Veronica Coots

The council reviewed committee matters including proposed rates for lodges and food services, which were tabled due to errors in the documentation. Discussions covered several facility projects such as snow removal equipment acquisition, accessibility improvements, and cafeteria expansion planning, alongside budget increases for utilities and van service maintenance. Personnel salary adjustments and various departmental reports were presented, covering strategic enrollment management, ongoing construction and utility projects, fiscal auditing, and staffing updates.

The committee reviewed and approved several course and program revisions as part of the consent agenda. Key discussion topics included the formal approval of the 2026-2027 curriculum submission timelines for both internal and faculty use. Members also deliberated on the implementation of a new workflow utilizing Microsoft Teams for managing curriculum submissions, established procedures for technical reviews, and discussed the implications of un-crosslisting specific courses for an upcoming software transition.

The council discussed updates regarding Financial Aid Standards of Excellence and planning for an enrollment management retreat, including recommendations for creating credit and noncredit programs, developing enrollment dashboards, and optimizing course scheduling and rotation. Members reviewed faculty hiring needs, particularly for the CTE, ECE, and ADHS programs, and the status of program viability processes, including nursing and advanced manufacturing. Additional topics included space utilization strategies, challenges with current block scheduling and hybrid course implementation, and the future consideration of credit for prior learning.

Key discussion points included the progress of the Mission Statement Taskforce, focusing on shortening the mission statement to approximately two sentences, with the revised draft planned for review at the April Town Hall Meeting and approval in June. The review of the Local Decision Making Handbook covered aligning with the Browns Act requirements for the Classified Senate, potential adjustments to the personnel request process by adding timelines and forms to the FAQ, and discussions on faculty hiring pools. Reports highlighted that the Student Services Council approved APs and BPs, maintaining current lodge rates but increasing meal plan rates by eight percent. The Academic Senate scheduled a special meeting, and the Instructional Professional Development Committee/Flex Committee discussed flex time funding sources.

The meeting included discussions on the results of the Mission Statement Survey and the formation of the Mission Statement Taskforce, which aims to present a draft by March 13, 2026, and seek approval from the Board of Trustees by May 19, 2026. The council also reviewed the Local Decision Making Handbook, specifically focusing on the flowchart and the status of the Classified Senate. Action items primarily involved the review and approval of numerous policies and procedures, including BP/AP 6307 (Debt Issuance and Management), AP 6310 (Accounting), AP 6315 (Warrants), BP/AP 6320 (Investments), AP 6322 (Employee Indemnity Bonds), AP 6325 (Payroll), BP/AP 6330 (Purchasing), BP/AP 6340 (Bids and Contracts), AP 6345 (Bids and Contracts), AP 6350 (Contracts - Construction), BP/AP 6400 (Audits), BP/AP 6450 (Wireless or Cellular Telephone Use), AP 4105 (Distance Education), AP 4227 (Repeatable Courses), BP 6520 (Security for District Property), BP/AP 6540 (Insurance), BP/AP 6600 (Capital Construction), BP/AP 6620 (Naming of District Property), BP/AP 6740 (Citizens Oversight Committee - Review Only), BP 6900 (Bookstores), BP/AP 3510 (Workplace Violence), BP/AP 3600 (Auxiliary Organizations), and BP 4300 (Field Trips and Excursions). Additionally, the council voted to table the retirement of AP 4022 pending clarification with Instruction Council. Reports were received from various councils and committees.