAWN GREEN. HERE. TRUSTEE JAMES CODY.

BIRKEY. PRESENT. TRUSTEE. ZURICH. LEWIS. HERE.

TRUSTEE. SHIN LIU. TRUSTEE. MARISA. PEREZ. STUDENT.

TRUSTEE. KATHIE LEE. HERE. AND PRESIDENT. SUPERINTENDENT.

FIERRO. HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1.02.

[1.02 Pledge of Allegiance]

RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. TRUSTEE BIRKEY. NEXT SECTION 1.03 COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE.

[1.03 Comments from the Audience]

THE FIRST ONE IS FACULTY HEALTH CARE DESIREE MONTENEGRO.

HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DESIREE ANN MONTENEGRO.

I HAVE THE HONOR AND THE PRIVILEGE TO TEACH AT CERRITOS COLLEGE IN THE COMMUNICATION STUDIES DEPARTMENT.

I'VE BEEN TEACHING FOR SIX, GOING ON SEVEN YEARS NOW, HAVE HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED IN THE SPECIAL COMMUNITY.

AND SO IT'S REALLY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, WHICH BRINGS ME SADNESS TODAY AS TO WHY I HAVE TO BE HERE AND DISCUSS THIS THIS ONGOING ISSUE OF STILL LACK OF HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR PART TIME FACULTY WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL COST AND A POTENTIAL COLA INCREASE.

THAT'S NOT A HUGE ASK, BUT JUST A BASIC ASK TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE WHERE YOU WORK.

SO I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH WITH CCF, BECAUSE THESE THINGS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOUR FACULTY.

EDUCATION AND LEARNING DOESN'T HAPPEN ON ITS OWN.

IT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF SPECIAL AND UNIQUE AND DEDICATED FACULTY LIKE THE FACULTY YOU HAVE HERE AT CERRITOS COLLEGE.

I ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE SHORT TERM AND THE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES OF NOT CHOOSING TO VALUE YOUR FACULTY.

I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I BROUGHT MY TWO DAUGHTERS WITH ME TODAY.

ALASKA. MONTENEGRO. CAN YOU STAND UP, BABY? SHE HAS A LOT OF COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION.

A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS DO AS WELL, SO I'LL LEAVE HER AT THAT.

BUT. AND THEN MY OTHER DAUGHTER. AFFINITY MONTENEGRO.

THE REASON WHY I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BRING THEM HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO SEE A PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO VALUE YOUR FACULTY.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT, LIKE, OUR STUDENTS HAVE BASIC NEEDS, AND IF WE CAN HELP THEM WITH THOSE BASIC NEEDS, THEY COULD BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION AND PERHAPS THEIR CAREERS, MAKING A TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT, POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO THEIR FAMILIES, THE PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON THEM.

SO THANKFULLY, I'M NOT THE SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE IN MY FAMILY.

I HAVE A HUSBAND WHO HAS A GOOD JOB AND WHO HAS MEDICAL COVERAGE, WHICH IS A MEDICAL COVERAGE I USE FOR MY CHILDREN.

BUT IF I WAS A SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE, IF I WAS A FACULTY MEMBER HERE AND I RELIED ON THE INSURANCE THAT CERRITOS WAS PROVIDING ME, MY CHILDREN WOULDN'T BE AS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AS THEY ARE TODAY, AND I'D BE FORCED TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS.

I GREW UP IN A SINGLE PARENT FAMILY. I GREW UP MY ENTIRE LIFE WITHIN AND THROUGHOUT VARIOUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUSES, DOING MY HOMEWORK, WATCHING MY MOTHER STRUGGLE TO COMPLETE HER EDUCATION AS A SINGLE PARENT.

AND WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD, SHE GRADUATED. BUT ONE THING SHE TAUGHT ME IN THAT EXPERIENCE IS THAT EDUCATION IS TRANSFORMATIVE.

WE KNOW THAT FOR OUR STUDENTS, LET'S VALUE OUR FACULTY THAT ARE IN EXTREMELY ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THAT TRANSFORMATIVE POWER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS UNDER FACULTY FULL TIME FACULTY HEALTHCARE DOCTOR HENRIETTA HURTADO.

GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES, FACULTY AND GUESTS. I'M DOCTOR HENRIETTA HURTADO, AND I LIVE IN THE SAN PEDRO AREA AND PORT OF LOS ANGELES.

I AM A FULL TIME EOPS COUNSELING FACULTY AND THE CCSF COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR.

I HAVE WORKED AT CERRITOS COLLEGE FOR 23 YEARS AND GRADUATED FROM IMPERIAL VALLEY COLLEGE AND ASPEN PRIZE RECIPIENT HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION.

[00:05:05]

THE EUCALYPTUS OIL THAT SITS ON MY DESK AS ITS AS IS THE SCENT OF BURNING SAGE SHELTERED IN AN ABALONE SHELL RIGHT NEXT TO IT.

EUCALYPTUS OIL IS A SOLUBLE LIQUID OR A SOLUTION, WHICH I OFTEN USE TO GET GROUNDED AS I INHALE THE HEALING PROPERTIES OF ITS AROMATIC HEALING ESSENCE TO HELP ME HEAL FROM SEASONAL ALLERGIES OR SIMPLY BREATHE.

I COULDN'T BURN SAGE IN MY OFFICE AS I PREPARED FOR THIS MEETING, BUT I DID INHALE THE AROMA OF EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS BECAUSE IT IS A PURE SOLUTION, AND I NEEDED ALL MY STRENGTH THIS EVENING. ESTEEMED TRUSTEES, I WOULD LIE IF I FAILED TO TELL YOU THAT STANDING BEFORE YOU AS I SPEAK, REQUESTING YOU BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH WITH OUR UNION TO ENSURE ALL FACULTY HAVE SUSTAINABLE HEALTHCARE DEEPLY SADDENS ME.

ESPECIALLY ON A DAY WHEN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION'S EMERGENCY COMMITTEE ON MPOX OR MONKEYPOX IDENTIFIED THIS CONCERN AS A GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. WHILE PREPARING FOR THIS MEETING, I ALSO NOTICED THAT OUR COLLEGE'S MISSION STATEMENT, VISION AND VALUES, EXCLUDES THE KEY WORDS SUCH AS HEALTH CARE AND FACULTY.

HOWEVER, IT DOES INCLUDE GLOBAL COMMUNITIES. SO I CHOOSE TO REMAIN OPTIMISTIC, TRUSTING THAT YOU ALL WILL DEMONSTRATE, AS WE ARE THIS EVENING, YOUR COMMITMENT TO INSTITUTIONAL HEALTH, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY.

PULLING THE LEVER ON FACULTY HEALTH CARE. INSTEAD, CHOOSE TO INVEST IN THE BEST FACULTY BODY AND OUR OWN HEALTH AS A STRATEGIC SOLUTION. I SUGGEST THAT AS YOU PREPARED FOR THIS YEAR'S CONVOCATION, YOU ELABORATE HOW YOU ARE STRENGTHENING EMPLOYEE RETENTION TO PROPER FACULTY HEALTH CARE AS CERRITOS COLLEGE TO ASPIRES TO BECOME AN ASPEN PRIZE WINNING HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION. WE CAN ALL WIN IN GOOD FAITH AND GOOD HEALTH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT CARD WE HAVE IS ON HEALTH CARE. APRIL. BRACAMONTES.

APRIL. GOOD EVENING TRUSTEES. MY NAME IS APRIL BRACAMONTES.

I HAVE BEEN A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE AT CERRITOS COLLEGE SINCE 2012.

IN MY TIME AT CERRITOS, I HAVE COME TO A BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING AND SPOKEN ON THE TOPIC OF THE CAP ON HEALTH CARE AT LEAST THREE TIMES THAT I CAN REMEMBER.

EACH TIME I'VE SHARED AN ASPECT OF MY OWN HEALTH CARE STORY, SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO DO TO ENSURE MY HEALTH CARE WOULD BE MAINTAINED.

PRE-PANDEMIC, I SHARED MY STORY OF BEING DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER AT AN EARLY AGE, BUT I FELT CONFIDENT THAT I WOULD SURVIVE BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO BUILD A CARE TEAM THAT I TRUSTED BECAUSE OF MY HEALTH CARE. DURING THE 2124 NEGOTIATION CYCLE, I SHARED ABOUT MY SURGERY AND RECOVERY AND THE RESOURCES I HAD AVAILABLE TO ME BECAUSE OF MY HEALTH CARE. TODAY, I AM FINISHED WITH MY CANCER TREATMENTS, AND I AM ABLE TO REGULARLY RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE TESTING TO CATCH ANY POSSIBLE RECURRENCE EARLY BECAUSE OF MY HEALTH CARE. BUT MY HEALTH CARE SHOULDN'T BE CONTINGENT UPON ME SHARING MY MEDICAL TRAUMA EVERY FEW YEARS.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER. WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE NARRATIVE THAT HEALTHCARE HEALTH CARE WILL BANKRUPT CERRITOS COLLEGE BECAUSE IT WON'T.

WHILE IT IS TRUE THE DISTRICT SPENDS MORE DOLLARS EACH YEAR ON HEALTH CARE, THE PERCENTAGE OF UNRESTRICTED GENERAL FUNDS SPENT ON THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS HAS ACTUALLY DECREASED SINCE 2018. EVEN WITH THE RISING COST OF HEALTH CARE.

ADDITIONALLY, THE DISTRICT RESERVES ARE HEALTHY AND CONTINUE TO GROW EACH YEAR.

LAST YEAR, THE DISTRICT BOASTED MORE THAN $60 MILLION IN RESERVES, WITH ALMOST 50 MILLION OF THAT AS UNRESTRICTED FUNDS.

IN FACT, EVEN WITH THE BOARD'S MANDATED RESERVE FUND, THE DISTRICT STILL HAS $21 MILLION OF UNDESIGNATED UNRESTRICTED RESERVES. THIS IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE COST OF HEALTH CARE PLANS THE DISTRICT CURRENTLY OFFERS TO ALL EMPLOYEES, AND IT IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO COVER ANY UPFRONT COSTS THAT WILL BE REIMBURSED BY THE STATE.

IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE TENETS OF AB 190, WHICH IS COMPREHENSIVE, PART TIME HEALTH CARE.

LET'S BREAK THIS CYCLE. LET'S PIVOT FROM THE PRIMARY FOCUS OR LET'S PIVOT THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF NEGOTIATIONS AROUND HEALTH CARE.

IT'S NOT BEING SHORT TERM FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS.

INSTEAD, LET'S FOCUS ON THE WELLBEING OF THE HEART OF OUR INSTITUTION, THE EMPLOYEES AT CERRITOS COLLEGE, I URGE YOU TO REJECT THE PROPOSED HEALTH CARE CAP AND PRESERVE THE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AND RESPECT OUR CERRITOS COLLEGE EMPLOYEES AND PROVIDE THEM THE RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE.

[00:10:06]

THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKERS ON HEALTH CARE MARIAM YOUSSEF. SHE'S OUTSIDE.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT PERSON.

HEALTH CARE. YLVA MARIANI. YES. GOOD EVENING, MY CERRITOS COLLEGE FAMILY. I'M YLVA MARIANA AND I AM NOW IN MY 25TH YEAR HERE AS A FULL TIME MATHEMATICS FACULTY MEMBER. AND LIKE MY COLLEAGUE, I HAVE HAD MANY INSTANCES TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU, MOSTLY ABOUT HEALTH CARE, AND BECAUSE OF MY OVERABUNDANT USE OF THE HEALTH CARE THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR ME.

MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN 20 YEARS AGO AS A 3 POUND BABY, AND THROUGH THE PROCESS OF BEING IN THE NICU, THROUGH THREE OPEN HEART SURGERIES, THROUGH.

THROUGH A SIX WEEK STAY AT BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOR CHRONIC PAIN THAT KEPT HER FROM SCHOOL FOR A YEAR.

WHAT KEPT US GOING? WHAT GAVE US STRENGTH WAS THE HEALTH INSURANCE AND THE CHOICES.

THE TIMELY CHOICES I COULD MAKE FOR MY DAUGHTER AND FOR MY FAMILY BECAUSE IT WAS PROVIDED FOR US.

TODAY, I HAVE A THRIVING, HEALTHY 20 YEAR OLD WHO'S A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.

BECAUSE BECAUSE I COULD MAKE THE TIMELY CHOICES FOR HER HEALTH.

AND I HAVE SPOKEN HERE. I HAVE EVEN HAD SOMEONE SPEAK FOR ME WHILE WE WERE IN BOSTON.

AND IT IS NOT BECAUSE WE CHOSE THE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT WAS MOST EXPENSIVE.

IT WAS BECAUSE WE NEEDED THE CHOICES THAT THAT INSURANCE PROVIDED FOR US.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T HAVE THAT AT PPO.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE TO PUT ON THE SIDE IN ADDITION TO THAT, HEALTH INSURANCE.

YOU DON'T KNOW THE MONEY THAT WE SPEND AND THE SACRIFICES THAT WE MAKE BECAUSE WE CHOOSE THAT HEALTH INSURANCE.

I HAD ALMOST A YEAR OF UNPAID FAMILY. YEAR FAMILY LEAVE AS A RESULT OF THESE HEALTH ISSUES THAT MY FAMILY HAS ENCOUNTERED.

BUT I HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO TEACH DURING THE PANDEMIC BETWEEN TWO EYE SURGERIES FOR MYSELF, BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED AND THAT HAS AFFORDED ME THE THE ABILITY TO BE THE BEST MOTHER I COULD BE. WE'RE A FAMILY. WE'RE NOT A CORPORATION.

HEALTH INSURANCE IS NOT A LINE ITEM. AND I CAN TELL YOU HOW MANY FINANCIAL SACRIFICES MY FAMILY HAS MADE.

AND AS APRIL HAS SAID, THIS IS NOT A SACRIFICE.

THIS IS SIMPLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THE FAMILY.

NOW MY HOUSE HAS A HAS A ROOF THAT MAY NOT LAST MY DAUGHTER'S COLLEGE EDUCATION, BUT MY DAUGHTER GOT TO COLLEGE.

MY BATHROOM IS STILL A 1930S BATHROOM. MY KITCHEN STILL HAS THE GROUT I HAVE TO CLEAN BECAUSE I HAVE NOT MADE THESE UPGRADES. BUT I HAVE A HEALTHY CHILD. SO PLEASE REMEMBER THE HEALTH OF US AND OUR CHILDREN.

WE'RE A FAMILY AND OUR PART TIME COLLEAGUES THAT THEY CAN'T EVEN GET THE BASIC HEALTH INSURANCE WHEN THE COLLEGE WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST. I'M SORRY, BUT THAT SHOULD NOT EVEN BE A QUESTION.

IT IS TIME THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE TALKING ABOUT OUR MEDICAL TRAUMA.

IT IS TIME. IT IS 2024. STEP UP PLEASE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER ON HEALTH CARE IS MARIAM YOUSSEF HERE?

[00:15:01]

I'VE BEEN WORKING PART TIME AT CERRITOS SINCE 2009.

SORRY FOR NINE YEARS. SO SINCE 2015. AND I WILL SAY THAT I'VE REALLY.

I JUST ADORE THIS CAMPUS AND I ADORE THE PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH.

ESPECIALLY THE THING THAT HAS KEPT ME AROUND FOR SO LONG IS THE DEEP, DEEP RESPECT THAT I HAVE FOR MY COLLEAGUES.

THEY ARE CREATIVE, THEY ARE RESILIENT, AND THEY ARE EXCELLENT AT WHAT THEY DO.

AND OUR STUDENTS DESERVE THAT. OUR STUDENTS ARE REALLY CURIOUS, HARDWORKING PEOPLE THAT ARE INVESTED IN THEIR EDUCATION AND THEY DESERVE FACULTY OF THIS CALIBER. BUT FACULTY OF THIS CALIBER CAN ONLY DO WHAT THEY DO WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR HEALTH, WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE FINANCIAL DECISIONS THAT SO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TALKED ABOUT HERE, ABOUT HOW TO SPLIT THEIR TIME AND THEIR ENERGY AROUND THIS.

RIGHT. SO WHEN OUR BASIC HUMAN NEEDS ARE MET, THAT'S WHEN WE CAN REALLY HUSTLE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND GIVE THE KIND THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION THAT OUR STUDENTS DESERVE AND THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION THAT MAKES CERRITOS AN INCREDIBLE PLACE TO WORK.

SO I'M IMPLORING YOU AS A PART TIME FACULTY AND ON THE BEHALF OF MY FULL TIME COLLEAGUES AS WELL, TO JUST CONSIDER DOING THE RIGHT THING HERE. FUNDING OUR HEALTH CARE SO THAT WE CAN GO ON TO GIVE EXCELLENT EDUCATION TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS THAT DESERVE IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT COMMENT CARD IS ON HEALTH CARE MATT PAGE.

THANK YOU, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AS WELL.

LIKE YOU, I'VE BEEN HERE 25 YEARS, FULL TIME READING PROFESSOR.

MELANOMA, SKIN CANCER CAME TWO YEARS AGO. AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON MY FOREHEAD, IT CAME BACK AGAIN.

HAD SURGERY IN JULY. IF IT COMES BACK AGAIN, THEY'LL HAVE TO TAKE SKIN FROM MY BUTT AND GRAFT IT TO MY HEAD.

FRANK, YOU COULD LITERALLY CALL ME BUTTHEAD AND IT WOULDN'T BE RUDE.

I AM UPSET BECAUSE DOCTOR FIERRO, THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, YOU SENT OUT AN EMAIL THAT I READ AND I TOOK YOU AT YOUR WORD, AND YOU SAID THAT WE WOULDN'T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN, WHERE WE'RE PUSHED UP AGAINST A DEADLINE, WHERE WE'RE SORT OF HELD HOSTAGE WITH OPEN ENROLLMENT COMING UP, THAT THIS WOULD ALL BE TAKEN CARE OF BEFOREHAND.

AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN. AND THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT ARE BEING NEGOTIATED.

BUT THE HEALTH CARE, IF THERE'S ANY WAY, HOW THIS CAN COME BACK OUT AND BE TAKEN CARE OF.

THAT'S WHAT I'M PLEADING FOR. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND I THINK YOU'RE GETTING THE FEELING THAT HEALTH CARE IS NUMBER ONE.

TIME IS MONEY. AND HEALTH CARE, OF COURSE, IS MONEY.

BUT TO PUT US UP AGAINST A TIME SITUATION, TO MAKE CHOICES WHERE SOME PEOPLE WOULD BE DEDUCTED OVER $1,000 A MONTH BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHILDREN. I MEAN, THAT'S TO ME JUST LUDICROUS.

THIS CAN STILL GET DONE. $60 MILLION IN RESERVES.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SMALL AMOUNT. THAT'S WHERE I'M HOPING THIS CAN BE DONE.

IN CLOSING, FOR 25 YEARS. WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THE HEALTH CARE COVERED.

EVEN IN 2008 WHEN WE HAD THE TERRIBLE, YOU KNOW, ECONOMY.

AND I AM SO THANKFUL NOT JUST FOR MYSELF BUT FOR MY, MY WIFE.

WHEN IT WAS $100,000 IN 2014 TO BE IN LOS ALAMITOS HOSPITAL FOR ONE WEEK, TO ONLY HAVE TO PAY $3,500.

AND THEN TWO AND A HALF WEEKS LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

AND SO I AM SO THANKFUL THAT WE'VE HAD THIS FOR 25 YEARS.

THERE'S NO REASON WE NEED TO THIS YEAR. STOP.

[00:20:01]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT CARD. CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WILL MITTENDORF.

ALL RIGHT. HELLO. HONORABLE TRUSTEES, DOCTOR FIERRO AND ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES, I'M WILL MITTENDORF.

I'M A FULL TIME FACULTY MEMBER AND CHAIR OF THE PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT. I'M ALSO PART OF THE UNION'S NEGOTIATION TEAM.

I HAVE TO SAY, AFTER NINE MONTHS OF VERY COLLEGIAL AND PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS, I'M HONESTLY SURPRISED WE REACHED AN IMPASSE.

