Heads up: Monday’s BOT meeting (contract approval, etc.)

     The agenda for the October meeting of the SOCCCD board of trustees is available here. (See bottom right of screen to download the large pdf file.)

     The discussion item for Monday’s meeting (4.1) is curiously broad and inclusive, like a bucket of everything:

     Looks like possible educational programs for ATEP will be presented, among other things. That should be scintillating. As you know, development of programs at ATEP has become a bit of a turf war between the colleges. The Hatfields versus the McCoys, but without the banjos. (I heard that one on a TV show, I think.)

     Item 5.3 is extension of Kaplan International Programs’ lease for three years at IVC. KI is a division of Kaplan, Inc., the infamous "for-profit."
     I don’t get it. Aren’t these for-profits the enemy?
     I know. Let's rent space to the Libertarian Party. We'll help 'em get their message out there. We'll smile like idiots.

     Item 5.4 is approval of honoraria (money) for speakers for events or classes.
     Interestingly, one instructor is requesting sixteen $100 honoraria (i.e., $1600) for her “Modern World Culture” course. One guest speaker per week, I guess. Ambitious.
     Among her guest speakers are Richard McCullough—perhaps you remember him—and Virginia Trimble. The latter was my astronomy instructor (at UCI), circa 1974. She's funny and smart. I loved her take on the Bermuda Triangle. It was something like: "when planes crash into the ocean, they sink to the bottom, never to be seen again. D'uh."

     Once again, Trustee Tom Fuentes will be paid (for last board meeting), despite his absence. How many months has it been now? (The last regular meeting Fuentes attended was in March.) He could have resigned but chose not to. He chose instead to accept payment and benefits—for six months thus far.
     As you know, he's a fiscal conservative who's into accountability and such. He's exceedingly staunch. He appreciates "beautiful ladies," evidently.
     I do miss him at meetings, though. He'd occasionally kill somebody with a look or a snarl.

     6.4 is discussion/approval of board policy revisions, including BP-2100, “Delegation of Authority to the Chancellor.” Here’s some language to be added:

     6.5 concerns changes to the district’s booze policy. Expect Nancy Padberg to restart the Prohibition movement.

     6.8 is a big one: "Faculty Association Academic Employee Master Agreement: Approve tentative Agreement between District and the SOCCCDFA for the period July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014."

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