San Diego Community Colleges and a Grand Jury report

Campaigns for community college board elections aren't known for getting the pulse racing. They usually draw about as much excitement as water district races.

Until now.

This year, all five county community college districts are seeing an enrollment surge at a time when most are grappling with a severe budget crunch. Add to that controversies in the North Coast and South County districts, plus a recent grand jury report citing ethical issues that warranted investigation in every district but Palomar, and stakes in the Nov. 4 election could not be higher.

MiraCosta

For the first time in more than two decades, every incumbent in the Oceanside-based MiraCosta Community College District race faces a challenger.

“MiraCosta usually flies under the radar,” said Oceanside resident Ken Noonan, who serves on the state Board of Education and is a member of the MiraCosta presidential search committee. “But now the community has become somewhat cynical about the board, the administration, the faculty and staff. There's an issue of trust.

“There's going to be a lot more attention paid to the election this year,” Noonan said, “and I have a feeling that people who are just fed up with all the nonsense will probably cast a vote.”

MiraCosta's turmoil erupted more than two years ago with a scandal involving the illegal sale of campus palm trees – a now-infamous case dubbed Palmgate. It resulted in the conviction of the head of the Horticulture Department, who sold the trees with her fiance; forced three top administrators from their jobs; and resulted in the resignation of President Victoria Muñoz Richart, who had received a death threat during the upheaval.

The investigation and ensuing controversy have cost the district well over $2 million and generated a string of lawsuits against the school.

Recently, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges warned MiraCosta that its accreditation could be in jeopardy because it failed to meet the deadlines for determining how to measure student achievement, and that strife among board members was negatively affecting the campus.

Southwestern

Many associated with Southwestern College in Chula Vista also worry about that district's troubles.

A recent county grand jury ethics report cited a concern by Southwestern's accrediting organization that the governing board tended to interfere too much with day-to-day operations.

The report also raised the issue of high turnover of key managers. Southwestern College has had five permanent and interim presidents in five years. All four of its vice presidents have either resigned or been terminated since July 2007.

“We've had some major leadership changes that have certainly impacted our programs and services here,” said Norma Cazares, a counselor at Southwestern College. “When you don't have that leadership, then things begin to fall through the cracks. Many people believe the leadership on the (district) board contributes to these issues.”

In June, two top Southwestern college administrators resigned after being accused of sexual harassment in complaints to the state and college. In a subsequent lawsuit, a student services assistant alleged that she “involuntarily accepted” demands for sex from Arthur Lopez, director of financial aid, who she said would mention her pending evaluation during sexual encounters. She also alleged that Greg Sandoval, vice president for student affairs, asked her to add the words “in bed” to a fortune-cookie message he wanted her to read aloud.

An attorney for Lopez has denied the allegations. Sandoval has said he looks “forward to the outcome of the due process.”

Jose Preciado, president of the South Bay Forum political action committee, said this election, which has two open seats, is sure to receive more scrutiny than usual.

“Anywhere you go in the community, the Southwestern College drama has become a joke,” Preciado said.

He noted that the district has yet to show evidence of measurable student success over time.

Grossmont-Cuyamaca

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, which has two open seats, hasn't escaped controversy, either.

The county grand jury has investigated changes to the employment contract of Grossmont-Cuyamaca Chancellor Omero Suarez without board approval in 2006. The chancellor ordered staff to delete a clause that limited his severance pay to no more than 12 months if he were released from his contract early. (State law now allows up to 18 months of severance.) Suarez, who has since announced plans to retire for unrelated reasons, later ordered the clause reinserted.

The grand jury report released in May said ethical issues meriting investigation had surfaced in the governance of every local community college district except for Palomar. Most or all of the grand jury's recommendations to address ethical issues were rejected by the five community college boards and the county Board of Education.

All this comes as colleges are facing tighter finances because of state funding levels.

The San Diego Community College District, where there are two seats open, has recently cut the number of classes offered, increased class sizes and frozen more than 100 vacant positions. The lone exception to the budget crunch is MiraCosta, which is funded largely through local property taxes.

Simultaneously, local community college districts are seeing an enrollment boom, at least partly in response to the economic downturn.

But Brian Adams, associate professor of state and local politics at San Diego State University, said enrollment spikes and budget reductions are unlikely to pique voter interest.

“That's happened before, and we haven't seen any real spike,” Adams said. “I think what will drive voter interest is the drama going on – the scandal. Things like conflict of interest and this person dating that person – that may get a little more interest in the races.”

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