AND WHAT REALLY SURPRISES ME. AND THE FACT THAT WE'VE REACHED THIS POINT IS DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE SHARE ALL THE SAME GOALS.

WE'RE ALL COMMITTED TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. WE'RE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE BEST EDUCATION FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE ALL WANT TO BE PART OF THE, YOU KNOW, CREATING A MORE FAIR, EQUAL AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY. AND THIS INSTITUTION HAS THE POWER TO DO THAT.

I MEAN, COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO LIFT NOT JUST INDIVIDUALS, BUT ENTIRE FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY.

AND OUR JOB IS TO CREATE EQUITY IN THE CLASSROOM SO THAT OUR MOST MARGINALIZED STUDENTS GET THE EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE.

WE CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT OUR STUDENTS WILL BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY LEAVE, BUT AS OUR MISSION STATES, WE CAN DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND VALUES THAT PREPARE THEM FOR TO BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THEIR LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES.

SO HERE WE ALL ARE, EXPENDING OUR BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS, HOPING OUR STUDENTS WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN CREATING BETTER LIVES FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND HOPING THAT OUR WORK WILL CREATE A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY.

BUT WHILE WE'RE DOING ALL THIS HOPING, ALL THIS HOPING, IN THE MEANTIME, YOU, THE DISTRICT, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY CREATE AN EQUITABLE COMMUNITY HERE AND NOW.

FACULTY ARE ASKED NOT TO TALK ABOUT EQUITY IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT TO CREATE EQUITY.

SO I'M ASKING YOU TO DO THE SAME CREATE EQUITY, GUARANTEE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE TO OUR PART TIME COLLEAGUES.

THEY DESERVE IT. IT'S ALSO PAID FOR BY THE STATE.

CREATE EQUITY, INCREASE PART TIME PAY PARITY.

THEY TEACH THE SAME COURSES AS FULL TIME FACULTY WITH THE SAME ABILITIES, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE, BUT FOR LESS PAY. YES. CREATE EQUITY. GIVE EVERY FACULTY MEMBER AT LEAST A COLA.

RAISE ANOTHER COST THAT IS FULLY COVERED BY THE STATE.

IT'S NOT EQUITABLE TO DEMAND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND THEN ASK FOR A DISCOUNT WHILE HOLDING 60 MILLION IN THE BANK.

CREATE EQUITY. FULLY COVER FULL TIME HEALTH CARE.

RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE 300 ANXIOUS FACULTY MEMBERS WHO TONIGHT ARE SHOPPING FOR NEW HEALTH CARE PLANS AND LOOKING FOR NEW DOCTORS INSTEAD OF PLANNING THEIR COURSES, WHICH START NEXT WEEK. I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE.

WE DON'T WANT TO BE HERE. WE WANT TO BE AT HOME PREPARING FOR OUR CLASSROOMS. RIGHT? OUR EQUITABLE CLASSROOMS. THE UNION HAS MADE A VERY REASONABLE AND EQUITABLE OFFER.

SO I REALLY HIGHLY SUGGEST ENDING THE IMPASSE AND LET US ALL GET BACK TO WORK ON WHAT REALLY MATTERS.

THANK YOU. THAT WAS OUR LAST COMMENT CARD. THANK YOU EVERYONE, FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND SHARING YOUR CONCERNS WITH US.

AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE FACING DIFFICULT BUDGET CONDITIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING STABILITY TO ALL OUR EMPLOYEES BY DOING THE FOLLOWING ONE.

PROTECTING ALL THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY CERRITOS COLLEGE AND PROVIDING SALARY AND BENEFITS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO ACCOMPLISH OUR FIRST GOAL.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT BALANCING ACT.

BOTH THE DISTRICT AND CCSF HAVE WORKED HARD TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS IN GOOD FAITH.

AS WE MOVE TO IMPASSE. WE HOPE THAT A THIRD PARTY WILL HELP US GET TO A RESOLUTION THAT ENSURES STABILITY FOR EVERYONE AND THE DISTRICT ADDITIONALLY MOVING JOINTLY INTO IMPASSE AS THIS STAGE WILL HELP US REACH AN AGREEMENT WELL BEFORE THE INCREASE IN BENEFIT PREMIUMS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND COMING TONIGHT.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS 1.04 AGENDA ORGANIZATION.

[1.04 Agenda Organization]

HEARING NONE 1.05 REPORTS AND COMMENTS FROM CONSTITUENT GROUPS.

[1.05 Reports and Comments from Constituent Groups]

GOOD EVENING TRUSTEES. LAST YEAR WE CELEBRATED AWARDING OVER 8000 DEGREES.

A TESTAMENT TO OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS. AS WE EMBARK ON THIS NEW ACADEMIC YEAR, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE LIVE UP TO THE CORE VALUES OF

[00:25:09]

UNFORTUNATELY, THE DISTRICT'S ACTION WHEN IT COMES TO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES UNDERMINES THESE PRINCIPLES.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN 20 1820, I'M SORRY, IN 2018, THE PARTIES WENT TO IMPASSE OVER ECONOMIC ISSUES.

IN 2021, THE PARTIES WENT TO IMPASSE OVER ECONOMIC ISSUES.

IN 2024, NOW WE ARE AGAIN WORKING ON FILING IN PAST PAPERWORK.

I WAS HIRED IN 2015. THIS IS ALL I KNOW. EVERY CONTRACT.

2015 2018 IMPASSE. 2018 2021 IMPASSE. 20 2124 IMPASSE.

2427 IMPASSE. THIS IS ALL I KNOW. THE COMMON THREAD IN EACH OF THESE NEGOTIATION CYCLE IS THAT THE DISTRICT DOES NOT PROVIDE MORE THAN A FEW DISTINCT ECONOMIC PROPOSALS, AND ULTIMATELY NEGOTIATIONS OVER ECONOMIC ISSUES FIND IT NO LONGER FRUITFUL. ONE OF THE MOST CONCERNING ISSUES AROUND HAVING TO GO TO IMPASSE AT THIS TIME IS THAT WE ARE, AGAIN, SO CLOSE UP TO OPEN ENROLLMENT, AND THE PROPOSED HEALTH CARE CAP FURTHER UNDERMINES THESE PRINCIPLES WITHIN THE STUDENT FIRST FRAMEWORK.

THIS DECISION IMPACTS OVER 300 EMPLOYEES, NOT JUST FACULTY.

THIS IS A CRITICAL ISSUE THAT WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT REPERCUSSIONS IF WE DON'T FIND A SOLUTION THAT'S FOCUSED ON FACTS, NOT ASSUMPTIONS. THERE ARE 274 FULL TIME FACULTY AT CERRITOS COLLEGE.

THE AVERAGE FACULTY HEALTH CARE COST IS $22,000 PER FULL TIME FACULTY.

WE OFTEN HEAR THE ARGUMENT THAT IF WE LIFT THE CAP ON HEALTH CARE, THERE WILL BE THIS MASS SWITCH TO THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLAN.

BUT THAT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE. FACULTY MAKE THEIR HEALTH CARE DECISIONS BASED ON THEIR NEEDS, NOT THE PRICE OF HEALTH CARE. HEALTH CARE IS A PERSONAL CHOICE AND IT LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE.

FOR EXAMPLE, ONLY 12% 32 OF THE FULL TIME FACULTY UTILIZE THE PERS PLATINUM PPO FAMILY PLAN, WHICH IS OUR MOST COSTLY PLAN. I'LL JUST CALL IT THE CADILLAC PLAN.

RIGHT. PEOPLE CALL IT THE CADILLAC PLAN. ONLY 32.

12%. IN COMPARISON, 24% OF THE FACULTY BODY, ROUGHLY 66 FACULTY, ARE SINGLE SUBSCRIBERS WHOSE PLAN COSTS $10,000 ON AVERAGE.

THAT IS ME. I'M A SINGLETON. I HAVE TWO DOGS.

TATTED. HERE. THERE ARE ALSO ABOUT 20 FACULTY MEMBERS WHO OPT IN FOR THE $4,000 CASH IN LIEU.

INSTEAD. WE NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION. A JOINT LABOR MANAGEMENT BENEFITS COMMITTEE IS ONE SUCH SOLUTION THAT FOSTERS TRUE INCLUSIVITY. THIS COMMITTEE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE RISING COSTS OF HEALTH CARE.

THIS COMMITTEE WILL INVOLVE ALL AFFECTED CONSTITUENTS IN FINDING SOLUTIONS TO CONTAIN COSTS WHILE PRESERVING BENEFITS, THUS MAINTAINING THE HEALTH CARE STATUS QUO FOR THIS YEAR AND ESTABLISH THE COMMITTEE TO PREPARE FOR 2026.

ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE THE HEART OF 8000 SUCCESSES DESERVE RESPECT, TRUST AND FAIR APPROACH TO HEALTH CARE. THIS INCLUDES OUR PART TIME FACULTY. THE DISTRICT CLAIMS UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE PART TIME HEALTH CARE PROGRAM AS THE REASON TO WITHHOLD THE 1.07% COLA INCREASE. HOWEVER, TWO YEARS DATA FROM THE CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE CLEARLY SHOWS 100% REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS PROGRAM. TO FURTHER SOLIDIFY OUR POSITION, WE EVEN GOT A DIRECT EMAIL FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF FISCAL HEALTH AND ACCOUNTING, ROWENA FINCH. AND I QUOTE, A REDUCTION OF FUNDS FOR PART TIME HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM IS DEFINITELY NOT PART OF ANY CONVERSATION OR PLANS. CONFIRMING THAT NO FUND REDUCTIONS FOR PART TIME HEALTH CARE ARE PLANNED.

TRUSTEES, OUR FACULTY AND STAFF ARE THE BEDROCK OF THIS INSTITUTION.

THEY ARE THE ONES WHO SHAPE YOUNG MINDS, INSPIRE INNOVATION, AND FOSTER SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.

TO CAP THEIR HEALTH CARE BENEFITS, NOT ENACT PART TIME FACULTY HEALTH CARE.

