12000 S.W. 49th Avenue - Portland, OR 97219
Rock Creek Campus, Building 9, Room 122 B & C
April 21, 2005
Board Members Present:
Dana Anderson, Norma Jean Germond, Jaime Lim, Doreen Margolin, Karen McKinney, Bob Palmer, Harold Williams (not present for Executive Session)
The Board of Directors convened an executive session for Employment of a Public Officer, Labor Negotiations, Real Property Transactions and Litigation in accordance with ORS 192.660 (1)(a, d, e, h) at 6:15 PM, adjourning at 6:50 PM.
Chair Anderson called the business meeting to order at 6:55 PM, and asked all present to introduce themselves.
The March 17, 2005 business meeting minutes were approved as published.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was approved as published.
Film of Grand Opening Ceremonies for New Buildings at Cascade Campus
David Goldberg, Director of Institutional Advancement, introduced a short film highlighting activities at the Cascade Campus grand opening ceremony for the new Physical Education Building, the Public Services Education Building, and the Technology Education Building. The Chair commented that was a wonderful day for PCC and the film captured the spirit of the day’s activities.
Mike Drake, Director of the PCC Foundation, and Ron Wilkinson and Mike Gentry, members of the PCC Foundation Board of Directors and members of the Naming Taskforce Committee, discussed the process followed in drafting revised board policy (B 703) regarding naming of college facilities, programs and positions. Mr. Gentry reviewed the proposed policy guidelines, including formulas, that will make it easy for the policy to be implemented. This is the first reading, and following the second reading in May the policy will be finalized. Chair Anderson said that the work of the Foundation board over the past few years has been exciting and thanked the Foundation for their help in moving the College forward. The Chair asked board members to jot down any questions relating to the Building Naming policy change and the District President will discuss them at the May board meeting during the second reading.
Michael Dembrow, President of the Faculty Federation, stated that he is against the notion of endowed chair positions. He believes it is against the culture of the College and would complicate things. He appreciates the work that the Foundation Board has done on this policy and for the College as a whole.
Director Margolin moved to approve Resolutions 05-071 through 05-081 by consent agenda and it passed unanimously.
David Rives, Faculty Federation Vice President for Part-time Membership and a part-time ESL instructor said that last week the Payroll Department notified part-time teachers that their PERS contributions were taken away. This issue has been a matter of concern between the Faculty Federation and the Human Resources Department for several months. Part-time faculty are less than satisfied with the Human Resource Department’s attitude and lack of openness in receiving information. Part-timers work hard--sometimes harder than full-time faculty--and deserve retirement benefits. Mr. Rives wants Human Resources to do the right and ethical thing regarding pensions by following contract provisions and state law. If there is no resolution on this matter, it will become more than a Human Resources matter.
Lucia Barnett, President of the Classified Federation, said that the state AFT-Oregon convention was held last week. After serving four terms as state federation president, Debra Covert decided not to run again. She was awarded the Albert Shanker
Pioneer Award because she was the first Classified employee to serve as the state federation president. This was a great honor to the PCC Classified Federation. Prior to that, Lilly O’Rielly, a PCC faculty member, served as state federation president. Mark Schwebke is the state federation president-elect, and Phil Gilmore has been elected vice president at-large. Linda Eby retains her seat as secretary, and Michael Dembrow has moved from treasurer to vice president at large. Chair Anderson congratulated all federation members on their new positions of leadership.
The Chair reminded board members that as a board they had determined to hold a board self-evaluation this year. She alerted board members that this item will be on the agenda for the next couple of months, as will the district president’s evaluation.
President Pulliams thanked the Cascade Campus for hosting the Legislative Ways & Means Committee meeting. A public hearing was held regarding the state budget and PCC staff continued to make the request for additional community college funding. He thanked Directors Margolin and Williams for their key statements in support of community college funding. There were at least 200 people in attendance and about 50 testified.
The President announced that Governor Kulongoski visited the Cascade Campus today and toured the Skills Center, visiting classes, discussing opportunities for partnerships and more funding for PCC overall. Dr. Pulliams commended Directors Lim and McKinney for making the case for further funding for community colleges to the Governor.
