Panel says complaint against board valid
Jessica Smith
Issue date: 10/27/09 Section: News
The team criticized the board for lack of experience in governance. They also highlighted members' incompetence in their capacity to properly oversee such a large district and pointed to the detrimental results this problem creates.
"The majority of the Board members who have taken on the operational responsibilities of the district (i.e. developing the budget) do not begin to meet even the most minimal qualifications for administrative positions."
Additionally the report states, "The Board's fractured relationship with the Chancellor and his leadership team, as well as with each other, have created a climate of fear and intimidation and a culture of mistrust throughout the organization."
Although the Board has repeatedly stated that their focus is on the well-being of students, according to the panel's findings, "There is a fundamental and often observed disconnect between their rhetoric and the reality of their behaviors and decisions. Most of the Board members speak much more frequently about the voters who elected them and the taxpayers to whom they feel responsible."
"Claiming to be acting in the interests of students, the Board members' rhetoric is out of sync with the chaos that they have created by micromanaging a complex enterprise that they are simply not qualified to do."
Overarching disrespect among board members and towards the MCCCD community as a whole was also a dominate observation made by the group.
"Most of the members display a lack of understanding of how their adversarial and uncivil conduct and their lack of informed decision making threatens the stability of services and damages the reputation of a highly respected institution."
Similarly the report comments that decisions by the board, "…have contributed to a universal erosion of confidence that has demoralized and embarrassed the college community."
"However well intended though ill-informed, the Board's lack of good financial stewardship threatens to compromise the ability of the district to meet the educational needs of its citizenry."
If the Board fails to fully rectify the findings of the committee, they could end up costing the MCCCD its accreditation.
"The majority of the Board members who have taken on the operational responsibilities of the district (i.e. developing the budget) do not begin to meet even the most minimal qualifications for administrative positions."
Additionally the report states, "The Board's fractured relationship with the Chancellor and his leadership team, as well as with each other, have created a climate of fear and intimidation and a culture of mistrust throughout the organization."
Although the Board has repeatedly stated that their focus is on the well-being of students, according to the panel's findings, "There is a fundamental and often observed disconnect between their rhetoric and the reality of their behaviors and decisions. Most of the Board members speak much more frequently about the voters who elected them and the taxpayers to whom they feel responsible."
"Claiming to be acting in the interests of students, the Board members' rhetoric is out of sync with the chaos that they have created by micromanaging a complex enterprise that they are simply not qualified to do."
Overarching disrespect among board members and towards the MCCCD community as a whole was also a dominate observation made by the group.
"Most of the members display a lack of understanding of how their adversarial and uncivil conduct and their lack of informed decision making threatens the stability of services and damages the reputation of a highly respected institution."
Similarly the report comments that decisions by the board, "…have contributed to a universal erosion of confidence that has demoralized and embarrassed the college community."
"However well intended though ill-informed, the Board's lack of good financial stewardship threatens to compromise the ability of the district to meet the educational needs of its citizenry."
If the Board fails to fully rectify the findings of the committee, they could end up costing the MCCCD its accreditation.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Kyle Patton
posted 11/03/09 @ 7:39 PM MST
Not bad. Good work.
http://www.scccampusnews.com/district-board-risks-it-all-1.856890
Kyle Patton
Editor in Chief
Scottsdale Chronicle
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