[00:30:02]

IT IS TIME FOR DECISIVE ACTION. LET US NOT ALLOW SHORT TERM FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS TO OVERSHADOW THE LONG TERM WELL-BEING OF OUR EMPLOYEES. I URGE YOU TO REJECT THE PROPOSED HEALTH CARE CAP AND EMBRACE A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH BY ESTABLISHING A JOINT LABOR MANAGEMENT BENEFITS COMMITTEE. WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND FIND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS THAT PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

THE FUTURE OF OUR DISTRICT DEPENDS ON THE STRENGTH AND THE DEDICATION OF OUR WORKFORCE.

LET US DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO THEM BY PRESERVING THEIR HEALTH CARE BENEFITS AND FOSTERING A CULTURE OF RESPECT, TRUST, AND INCLUSIVITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT, WE'LL HEAR FROM FACULTY SENATE PRESIDENT TERRENCE MULLINS.

HELLO. SO I'M TERRENCE MULLINS. I'M THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE FACULTY SENATE.

THE SENATE HASN'T MET YET, SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE A REPORT.

THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS THAT THE SENATE HAS TO DEAL WITH, BUT I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE BRINGING THEM UP BEFORE I MENTION THEM IN COORDINATING.

RIGHT. BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT A LITTLE BIT OF MY MY STORY.

I GUESS I WAS HIRED IN 2001, 2011 FULL TIME, BUT I ALSO PUT IN AN APPLICATION FOR A COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS, AND I GOT THE CALL THE SAME DAY FROM THE PRESIDENT THAT I GOT THE JOB THERE AS WELL.

AND I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION. AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I PICKED THIS CAMPUS, BECAUSE I LIVED IN SANTA CLARITA AT THE TIME.

RIGHT. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I DECIDED TO TO STILL COME HERE? 51 MILES ONE WAY WAS BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH CARE PACKAGE, RIGHT? AND SO I TOOK THE JOB. I ENDED UP MOVING TO DOWNEY IN 2016.

AND HERE'S THE DILEMMA THAT I HAVE. I SEE MYSELF CONSTANTLY QUESTIONING IF I MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THAT IS, IS EVERY YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN HERE AND I PUT IN SO MUCH BLOOD AND SWEAT, RIGHT. AND TIME I DON'T REALLY SEE THE APPRECIATION.

I HAD HERNIA REPAIR SURGERY LATE JUNE, AND MY FIRST THOUGHT WHEN I WAS TOLD I'M GOING TO HAVE SIX WEEKS OF BASICALLY BED REST WAS, OH, THAT'S GREAT. NOW I HAVE ALL THIS TIME TO COMPLETELY REVAMP MY CANVAS COURSE AND THAT'S WHAT I DID.

I HAD THE EXCUSE WAS, HEY, NO ONE COULD BOTHER ME, I HAVE TO BE IN THIS BED.

I HAVE MY LAPTOP. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO BUT TO WORK ON THIS CANVAS COURSE I COMPLETELY REVAMPED MY POLITICAL SCIENCE 201 COURSE.

AND THEN AFTER SIX WEEKS OF DOING THIS, I GET THE EMAIL ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND I'M THINKING, I'M THE IDIOT. THERE'S NO OTHER WAY I COULD REALLY PHRASE THAT I'M THE IDIOT, BECAUSE HERE I AM, SPENDING MY TIME OFF CONTRACT BECAUSE I'M TEN MONTHS DOING ALL THIS WORK ON MY OWN TIME, SMILING THE ENTIRE TIME THAT NOW I COULD DO IT.

NO ONE COULD BOTHER ME. AND I DON'T GET THE TYPE OF RESPECT THAT I BELIEVE ALL OF US SHOULD FOR BEING SO DEDICATED.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE THIS STUDENTS FIRST FRAMEWORK.

HOW ON EARTH ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT? IF THE MORALE OF THE FACULTY IS SO LOW? AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, COLA IS NOT A RAISE.

IT'S FUNDED BY THE STATE. SO FOR US TO HAVE TO FIGHT FOR A COLA MAKES NO SENSE.

I UNDERSTAND, AND I KNOW THE UNION'S NOT GOING TO LIKE ME SAYING THIS, BUT I UNDERSTAND FIGHTING FOR THE PLUS.

BUT WE SHOULD BE FIGHTING FOR THE THE COLA ASPECT.

THAT'S FOR THE STANDARD OF LIVING INCREASE. AND SO I'M DOING ALL THIS WORK ON MY OWN.

NO ONE EVEN ASKED ME TO DO IT. I'M GRATEFUL TO DO IT.

I WANT TO DO IT BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT MY STUDENTS.

AND YET AT THE SAME TIME, I'M WORKING FOR A DISTRICT THAT REALLY DOESN'T CARE.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY PERSON THAT I'M GETTING IS JUST A LACK OF CARE.

RIGHT? AND SO THEN I FIND MYSELF SECOND GUESSING SHOULD I STAYED IN SANTA CLARITA AND WORKED AT A DIFFERENT DISTRICT.

AND I THINK THAT'S PROBLEMATIC, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE COMING IN AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE FACULTY SENATE.

AND SO I REALLY HOPE THAT MOVING FORWARD, THAT WE CAN STOP THE IMPASSE AFTER IMPASSE AFTER IMPASSE, AND REALLY COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT FACULTY DO WANT TO DO ALL THIS WORK.

WE WORK WAY MORE THAN WHAT YOU'RE PAYING US TO DO.

THAT'S JUST THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION. AND I THINK THE COMPLETE LACK OF RESPECT, RIGHT.

AT A CERTAIN POINT, IT'S GOING TO BREAK US AND YOU'RE GOING TO START SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE LEAVE AND NOT BEING REPLACED WITH THAT SAME TYPE OF DEDICATION, AND THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE GOING TO START WINNING AWARDS WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

[00:35:03]

THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS CSCA YOLANDA LOPEZ.

GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, TO OUR GUEST HERE TONIGHT.

PART OF WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY IS CSA'S INITIAL PROPOSAL.

AND SO WE HOPE TO AT THE NEXT ONE, IT WILL BE ON THE CONSENT ITEM.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH THE DISTRICT IN GOOD FAITH BARGAINING AS WELL.

I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT THE CLASSIFIED STAFF DO.

AND WHAT WE BRING TO CERRITOS COLLEGE AND HOW INTEGRAL OUR PART IS IN THE STUDENT.

IN PART OF STUDENT SUCCESS IN PART OF THE FRAMEWORK AS WELL.

WE ARE SOMETIMES OVERLOOKED BECAUSE OF THE WORK WE DO, BUT I ALWAYS WANT TO COME HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT OUR STAFF BRING EACH AND EVERY DAY. THE OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS AND RECORDS, THEY HAVE BEEN PROCESSING ENROLLMENT ISSUES.

OUR EVALUATORS HAVE BEEN PROCESSING CERTIFICATES AND PETITIONS FOR OUR AAS.

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, OUR KPIS? THAT ALSO TIES INTO STUDENT FIRST FRAMEWORK.

OUR OFFICE OF SCHOOL RELATIONS, THEY'RE GETTING READY TO KICK OFF WELCOME DAY THIS FRIDAY, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO OPEN OUR DOORS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO EVERY STUDENT THAT WE'VE SEEN RETURNING AND COMING INTO OUR CAMPUS.

AND THAT'S REALLY EXCITING. WHY? BECAUSE ALL HANDS ON DECK.

AND THAT USUALLY COMES FROM MY STAFF, RIGHT? WE'RE ALWAYS ASKED TO HOST A TABLE TO COME OUT AND PROVIDE INFORMATION.

WE TOUCH THESE STUDENTS MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THEY GET INTO THE CLASSROOM.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT AND THAT'S INTEGRAL. AND WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE TO OUR INSTITUTION.

I DO ALSO WANT TO SHARE THAT LOOKING AT OUR HEAD, OUR DIVISION OFFICES ARE NOT JUST WORKING ON THE CLASS SCHEDULE FOR THAT'S COMING FOR FALL FOR MONDAY. THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING IN SPRING.

THEY'RE WORKING IN SUMMER. THEY'RE LOOKING AHEAD.

WE CONTINUE TO DO THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT OUR STUDENT POPULATION, THE COURSE OFFERINGS.

WE GET TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AND ANALYZE DATA, RIGHT.

I'M A NERD FOR THAT. I LOVE IT. SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE REALLY ENJOY SEEING HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR PROGRAMS. AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ALSO MOVING INTO THE NEXT PHASE.

WE HAVE OUR HEALTH SCIENCE BUILDING. IT'S BEING RENOVATED.

HOPEFULLY BY NEXT YEAR, OUR PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO START MOVING INTO IT AND PREPARING FOR CLASSES THERE.

AND THAT'S AN EXCITING PART THAT WE'RE PART OF AS WELL FOR CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES.

THEN WHAT HAPPENS? WE HIT COMMENCEMENT AND WE DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, AND WE BRING THE SAME ENERGY AND THE SAME VIBE.

AND PART OF THAT, IF WE'RE ALLOWED TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS, WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR PROCESSES.

I HOPE THAT AS WE KICK OFF THE FALL SEMESTER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CAMPUS WIDE EVENTS.

AND AS YOU HEARD, FACULTY, WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT SAME RESPECT IS BEING APPLIED TO CLASSIFIED.

OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF HAS PARTICIPATED IN MULTIPLE CAMPUS EVENTS.

AND SOMETIMES, YES, WE DO SPEAK VERY PASSIONATELY, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN WE NEED TO BE PERSECUTED FOR THOSE EXPRESSIONS.

AND IT'S FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION TO BE ABLE TO SEE HOW WE CAN IMPROVE, AND ALSO TO BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DEFICIENCIES.

THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY IMPROVE YOUR INSTITUTION ONCE YOU FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU'RE GOING WRONG.

