Carmen Alessandro

The Board of Trustees held a special meeting to discuss and consider a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding an interjurisdictional exchange involving the Chancellor and the state Chancellor's Office. Several faculty members and union representatives provided public comments expressing strong opposition to the proposed MOU, citing concerns over the Chancellor's leadership, recent votes of no confidence, fiscal responsibility, and transparency in the decision-making process. Other speakers, including representatives from the Community College League of California, voiced support for the MOU, highlighting the potential benefits of the exchange for the state system.

The Board of Trustees held a regular meeting that included the commemoration of several observances including Earth Day, Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, Diversity Month, and Community College Month. The session featured a college highlight presentation from Fresno City College, which celebrated its 115th anniversary, recognized the accomplishments of the Design Science Middle College, and highlighted success stories within the athletic department, specifically the women's basketball team. Additionally, the meeting included a presentation on the district's status as a Black Serving Institution, detailing its ongoing commitment to black student success through institutional planning and equity initiatives.

The regular meeting commenced with an announcement of an agenda update, scheduling action on item 9.02 (adoption of the district's 2026 to 2028 initial bargaining proposal to CSEA) following the public hearing on item 8.01. A significant portion of the discussion focused on Board Resolution 2026.06, supporting Fresno City College's proposed bachelor's degree in radiologic technology, which aligns with State Chancellor's Office Vision 2030 goals for increasing community college bachelor's degrees. Guest speakers detailed the extensive groundwork and collaboration supporting this historic resolution, emphasizing its importance for local workforce needs in imaging supervision and leadership roles. During public comments, concerns were raised regarding the servicing and replacement of printers in the humanities department, the need to maintain access to printing resources for students, and ongoing issues with institutional morale and the onboarding/evaluation of newer staff. Additionally, a commenter strongly urged the district not to renew the contract with the current bookstore vendor, Flet, citing non-compliance with state law regarding mandatory XB12 data reporting for zero textbook cost courses and excessive markups on textbooks.

The board meeting covered multiple resolutions and reports, focusing significantly on recognitions. Key discussions included the commemoration of Black History Month and the commemoration of the Day of Remembrance of Japanese American incarceration during World War II, both emphasizing the importance of these histories. A college highlight from Clovis Community College featured a presentation on a science and art collaboration where students translated climate science research into a widely downloaded comic book about the changing Arctic, titled 'Penny's Adventure in Navigating the New Arctic.' Reports were also delivered by the Academic Senate, highlighting innovative faculty work and student focus, and the Classified Senate, detailing progress on goals at various colleges (Madera, Reedley, Fresno City/District Office), emphasizing the essential support provided by classified professionals.

The meeting agenda was approved without corrections. Key informational items included a review of the Form 1095C issuance for tax filing year 2025, updates on the Spring Health Fair scheduled for March 2026, and the launch of two surveys to gather feedback on the October Fall Painting Event and Baskets of Fun Fundraiser. Updates were provided regarding Classified Professional of the Year nominations and the upcoming Classified Mega Conference. The Senate discussed committee vacancies and the process for the Classified Senate Secretary nominations. Committee reports highlighted ongoing HR Staffing in its second phase, the submission of Budget Requests, and the Governor's Budget projections, noting potential allocations for classified staff. Furthermore, the committee reported receiving additional one-time funding via the Student Support Block Grant. Commencement plans were discussed, including a venue change to the Save Mart Center and associated accessibility concerns. The Treasurer's Report indicated a Foundation account balance of $5,146.58 as of January 20th.