The President had an exit interview following the accreditation team visit and received a very positive evaluation, including many commendations. They were very complimentary on community and partnership support and gave the recommendation that PCC needs further work on student outcomes. Overall it was a very positive report and the President is confident PCC will be accredited for another 10 years. President Pulliams thanked Guy Sievert, Lauren Kuhns, and all the staff that worked to make this a successful accreditation visit.
There being no further business, the business meeting adjourned at 7:32 PM.
The Budget Committee meeting was called to order by Director Anderson at 7:40 PM.
Budget Committee members introduced themselves and shared a little about their background relating to their appointment to the Budget Committee.
Director Margolin nominated Director Anderson to serve as Chair of the Budget Committee and it passed unanimously. Chair Anderson reviewed the budget process, which is a new process from previous years. PCC is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Multnomah County Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission because the majority of district property taxes are now paid in Washington County. The College will be following the budget committee model, as outlined in the Oregon Revised Statutes.
President Pulliams thanked the members of the budget committee for their commitment of time and expertise in agreeing to serve and presented the president’s budget message.
The following community members made comments on proposed program cuts:
Michael Dembrow, President of the Faculty Federation
Lucia Barnett, President of the Classified Federation
Karen Jolly
Kyle Cady
Eric Franz
Sarah Keilholtz
Cynthia Kimball
Roxanne Hill
Dr. Kerry Pataki
Porter Raper
Spencer Hinkel
Lauren Kuhn
Break 9:00-9:05
Holly King
Melanie Dixon
Hersi Amed
Nancy Casciato
Catie Nadal
Tracie Roby
Franko Lamara
Toni Garraton
Unidentified Student
Roger Frank
Adrian Rodriguez
Mary Severson
Nerva Pfund
Catherine Sils
Richard Edwards
Patrick Walters
Mary Curtis
Joanne Harris
Break: 10:30-10:35PM
Vicki Charleston
Alena Dubaushayor
Paula Zerate
Hong Hua Jin
William Weir
President Pulliams said that it has been emotionally difficult hearing testimony regarding the budget process and asked staff and students to continue to be involved in the budget process. He discussed why it would be difficult to reinstate the Category 2 positions at this time: legislators have not yet given a firm budget amount that the PCC budget can realistically be based on, and the state historically has under funded education which has created the present funding situation. Even though it is emotionally very difficult to think about making the proposed cuts, the President has a responsibility to the Board and the institution to broach the budget situation as an administrative-driven approach. He hopes that it will be possible to reinstate the Category 2 cuts, but reminded community members that it is important to move forward with new initiatives as part of the total plan. The President asked everyone to consider the comprehensive picture through a deliberative process. President Pulliams said he promised the Budget Advisory Committee that he and the executive staff will sit down with every affected department and individual to explain how the College got to this point and what the issues are. The executive staff felt limited by contract language in the amount of conversation that they could have with the Unions and had to follow the lay-off notification procedures outlined there, even though they did not have firm budget numbers to work with. The President pledged himself to work hard to get additional funding from the state and to provide answers to the Budget Committee’s technical questions at the next board meeting.
Chair Anderson expressed the consensus of the Budget Committee to postpone discussion and to make a recommendation to the May 19 board meeting, which will be a work session. Members of the committee will share their technical questions in advance and ask for a response to some of the comments made during public comment.
Director Germond said that board members and PCC staff have been lobbying legislators to increase funds to community colleges, which is the most important activity that can be done right now. Director Palmer thanked all members of the community that addressed the Budget Committee; the impact was felt and appreciated. He noted that we are all on the same team and need to continue working together. Chair Anderson thanked all who spoke for taking the time and making thoughtful comments to the Budget Committee.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:10 PM.
The next meeting of the Portland Community College Board of Directors will be held on May 19, 2005 at 4:00 PM in Conference Rooms A and B at the Sylvania Campus.
_____________________________ _____________________________
Chair Anderson President Pulliams
Prepared by:
______________________________
Judy Schwartz
Assistant to Board of Directors
Minutes approved on May 19, 2005