Daniel Baumann

The agenda for the Regular Board Meeting scheduled March 17, 2026, included a Closed Session commencing at 5 p.m. to address matters concerning the Discipline/Dismissal/Release of Public Employee and conducting Conference with Labor Negotiators regarding several associations and unrepresented employees. The Open Session was set to reconvene at 6 p.m. and included standard procedures such as the Pledge of Allegiance, Agenda Approval, and Public Comment periods. Key discussion topics listed for the Open Session included a Learning Assistance Program Update and a Changing the Odds Moment presentation. The Consent Agenda covered routine items such as the Approval of Register of Warrants and Payroll Summary for January 1 through January 31, 2026, as well as approvals for various employee personnel actions, faculty appointments, curriculum report adoptions, new community services courses, acceptance of donations, and disposal of surplus property. Action Items included the Approval of the Audit Report for the Year Ending June 30, 2025 (which was approved in the February meeting for the March agenda), acceptance of grants, and approval for the District Superintendent/President to negotiate with the City of Santa Maria and the State of California on land transfer. Information items consisted of numerous first reviews of Revised Board Policies and Administrative Procedures concerning topics like records retention, hazing, credit transfer, open enrollment, student equity, and various financial management policies. The minutes for the February 17, 2026, Regular Board Meeting were scheduled for approval.

This Student Equity Plan outlines a comprehensive strategy for 2025-2028 to advance racial equity and dismantle systemic barriers within California Community Colleges. It aims to eliminate equity gaps for all students, with a primary focus on first-generation, Hispanic/Latine, and low-income male students. Key areas addressed include successful enrollment, completion of transfer-level math and English, student persistence, overall completion, and transfer to four-year institutions. The plan integrates efforts across various support programs and initiatives, aiming to provide holistic support, foster a sense of belonging, and promote equitable educational and career outcomes.

Key discussions and actions included presentations on the development of the Educational Master Plan and the Facilities Master Plan. The Consent Agenda covered the approval of the Register of Warrants (including supplemental and regular payrolls), authorization to declare district property as surplus for auction, acceptance of donations (a Sirona Cerec unit and an Epson printer), faculty appointments and equivalency certifications, and approvals related to various employee appointments and coaching stipends. Action items addressed the acceptance of grants, curriculum changes, approval of out-of-state travel for a conference, change orders for construction projects (One Stop Student Services Center and Building D Repairs & Upgrades), authorization to solicit bids for parking lot renovation and signage projects, approval of a change order for the Industrial Technology and Physical Education/Athletic Fields project, authorization to submit a funding application for Proposition 39 Energy Conservation, a public hearing on contract reopeners with the California Federation of Teachers/Part-Time Faculty Association, ratification of an agreement with the California School Employees Association for contract reopeners, approval of a summer four-day workweek schedule, approval of a new academic management job description, appointment of an interim associate dean, and approval of a change order for the Public Safety Complex. Information items included a presentation on the 2014-15 Proposed State Budget, a report on submitted grant proposals, an overview of bonded winery permit requirements, reports on resignations and retirements, negotiation process information, and status reports on Bond Measure I projects and the District Monthly Financial Report.

The Regular Board Meeting agenda commenced with a Closed Session starting at 4:30 PM, which included conference with a labor negotiator concerning the Faculty Association, Part-Time Faculty Association, Unrepresented Employees (Management and Supervisory/Confidential), and the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter #251. The Closed Session also addressed discipline/dismissal/release of a public employee and potential litigation (2 cases). The session reconvened to Open Session at 6:00 PM. Key actions during the open session included approvals under the Consent Agenda, such as the Register of Warrants totaling over $6 million, acceptance of a donated golf cart, authorization to declare surplus property (including a simulation mannequin for trade-in), approval of faculty appointments, overload assignments, special stipends, sabbatical leave requests for three faculty members for 2015-2016, approval of new fee-based community services courses, and the adoption of revised Board Policies 4021 (Program Vitality) and 6750 (Parking and Traffic Control). Action items also covered personnel changes, including the appointment of a financial aid specialist/counseling assistant and the appointment of a new director for law enforcement training. The Board also addressed the adoption of resolutions regarding Classified School Employees Week and sustainable funding for High Cost Career Technical Education Programs. Further action items involved setting future meeting dates and locations, endorsing a nominee for the Community College Classified Employee of the Year Award, considering privileges for the Student Trustee, adopting revisions to the 2014-2015 budget, providing time for public comment on a Faculty Association contract reopener proposal, approving salary schedule changes for confidential/supervisory and management employees, and approving the reappointment of a tenure-track faculty member for tenure.

The Regular Board Meeting agenda included several key items. Business included approval of the agenda and the minutes from the May 1, 2013 special board meeting. Consent agenda items involved the approval of the Register of Warrants for May 2013 payrolls and commercial warrants totaling over $10.5 million across multiple funds. Other consent actions included authorizing the disposal of surplus district property, approving various faculty appointments (part-time, overload, special assignments, equivalency certifications, short-term/substitute appointments), approving an interim appointment continuation for the Superintendent/President, approving appointments/reappointments for classified management, approving tenure-track and nontenure-track faculty appointments, approving appointments/transfers/promotions for confidential and classified employees, approving temporary out-of-classification and summer assignments for classified employees, considering reclassification of classified bargaining unit positions, and adopting second readings for revised Board Policies (7930 Program Review, 7110 Selection of Library Materials, and 8050 Gifts and Contributions to the District). Action items included approving authorized signature forms and Resolution 13-14, adopting Resolution 13-15 honoring the Interim Superintendent/President, adopting the 2012-13 Education Protection Account Expenditure Plan, adopting the 2013-2014 tentative budget, potential awarding of a contract for CNC milling machines and a lathe, potential approval of new/revised classified job descriptions, potential approval of a new classified management job description, potential approval of salary increases for part-time faculty, and approving change orders for two construction projects (Public Safety Complex and Industrial Technology/Athletic Fields). Information items covered the Children's Center Self Evaluation Report, submitted grant proposals, the quarterly volunteer report, an update on a partnering opportunity with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, bike path development information, and a status report on Bond Measure I projects.