Jowel Laguerre has led the four-college district since 2015
Blog note: This article references a 2015 Solano County grand jury report.
OAKLAND — Jowel Laguerre is out as chancellor of the Peralta Community College District.
The Peralta college board on Friday evening voted unanimously to “accept an early retirement” from Laguerre.
Trustees met in closed session for more than three hours before announcing the agreement to an empty board room. A statement read by board President Julina Bonilla said Laguerre will go on leave beginning March 1.
“The board president has been working with the chancellor for several months to prepare the district for a transition,” according to the statement. His interim replacement will be appointed at a March 5 trustee meeting.
Bonilla declined to discuss what led the board to its decision; Laguerre’s contract, which includes about $300,000 in annual pay plus benefits, does not expire until 2020. Last year, Peralta trustees extended his contract for two years.
Dissatisfaction with his leadership style, budget priorities and accusations of mishandling taxpayer money have grown among faculty and district watchdogs over the past year. Peralta’s fiscal health also has worsened, as student enrollment dropped during Laguerre’s tenure.
Before voters in November passed a $48 per-parcel tax, Michael Mills, the former chairman of a district watchdog panel, accused the district of misusing tax dollars from prior measures and said he did not trust the chancellor “for a second.” More recently, faculty senates at Laney and Berkeley City College each approved a vote of no confidence in Laguerre endorsed by the Peralta Federation of Teachers and called for his resignation.
Last week, the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission recommended fining Peralta $2,000 for a 2017 holiday card featuring Laguerre and trustees that was “designed, printed, and distributed” by the district, in violation of state government code.
Laguerre did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It was not clear if Laguerre will receive a severance package or continue working in another position for the remainder of his contract. According to that document, the board may terminate the agreement with or without cause.
Peralta Federation of Teachers president Jennifer Shanoski said the union is “relieved and grateful to the board for acting on the many concerns that we’ve raised over the past couple of years.”
“Looking forward, we are hopeful that PCCD can move ahead with leadership that reflects the values and prioritizes the needs of the faculty, staff and the students that we serve,” she said.
Laguerre was hired in 2015 after serving as president at Solano Community College since 2009. While he was at Solano, a civil grand jury criticized the college district for “misleading and contradictory” language on a $348 million bond measure. The grand jury report was released just as Laguerre was leaving to lead Peralta.
February 22, 2019
The Mercury News
By David DeBolt
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