IF YOU DO ESTABLISH A BENEFITS COMMITTEE, I REALLY, WHOLEHEARTEDLY HOPE THAT WHEN YOU DEVELOP THIS COMMITTEE THAT IT IS TRUE SHARED GOVERNANCE IN IN THE HEART. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SHARED GOVERNANCE FOR MULTIPLE COMMITTEES AND POLICIES THAT YOU HAVE APPROVED AS THE BOARD. BUT WE ALSO HOPE IN THAT FAITH THAT YOU WILL FOLLOW THOSE POLICIES, THAT YOU WOULD ADHERE TO THE RULES THAT THE DISTRICT SETS FOR ITS EMPLOYEES, THAT YOU AS AN AS A BODY, AS A BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ALSO FOLLOW THEM AS WELL.

THAT IS THE OATH YOU TOOK TO OUR COMMUNITIES THAT YOU SERVE.

SO WE HOPE THAT YOU REALLY DO THAT AND TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE A COMMITTEE.

MAKE SURE THAT WHAT THEY'RE THERE FOR. OTHERWISE WE'RE WASTING EACH OTHER'S TIME.

GO IN THERE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO DO OUR PART TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

FINALLY, TONIGHT WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE A LONG TIME STANDING EMPLOYEE OF THE DISTRICT WHO HAS SERVED SO MANY YEARS IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS, HAS SERVED OUR CAMPUS COMMUNITY, HAS SERVED OUR STUDENTS, AND IT'S INTEGRAL TO PART OF OUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT.

AND I DO AGAIN WANT TO THANK THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH COMMITTEE FOR RECOGNIZING A LONG TERM EMPLOYEE.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE IS BEING ACKNOWLEDGED FOR HER, FOR HER DEDICATION.

AND AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE REPEAT, YOU KNOW, REPEAT PEOPLE THAT HAVE GOTTEN IN MULTIPLE TIMES.

[00:40:05]

AND SO FOR THAT, I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE MARIBEL GOMEZ.

THAT'S HERE TONIGHT THAT WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED.

SO SHE IS ONE OF MY UNION SISTERS, AND I AM SO PROUD THAT SHE'S SHE'S BEING AWARDED TONIGHT AND THAT SHE WILL BE RECOGNIZED ALONG OUR CAMPUS COMMUNITY.

SO THIS IS MARIBEL, AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO TO GET TO KNOW OUR OUR CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES.

DON'T DON'T BE A STRANGER TO US. YOU SEE US SAY HI.

WE'RE HERE. WE'RE HERE TO SERVE. WE'RE HERE TO HELP. THAT'S OUR JOB.

AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR REPORTS. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OPEN SESSION AGENDA ITEM 2.01.

[2.01 Institutional Presentation: Recognition of Retiree]

THE FOLLOWING RETIREE WILL BE RECOGNIZED FOR HIS YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO CERRITOS COLLEGE MANUEL MENDEZ, CUSTODIAN PRESENTED BY CARLOS SERNA, OPERATIONS MANAGER.

GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR FARROW. BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

PRESIDENT. VISITORS. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ADDRESS MANUEL.

MANUEL. TODAY, I WANT TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR YOUR INCREDIBLE JOURNEY WITH US AS YOU EMBARK ON A WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT.

YOUR DECISION, YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR HARD WORK, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL TO CERRITOS COLLEGE ENSURING A CLEAN, SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS, STAFF AND FACULTY.

MANUEL STARTED WORKING AT THE COLLEGE IN 1995.

FOR 29 YEARS, HE HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN HIS ROLE, OFTEN WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT HIS IMPACT HAS BEEN FELT BY ALL.

HE HAS BEEN A PILLAR OF RELIABILITY AND EXCELLENCE.

HIS POSITIVE ATTITUDE, WILLINGNESS TO LEND A HAND HAVE NOT ONLY MADE OUR WORKSPACE SHINE, BUT HAS ALSO BRIGHTENED THE DAYS OF COUNTLESS COLLEAGUES.

HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN MORE THAN JUST A TEAM MEMBER, AS HE IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO TAKE PRIDE IN ONE'S WORK AS HE MOVES ON TO HIS NEW CHAPTER IN LIFE. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE.

YOUR PRESENCE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED, BUT YOUR LEGACY WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US ALL. WE WISH YOU JOY, RELAXATION AND ALL THE BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT.

MAY THE NEXT PHASE OF YOUR LIFE BRING YOU THE HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT YOU SO RICHLY DESERVE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT, MANNY. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YEAH. WHERE'S THE PICTURE? OH, YES.

SHE HAS.

ALL RIGHT. SO.

WHAT? OH, NO. NO, NO. IT'S FINE. OH.

YEAH. ALL.

OH. VERY NICE.

VERY NICE. EVERYBODY. READY

[00:45:07]

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

THAT'S GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, MR. MENDEZ. AND CONGRATULATIONS.

ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT WITH. LET'S SEE. THE NEXT PRESENTATION WE HAVE IS RECOGNITION OF CLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

[2.02 Institutional Presentation: Recognition of Classified/Confidential Employee of the Month]

DO IT AGAIN UNTIL I GET. ALL RIGHT, SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS WELL OVERDUE. MARIBEL, WHEN YOU STARTED. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE CURIOUS, SHE STARTED WORKING WHEN SHE WAS FIVE.

SO. MARIBEL BEGAN HER CAREER AT FIVE AT CERRITOS COLLEGE AS A SHORT TERM ADULT HOURLY.

IN 1998. SHE BECAME A FULL TIME IN THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT IN 2001, AND TRANSFERS TO FACILITIES IN 2012, WHERE SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK.

THREE MARIBEL IS AN ASSET TO OUR CAMPUS AND IS VERY DESERVING OF THIS AWARD AND RECOGNITION.

MARIBEL IS THE QUEEN OF KISS. THE QUEEN OF KISS.

ONE EXAMPLE IS THE SEM DIVISION, WHICH HAS ABOUT 160 FACULTY MEMBERS EACH SEMESTER AND MARYVALE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO QUICKLY GET THE FACULTY IN THE DIVISION KEY AND READY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

HER CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS ARE EXEMPLARY. SHE HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR AND IS FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL AND WILLING TO ASSIST MARYVALE.

WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR DEDICATION, EXPERTISE AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

ATTITUDE, WHICH MAKES YOU AN OUTSTANDING CANDIDATE FOR THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AWARD.

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE POSITIVE IMPACT YOU HAVE ON OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS ARE TRULY APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. THANK YOU. MIKE, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? OH, NO. ARE YOU SURE? NO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. LET'S TAKE A PICTURE.

THANK YOU. THANKS. I'M. READY? SMILE. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK.

YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, MISS GOMEZ.

[2.03 Institutional Presentation: Update from the Cerritos College Foundation]

HELLO. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DOCTOR FIERRO.

THE MISSION OF THE CERRITOS COLLEGE FOUNDATION ENDEAVORS TO INCREASE PRIVATE GIVING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO SUPPORT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AND ADVANCE THE COLLEGE'S ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR THAT JUST CONCLUDED, THE FOUNDATION AWARDED OVER $138,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS, AND THAT ACCOUNTS FOR 108 STUDENTS, WHICH IS UNDUPLICATED AND RELATES TO

[00:50:02]

AS FAR AS THE REVENUE THAT WE BROUGHT IN FOR INDIVIDUALS, WE BROUGHT IN A 540,000 FOUNDATIONS, 320,000 CORPORATIONS, 375,000. AND IN EVENTS HUNDRED AND 13,000.

WE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE STATE OF THE COLLEGE EVENT AND THE CERRITOS DAY OF GIVING.

I DON'T KNOW IF MANY OF YOU KNOW, BUT THE FOUNDATION PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE WITH RESPECT TO THE PROVISION OF BASIC NEEDS ON CAMPUS.

WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK, WHICH PROVIDES GROCERIES AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY IN NEED. AND THIS IS ACTUALLY THE LARGEST FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN L.A.

COUNTY FOR THE REGIONAL FOOD BANK. AND WE ALSO HAVE OTHER PARTNERSHIPS TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS THROUGH FOOD FINDERS FOOD CYCLE, FOOD FORWARD. RECENTLY, WE WENT AHEAD AND WE LAUNCHED A PLAN GIVING WEBSITE THAT IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE, AND IT REALLY HELPS ALL OF US UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF PLAN SUPPLY GIVING.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO IN THERE AND LOOK AT IT.

WE ALSO HOSTED THREE FREE A FREE PLANNED GIVING SEMINARS IN APRIL AND MAY AND IN JULY.

AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF REALLY GREAT FEEDBACK FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO, FOR THE FIRST TIME, ARE BEING INTRODUCED TO VEHICLES OF ESTATE PLANNING AND HOW TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILIES, BUT ALSO HOW TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND HOW TO LEAVE A BEQUEST IF THEY WANT FOR CHARITY.

ANOTHER AREA THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US IS BOARD DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS, AND CURRENTLY THE FOUNDATION IS RECRUITING NEW BOARD MEMBERS, AND WE'RE ALSO DEVELOPING STANDARDIZED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR OUR OPERATIONS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE SUCCESSFUL IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

THIS YEAR IS A REALLY IMPORTANT YEAR. THE ACADEMIC YEAR, AS YOU KNOW, STARTS JULY 1ST AND ENDS JUNE 30TH OF 2025.

AND THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A OUR 39TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT THAT TAKES PLACE SEPTEMBER 23RD.

WE'RE TRYING TO RAISE FUNDS FOR STUDENT SUPPORT IN DIFFERENT AREAS, WHETHER IT'S SCHOLARSHIPS, EMERGENCY GRANTS, AND SO FAR RIGHT NOW, YEAR TO DATE, WE'VE RAISED $87,000.

OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE 120,000, AND WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO REACHING THAT GOAL.

AND WE HAVE A FEW MORE WEEKS TO DO THAT. IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT COME SEE ME.

WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. DONATIONS TO THE FOUNDATION ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

AND ALSO WE ARE EMBARKING ON A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CAMPAIGN.

NEXT YEAR MARKS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF TEACHER TREK, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HELPING THEM RAISE HALF $1 MILLION TO ENDOW THEIR PROGRAM AND BE ABLE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO ASPIRE TO BECOME EDUCATORS INTO PERPETUITY.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE RECEIVED THE FIRST $100,000 COMMITMENT, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A MATCHING FUND, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON A CASE STATEMENT, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING TOGETHER A COMMITTEE TO HELP US ENGAGE IN FUNDRAISING SO THAT WE'RE SUCCESSFUL AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND ALSO NEXT YEAR IS THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF CERRITOS COLLEGE.

THE FOUNDATION AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON SOME SORT OF CELEBRATION, AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 17TH.

SO PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS. ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MORE OF A QUALITATIVE ONE.

HOW ARE YOU GETTING ON? HOW DOES IT FEEL BEING IN THIS ROLE? IT'S GREAT. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. THIS IS MY COMMUNITY.

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR EVER, FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS. AND MY CHILDREN GREW UP HERE IN CERRITOS.

MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED FROM CERRITOS HIGH SCHOOL. MY SON GRADUATED FROM ARTESIA HIGH SCHOOL.

FOR ME, IT'S BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I LOVE.

AS A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT AND AS AN IMMIGRANT TO THIS COUNTRY AND SOMEONE THAT CAME INTO THIS COUNTRY WHEN I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD AND I DIDN'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.

AND NOW TO BE IN THIS POSITION WHERE I'M HELPING OTHER STUDENTS WHO HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCE LIKE MYSELF, IS THE MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFETIME.

AND IT'S BEEN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES, BUT I SEE THOSE CHALLENGES AS OPPORTUNITIES,

[00:55:06]

AND THEY JUST GIVE YOU SO MUCH ENERGY. AND EVERY TIME I WALK AROUND CAMPUS, THERE'S SO MUCH VIBRANCY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT REALLY FUELS WHAT WE'RE DOING AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS INSTITUTION.

THANKS SO MUCH, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE GETTING AN UPDATE FROM YOU ON THE FOUNDATION.

I THINK THAT'S WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS HAD THAT. SO MUCH APPRECIATED.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS QUESTIONS? SURE. JUST JUST IN CASE YOU DIDN'T CATCH HER NAME.

SORRY. ALBINA DE LA TORRE. YES. AND SHE HAS BEEN WITH US SINCE JANUARY AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

IT FEELS LIKE IT HAS BEEN LONGER THAN THAT. BUT SHE HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF NEW IDEAS, ENERGY INTO THE FOUNDATION AND, AND AS DOCTOR MENTIONS SHE IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY. SO THE CONNECTIONS WERE ALREADY BUILT IN, AND SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO, TO REACH OUT TO, TO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SINCE SHE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED HERE.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. THANK YOU. AND I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE A MENTOR HERE SITTING IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

DOCTOR FERNANDO GUERRA KNOWS ME SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID, PRACTICALLY WHEN I WENT TO WORK AT LMU, AND HE JUST WAS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL AND REALLY INSPIRING IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT LATINAS GOT GRADUATE DEGREES AND THAT WE ADVANCED IN OUR CAREERS AND OUR PROFESSIONS. SO THANK YOU, DOCTOR GUERRA.

I DID HAVE A QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF I MISSED IT.

DID YOU TALK ABOUT ANY SHORT TERM VERSUS LONG TERM FUNDRAISING GOALS AND GROWTH AT THE FOUNDATION? I DIDN'T SPEAK TO THE SHORT TERM AND THE LONG TERM GOALS.

I JUST KIND OF FOCUSED RIGHT NOW ON RAISING $700,000 OF 500 OF WHICH IS TO SUPPORT TEACHER TRACK AND THEN THE REST BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOLF TOURNAMENT COMING UP ALSO, YOU KNOW, IN IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

THAT IS GOING TO BE ONE PORTION. AND THEN WE'RE TRYING TO FUND LIKE UNRESTRICTED DOLLARS BECAUSE UNRESTRICTED DOLLARS ARE REALLY WHAT WE NEED.

AND IN JANUARY WE DID PUT TOGETHER WE WE HELD OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.

WE PUT TOGETHER A STRATEGIC PLAN. IT'S MORE OF A SHORT TERM STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO INCORPORATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE WE SEE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL GROWTH THERE.

AND IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, I REALLY HOPE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE OF A LONG TERM, FIVE, TEN YEAR PLAN.

BUT THAT'S IN THE WORKS RIGHT NOW. THE MAIN PRIORITY REALLY HAS BEEN ON REESTABLISHING OUR RELATIONSHIPS, CONNECTING WITH OUR LAPSED DONORS, BUILDING, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE ORGANIZATION FROM AN OPERATIONS PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE IT'S GONE THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES, A LOT OF LEADERSHIP CHANGES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

AND THEN THE FINANCIAL SYSTEMS WERE MIGRATED AND THAT MIGRATION WAS NOT THE BEST.

SO IT'S MAKING SURE THAT THE FINANCIAL SYSTEMS REPRESENT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AT THE FOUNDATION, AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF BEING ABLE TO CORRECT ALL THAT.

THANK YOU. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT IT ONCE YOU KIND OF GET THAT GOING.

ABSOLUTELY. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION.

I'M SO GRATEFUL TO YOU. EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE BRING IN TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH. I MEAN, YOU GUYS CAN DO THINGS THAT WE CAN'T DO AS A, AS A TRADITIONAL COLLEGE THAT REALLY OPEN DOORS FOR STUDENTS.

AND WE WERE JUST RESTRICTED TO FUND CERTAIN THINGS BECAUSE OF HOW WE'RE CONSTITUTION, HOW WE'RE CONSTITUTED BY THE STATE.

BUT THE FOUNDATION HAS ENABLED US TO DO THINGS FOR STUDENTS THAT A LOT OF OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES CAN'T.

AND IT REALLY DIFFERENTIATES US, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. PUBLIC HEARING.

SO YOU CAN JUST READ. I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC OPEN PUBLIC HEARING.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM IS 2.042.05 I'D LIKE TO OPEN.

[2.04 Receive the Initial Proposal of the Cerritos Community College District to the California School Employees Association (CSEA), Chapter #161 for Negotiation of the CSEA-District Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Period July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2027, and Notification of a Public Hearing at the September 11, 2024 Regular Board Meeting]

[2.05 Receive the Initial Proposal of the California School Employees Association (CSEA), Chapter #161 to the Cerritos Community College District for Negotiation of the CSEA-District Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Period July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2027, and Notification of a Public Hearing at the September 11, 2024, Regular Board Meeting]

[01:00:08]

I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DO WE NEED A VOTE? NO. NO. 2.52.05. BOTH TWO.

I'M SORRY, 2.0 FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN 2.04.

AND THE INITIAL PROPOSAL FOR 2.05. CORRECT. OKAY.

WE WILL MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. NEXT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

[3. Consent Items - Office of Academic Affairs]

[4. Consent Items - Office of Business Services]

[5. Consent Items - Office of Human Resources]

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO PULL ANY ITEMS? OKAY. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL, PLEASE? SO MOVED. SECOND. GREAT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. WE'LL MOVE ON TO 6.01 ADMIN ITEMS.

[6.01 Consideration of Approval of Annual Board and President Priorities]

I'M SORRY. BOARD AND PRESIDENT. PRIORITIES. THANK YOU.

TRUSTEE SALAZAR. SO THE THE GOALS THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT ARE ESSENTIALLY ALIGN WITH THE STUDENT FIRST FRAMEWORK.

AND BASED ON THE FEEDBACK, THE WAS RECEIVED BY YOU ON THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, WE WERE ABLE TO REFINE SOME OF THESE GOALS TO MAKE SURE THEY ADDRESS SOME OF.

WELL, ACTUALLY, ALL OF YOUR AREAS OF INTEREST.

AS WE KNOW, WE ONLY HAVE ONE GOAL AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, WHICH IS GRADUATE 50% OF OUR STUDENTS IN FIVE YEARS OR LESS. AND TO DO THAT, THE STUDENT FIRST FRAMEWORK WAS DESIGNED.

THIS FRAMEWORK WAS PLACED OR DIVIDED IN FOUR DIFFERENT LEVERS.

AND EACH ONE OF THESE LEVERS IS BEING ADDRESSED WITHIN THE GOALS THAT YOU WILL HOPEFULLY ADOPT FOR THE NEXT YEAR. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.

BUT WE WE HIT ABOUT THREE POINTS IN EACH ONE OF THE LEVER BASED ON THE AREAS OF INTEREST THAT YOU EXPRESS.

ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS. AND WE'LL NEED TO APPROVE.

CORRECT. OKAY. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL, PLEASE? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY ANYONE AGAINST. HEARING NONE. ITEM PASSES 6.02.

[6.02 Consideration of Approval to Award Bond Underwriting Services Agreement with RBC Capital Markets, LLC for Cerritos College’s Investment Banking and Bond Underwriting Services]

AGREEMENT WITH RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC FOR CERRITOS COLLEGES, INVESTMENT BANKING AND BOND UNDERWRITING SERVICES.

BEFORE I CALL VICE PRESIDENT LOPEZ TO THE PODIUM I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY IT.

SINCE IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A A MISUNDERSTANDING EVERY TIME WE ADDRESS BONDS HERE, CERRITOS COLLEGE IS NOT IT IS NOT GOING OUT FOR A BONE IN NOVEMBER 2024. THE LAST TIME WE WENT OUT WAS 2022, AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY INTEREST ON GOING OUT FOR A BONE IN 2024.

THE CONVERSATION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HERE IS TO PRESENT FINANCIAL BANKERS TO HELP US WITH THE SALE, POTENTIAL SALE OR BONDS THAT WERE APPROVED IN NOVEMBER 2022.

SO AGAIN, WE ARE NOT GOING OUT FOR A BOND IN 2024.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR FARRELL, FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

YES. SO THIS PROCESS OBVIOUSLY IN IN 2022 THE PUBLIC APPROVED OUR $425 $25 MILLION GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND. AT THE AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NOT ISSUED ANY OF THOSE FUNDS.

[01:05:02]

SO WHAT ACTUALLY, THERE'S TWO ITEMS HERE. THERE'S SEPARATE.

BUT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT BOTH OF THEM. BUT YOU'LL GO THROUGH APPROVING EACH OF ONE OF THEM AT A TIME.

SO THE REASON WHY WE DID IT THIS WAY IN PAST WE HAVE WORKED WITH A POOL OF FIRMS BEFORE.

AND IN THE PAST WE HAD ONE CONTRACT THAT EACH OF THE FIRMS SIGNED.

WE DECIDED TO HAVE SEPARATE CONTRACTS THIS THIS TIME BECAUSE IT GIVES US FLEXIBILITY IN CASE DOWN THE ROAD WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE COULD POTENTIALLY ELIMINATE A CONTRACT AND STILL HAVE A CONTRACT IN PLACE IF WE CHOSE TO DO SO.

NO OFFENSE TO OUR NEW NEW TEAM COMING ON BOARD.

I DON'T PLAN TO DO THAT. BUT AT THE LAST POOL, WE HAD TO KIND OF DO THAT TYPE OF PROCESS.

SO KIND OF LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES OF LAST TIME ON THAT.

AND SO THIS ROUND WE'RE HAVING SEPARATE AGREEMENTS.

SO WE DID RELEASE A RFP EARLIER THIS YEAR. WE HAD A LOT OF PARTICIPATION.

WE HAD NINE FIRMS SUBMIT PROPOSALS ON THAT. AFTER EVALUATING THE PROPOSALS, THE COMMITTEE RANKED THEM AND WE, WE BASICALLY SHORTLISTED THE TOP THREE.

AND FROM THOSE TOP THREE, WE HAD ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM CLARIFYING SOME THINGS AND QUESTIONS THAT WERE THAT WE NEEDED TO CLARIFY. AND THEN AT THE RESULT OF THAT, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE BOARD TO APPROVE TWO AGREEMENTS, ONE WITH RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, WHICH IS THE CURRENT BOARD ITEM, AND THE SECOND AGREEMENT IS WITH RAMIREZ AND COMPANY.

ON THAT. SO WE FELT THAT BASED ON THE RFPS WE RECEIVED, BASED ON OUR GOALS OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO ACHIEVE BASED ON THE FEES AND EXPENSES ON THAT, THESE WERE THE TWO BEST ON THAT, BEST ON EXPERIENCE.

THESE TWO FIRMS HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE NOT WITHIN THE LOCAL AREA, BUT WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA MARKET, COMMUNITY COLLEGE MARKET IN PARTICULAR. ON THAT NOT SAYING THAT THE OTHER FIRMS DON'T HAVE EXPERIENCE.

THEY ALL DID. AND, YOU KNOW, IT GETS TIGHT ON THE EVALUATING THAT, BUT JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME EMPHASIS ON THESE TWO FIRMS HAVE A REALLY GREAT DEAL REPUTATION WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE MARKET, PARTICULARLY ISSUING BONDS WITHIN L.A.

COUNTY, BECAUSE WE ARE UNIQUE WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL COUNTY TREASURER'S OFFICE.

AND THESE TWO FIRMS HAVE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESSFUL DEALINGS OF WORKING WITH LA COUNTY.

SO AFTER THAT, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE BOARD APPROVE EACH OF THE CONTRACTS, ONE WITH RBC AND THE OTHER ONE WITH RAMIREZ AND COMPANY.

BUT BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT ABOUT THESE CONTRACTS.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I DO NOT. I TRUST YOUR EVALUATION PROCESS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TRUSTEE BIRKEY. I WAS GETTING I WAS GETTING A SENSE IN THE ROOM.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL, PLEASE? MOTION. CAN I GET A SECOND? ANYONE. EVERYONE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM 6.03.

[6.03 Consideration of Approval to Award Bond Underwriting Services Agreement with Ramirez & Co., Inc. for Cerritos College’s Investment Banking and Bond Underwriting Services]

AGREEMENT WITH RAMIREZ AND COMPANY, INC. FOR CERRITOS COLLEGES, INVESTMENT BANKING AND BOND UNDERWRITING SERVICES.

MOTION. MOTION TO. IT'S THE SAME PRESENTATION.

YEAH. SAME. YEP. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. AND ITEM SEVEN IS REPORTS AND COMMENTS FROM DISTRICT OFFICIALS.

[7.01 Reports and Comments from District Officials]

TRUSTEE. LEWIS. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT SPEAKING OUT OF ORDER.

RIGHT. THANK YOU. FIRST OFF, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, ON YOUR REELECTION.

AND I WANT TO ALSO CONGRATULATE DAWN FOR HER REELECTION TO, WELL, I GUESS, ELECTION AN APPOINTMENT.

BUT NONETHELESS, WELCOME BACK. AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BOTH ON FOR A FULL FOUR YEAR TERM.

THANK YOU TO TRUSTEE PEREZ FOR HER SERVICE OF 12 YEARS ON THE BOARD.

AND WE WILL GREATLY MISS HER EXPERTISE IN ALL THINGS GOVERNMENT.

AND SOME MIGHT CALL IT WONKY, BUT I THINK SHE HAS THAT KIND OF EXPERTISE THAT WE HAVE GREATLY USED ON THIS BOARD, AND WE WILL GREATLY MISS HER. AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MARIANA RIOS FOR HER ELECTION TO OUR BOARD,

[01:10:04]

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER. AND I WANT TO SAY GOOD LUCK TO MARIANA PACHECO FOR HER ELECTION.

I IF YOU LOOK BACK IN THE LAST ALMOST TEN YEARS IN 2016, THERE WAS ONLY ONE ELECTION THAT WAS HELD. EVERYONE ELSE WAS UNOPPOSED.

AND THEN IN 2018, NONE OF US WERE CHALLENGED BETWEEN JAMES BIRKEY SHIN AND MYSELF.

AND THEN IN 2020, THERE WAS ONLY ONE ELECTION HELD.

THANKS, MARIANA. AND THEN IN 2022, ONLY ONE ELECTION HELD, WHICH WAS MY REELECTION, AND THEY GOT OFF SCOT FREE.

AND NOW AGAIN, THE SAME SIMILAR PATTERN IS HOLDING THAT ONLY ONE ELECTION HAS BEEN HELD.

SO ALL THAT TO SAY IS THAT FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW, EIGHT YEARS, BUT PROBABLY TEN, THE FACT THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN MORE CHALLENGERS THAN JUST A SINGLE ONE THAT IS OUTSIDE OF ANY KIND OF COLLEGE ISSUE, AND WAS MORE BASED ON THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THOSE OFFICES OR PERSONALITY EVEN, I WOULD SAY, I THINK REALLY SPEAKS TO HOW WELL OUR INSTITUTION IS REGARDED BY OUR COMMUNITY AND HOW WELL WE TREAT OUR FACULTY, OUR STAFF, OUR ADMINISTRATION. EVERYONE IN HERE RECOGNIZES THAT WE HAVE A VERY HEALTHY AND A VERY UNIQUE INSTITUTION, AND THAT OUR BOARD MEMBERS HERE WORK TOGETHER VERY, VERY WELL OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS TO HAVE WHAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY AND AND TO GIVE DOCTOR FIERRO A GOOD BACKING AND BASIS TO CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK THAT WE DO HAVE HERE AT THIS COLLEGE.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT MARIANA RETURNS TO THIS BOARD SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE THE GOOD WORK THAT WE HAVE HERE.

KEEP GOING FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME. SO THANK YOU.

OH, AND ALSO THE TOUR OF THE HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER THAT WE TOOK TODAY, I THINK IS VERY GOOD.

A VERY GREAT FUTURE FOR A LOT OF OUR COSMETOLOGY FOR WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE THERE? THE DENTAL HYGIENE AND PHYSICAL THERAPY AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

A LOT OF GREAT STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY THAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED THAT WILL MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO COME INTO THOSE HIGHLY IMPACTED, AND FOR GOOD REASON. YOU KNOW, PROGRAMS. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE RIBBON CUTTING SOMETIME IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO TO TAKE OVER THE HEALTH SCIENCES. SO WE SHOULD BE MOVING AT SOME POINT IN THE SPRING, SEMESTER AFTER SEMESTER AFTER SPRING.

SO RIBBON CUTTING MAYBE THIS SUMMER. OKAY, I'LL BE THERE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TRUSTEE LEWIS. TRUSTEE LIU.

HI. SO THIS SUMMER DOCTOR FARROW AND LED INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR GLADYS CALDERON AND ME. WE WENT TO TAIWAN AND WE VISITED MANY UNIVERSITIES AND MANY HIGH SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE A GREAT A LOT PROGRAM. AND DOCTOR PIERRO WILL DO THOSE PROGRAMS FOR BRING THOSE GREAT PROGRAM FOR THE COLLEGE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. TRUSTEE LIU TRUSTEE PACHECO.

YES. THIS TIME AROUND THIS SATURDAY, I PARTICIPATED IN THE BACKPACK GIVEAWAY AT IN DOWNEY.

WE GAVE OUT CLOSE TO 400 BACKPACKS. BESIDES SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO A STUDENT'S YOUTH, MOST OF THEM WERE FROM DOWNEY UNIFIED, BUT I NOTICED THERE WERE STUDENTS COMING IN FROM OTHER AREAS IN OUR SURROUNDING AREAS THAT WERE ALSO CAME IN FOR THE BACKPACK. SO IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.

I ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE PRIDE EVENT THAT HAPPENED ALSO THAT SATURDAY.

AGAIN, ANOTHER EVENT THAT WAS VERY INCLUSIVE.

AND IT PROVIDED INCLUSIVITY FOR THE COMMUNITY ITSELF.

AGAIN, THIS WAS A LOT OF PARTICIPATION FROM SURROUNDING AREAS, AND WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DID COME FROM OTHER CITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PARTICULAR EVENT. AND PRETTY MUCH THAT'S IT.

AND I'LL BE RUNNING FOR MY REELECTION, AND I GUESS I'LL BE REACHING OUT TO CC TO SEE IF THEY CAN ENDORSE ME.

OKAY. TRUSTEE. BIRKEY. SURE. YEAH. LIKEWISE. VERY PROUD OF THE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON HERE.

SO I COULDN'T BE INVOLVED IN THE SITE TOUR TODAY.

[01:15:03]

I THINK I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OF YEARS THAT SHE SERVED ON THIS BOARD, BUT IT'S A LOT.

12? YUP. SO, YEAH, SHE'S ALMOST BEEN ON THE BOARD LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE A CHILD AND THEN HAVE THEM ATTEND THE COLLEGE.

EXACTLY RIGHT. AND AND AS IS TRUE AS SHE IS A FALCON MOM.

AND AND I'M EXCITED FOR FOR THE NEXT PHASE WITH HER REPLACEMENT AS WELL.

AND EXCITED TO HAVE HER JOIN US. AND THEN RENEWING FOLKS ON THIS BOARD, AND THAT'S, THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HEALTHY. I THINK THE THE STABILITY THAT TRUSTEE LEWIS TALKED ABOUT HAS HELPED US BE LASER FOCUSED ON SOME REALLY AMBITIOUS GOALS THAT YOU CAN'T REALLY ACHIEVE ANY OTHER WAY. SO I JUST THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL AROUND THAT.

AND JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, FOCUSED ON MAKING THIS ONE OF THE PREEMINENT INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY, IN OUR OWN BACKYARD. THE OTHER PIECE I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS I'M EXCITED TO ENDORSE TRUSTEE PACHECO FOR HER UPCOMING REELECTION AND AND WANT TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.

WITH THAT, I CONCLUDE MY REPORT. DON. I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME PARTICIPATING IN THE HEALTH SCIENCES BUILDING TOUR TODAY.

IT'S JUST AMAZING TO SEE THE FOUNDATIONS OF WHAT IS TO BE AND HOW GREAT IT'S GOING TO BE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

I ALSO HAD THE CHANCE TO DO A CAMPUS TOUR. BRIEF BUT GREAT WITH SENATOR BARB, BOB ARCHULETA.

HE CAME TO OUR CAMPUS AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO GO TO THE VETERANS CENTER.

WE WERE ABLE TO GO TO THE FALCONS NEST AND JUST HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR OUR DEDICATION TO OUR VETERAN STUDENTS, AS WELL AS OUR DEDICATION TO MEETING THE BASIC NEEDS FOR OUR STUDENTS HERE AT CERRITOS COLLEGE.

I ALSO HAD THE CHANCE TO ATTEND THE STATE OF THE UNION WITH CONGRESSWOMAN LINDA SANCHEZ, AND WE RECEIVED SOME WONDERFUL UPDATES ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN HER AREA, AND EVEN HOW WE CAN APPLY SOME OF THOSE THINGS TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, OR HOW IT CLOSELY ALIGNS TO A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING HERE AT CERRITOS.

I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO, I WOULD SAY, SHADOW AND ALSO PARTICIPATE IN A COMMUNITY BACKPACK GIVEAWAY OVER THE WEEKEND, SPONSORED BY DOWNEY GOOD AND BLANCA PACHECO.

IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE ALL THE FAMILIES OUT TO RECEIVE THEIR BACKPACKS AND THEIR SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

AS WE'RE GEARING UP FOR THE 2425 SCHOOL YEAR WITHIN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

SO HAVING EVENTS LIKE THAT IT'S DEFINITELY JUST NEEDED, OF COURSE.

AND IT ALSO JUST BRINGS THAT SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL ROOTING FOR OUR SCHOLARS, OUR FUTURE CERRITOS COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT EDUCATION IS TRULY SUPPORTED AND APPRECIATED.

I ALSO GOT TO ATTEND THE DOWNY PRIDE FEST ON SATURDAY AND IT WAS A GREAT TIME, GREAT ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD, MUSIC HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO JUST THANK THE BOARD HERE FOR YOUR DECISION. ABOUT A YEAR AND SOME MONTHS AGO, MAYBE SIX, EIGHT MONTHS AGO NOW BECAUSE YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN ME.

AND SO I AM TRULY THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I'VE HAD.

I'VE HAD OVER THE APPROACHING TWO YEARS, AND I AM JUST FEELING VERY FORTUNATE AND BLESSED THAT I CAN CONTINUE THIS WORK FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS AND ALONGSIDE SOME AMAZING YOU KNOW TRUSTEES THAT ARE JUST AS COMMITTED AND DEDICATED TO EDUCATION, TO CERRITOS, TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO ADVANCEMENT.

AND I AND I LOVE THE DYNAMIC THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE WE ARE ALL ON THAT SAME PAGE IN REGARD TO MAKING SURE THAT CERRITOS COLLEGE IS ONE OF THE BEST NOT JUST FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT FOR OUR FACULTY, FOR OUR STAFF, AND FOR JUST THE COMMUNITY.

AND I AM DEFINITELY SUPPORTING AND ENDORSING MY COLLEAGUE.

[01:20:03]

MARIANA. THANK YOU. AND I'M THANKFUL FOR MARISA, TOO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IN HER ABSENCE. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE GREEN TRUSTEE.

I'M SORRY. TRUSTEE. PRESIDENT PIERRO. SORRY. I DON'T KNOW IF I GOT PROMOTED OR YES. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO TRUSTEE. PEREZ. 12 YEARS.

I THINK I WAS 7 OR 8 BACK THEN. LONG TIME WORKING WITH MARISA HAS BEEN GREAT.

WORKING WITH HER. I, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT SHE DOES DO THE READING.

SHE DOES ASK QUESTIONS. AND OBVIOUSLY, ALONG WITH THE REST OF BOARD MEMBERS CHALLENGE WHAT IS PUT FORWARD. AND I THINK THAT IS HEALTHY FOR ALL OF US TO LOOK AT THINGS FROM A DIFFERENT WAY BASED ON THE CHALLENGE OF IDEAS.

SO THANK YOU. MARISA. I KNOW SHE'S NOT LEAVING YET, BUT AS PROBABLY ALL OF YOU GUYS, THIS IS HER LAST TERM AT THE BOARD. SHE'S RETIRING AS A TRUSTEE. AND WELCOME TO MARIANA RIOS.

I HAVE KNOWN MARIANA FOR A LONG TIME. I HAVEN'T SEEN HER IN A LONG TIME SINCE SHE WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER IN HAWAIIAN GARDENS.

SO HOPEFULLY TO GET TO STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND START GETTING FAMILIARIZED WITH THE WORK THAT WE THAT WE HAVE AHEAD OF US. TODAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND HAD A QUICK CONVERSATION ALONG WITH DOCTOR MIXON TO WELCOME OUR NEW FACULTY.

AND IT IS REALLY NICE TO SEE A GROUP OF FACULTY.

THEY DO TRULY SEEM TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF STUDENTS WHO WERE GRADUATING WHEN I WAS COMPLETING MY FIRST YEAR HERE AT CERRITOS COLLEGE, WHO ARE NOW BACK AT TEACHING OUR STUDENTS.

NOT ONLY THEY HAVE GONE TO CERRITOS COLLEGE, BUT THEY LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND NOW THEY'RE COMING BACK TO CERRITOS COLLEGE TO CONTINUE TO BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT IS A TESTAMENT OF WHAT WE ALL COLLECTIVELY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD AT OUR INSTITUTION. AT THE SAME TIME, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STOP AND SAY HELLO TO THE STUDENTS FROM OUR NASA PROGRAM, A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE COLLEGE OF THE DESERT. AND THEY ARE AMAZING. SO LAST YEAR, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH SUBMITTED THIS PROJECT THAT IS HELP THAT HELPS TO CONTROL, OR THE IDEA IS TO HELP TO CONTROL WILDFIRES WITH DRONES AND WITH A CHEMICAL COMBINATION THAT THEY WILL PUT IN THE DRONE, THEY WILL OPEN AND ESSENTIALLY WILL ASPHYXIATE THE THE FIRE AND REDUCE THE POSSIBILITIES OF WILDFIRES SPREADING. OR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT.

THEY WERE THE CREATORS OF THAT IDEA. AND APPARENTLY THERE IS THE INTENTION OF BLOWING THE IDEA AND SENDING IT TO SOMETHING THAT IS CALLED.

NEXT, I PRETENDED THAT I KNEW WHAT IT WAS, BUT IT'S SOME SORT OF COMPETITION IN WHICH THEY COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE FUNDING.

FUNDERS BRING THIS IDEA TO PROOF OF CONCEPT AND POTENTIALLY TO MARKET.

SO THE WORK THAT THEY DO IS INCREDIBLE. SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE JANET AND CARLOS FOR THEIR WORK THERE WITH THE STUDENTS.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE HERE THE ENTIRE WEEK. THEY'RE GOING TO BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT THE WORK THEY'RE DOING.

AND I AM GOING TO BE HERE SATURDAY HELPING THEM JUDGE SOME OF THE PROJECTS.

SO IT WILL BE MOSTLY LEARNING, BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO IS BEYOND MY UNDERSTANDING OF PHYSICS AND MATHEMATICS. SO VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK THAT THE STUDENTS ARE DOING, OBVIOUSLY, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF JANET AND CARLOS REALLY GOOD WORK.

AND I WAS THINKING ON SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED ABOUT GOING TO PASS EVERY SINGLE TIME.

AND I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO REVIEW THOSE NUMBERS BECAUSE I'M ALMOST POSITIVE.

[01:25:05]

SO MAYBE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD LEARN FROM HER.

SO OBVIOUSLY, MAYBE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM HER AS TO HOW THOSE CONVERSATIONS TAKE PLACE TO GET US THERE.

SHE SEEMED TO PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT THERE THAT MAYBE WE CAN LEARN TO GET US TO THAT POINT.

AND OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I GOT. OKAY. THANK YOU, DOCTOR FIERRO.

I'D LIKE TO THANK TILDEN COYLE AND THE TEAM. THAT ALLOWED US TO TOUR THE CONSTRUCTION SITE AND SEE OUR BOND DOLLARS AT WORK.

AND WE'RE DOING GREAT THINGS FOR OUR STUDENTS.

AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE FINISHED PROJECT, BUT WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE TOUR.

YES, THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL. ALSO WANTED TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR TRUSTEE PACHECO.

WE WILL WORK TO GET YOU REELECTED. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THE NEXT WE HAVE CLOSED SESSION, WE WILL HAVE A READOUT.

[8. Closed Session]

AP 3435 DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT INVESTIGATIONS.

WE WILL BE BACK WITH THE READOUT. THANK YOU.

[9. Closing Items]

NO ONE ABSENT. PEREZ. AND THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR MEETING.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.