Support Anita Martinez as the new Interim Chancellor of CCSF

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Support Anita Martinez as the new Interim Chancellor of CCSF

We, CCSF students and community, are calling for the appointment of Anita Martinez as Interim Chancellor when Chancellor Vurdien's contract expires on June 30th, and to include students, and faculty and staff constituents in finalizing the permanent Chancellor.

The Board of Trustees have failed to choose chancellors who support the needs of the CCSF community in the past. This time WE are telling YOU who to hire.

The CCSF Board of Trustees have a track record of selecting chancellors who downsize our school, and cut away at vital programs, classes, and resources. They have closed campuses, and laid off our faculty and staff during an ongoing pandemic and a heightened culture of racial violence toward BIPOC communities. The Board sought to give the acting Chancellor a $35K raise on top of a $340K salary one week after faculty were forced to make 4-11% salary concessions to prevent over 600 layoffs, and major cuts to our resources as students. We need a chancellor who knows that they work for us, the students. We need the Board of Trustees to appoint Anita Martinez as Interim Chancellor of CCSF on June 30th.

By the next June 24th Board of Trustees meeting, we demand that our resolution shared below can be presented and passed.

Resolution for the Appointment of Anita Martinez as CCSF Chancellor

WHEREAS, the CCSF Board of Trustees is responsible [1] for the selection, hiring, and evaluation [2] of the next interim and permanent chancellor in addition to determining their annual salary [3]; and

WHEREAS, throughout their terms as CCSF Trustees Tom Temprano, Shanell Williams, John Rizzo, Thea Selby, and Brigitte Davila have consistently hired chancellors who have pushed austerity measures and failed strategies for the success of our school; and

WHEREAS, Chancellors hired by trustees have made irresponsible decisions that have negatively impacted student lives by cutting language access, shutting down programs, closing campuses, cutting classes and laying off faculty and staff; and

WHEREAS, Interim Chancellor Vurdien, hired by CCSF Trustees, created a Multi-Year Budget and Enrollment Plan in November 2020 that led to at least 600 class sections being cut [4], and approved of the 163 pink slips that would have led to 600+ layoffs this year [5]; and

WHEREAS, Chancellor Mark Rocha, hired by CCSF Trustees, rejected lobbying efforts to secure city funding for CCSF [6], laid off hundreds of faculty [7], and cut hundreds of classes after conducting the same type of mismanagement in his previous role as President at Pasadena City College, leading to a vote of no confidence [8]; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees have consistently hired chancellors who supported increases to their own salaries despite budget issues; and

WHEREAS, Interim Chancellor Vurdien, hired by CCSF Trustees, supported a $35,000 raise per month to his own salary of $340,000 [9], days after his administration forced faculty to take significant pay cuts; and

WHEREAS, Chancellor Mark Rocha, hired by CCSF Trustees, attempted to raise top administration salaries by an increase of 100% in September 2019 [10], then took a $340,000 paid leave, and $24,000 for vacation time in March 2020 [11]; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees have consistently chosen leadership that supports the state-wide agenda to downsize the school; and

WHEREAS, Interim Chancellor Vurdien, hired by CCSF trustees, stated that CCSF should be downsized to 180 full-time faculty while it currently employs 555 [13]; and

WHEREAS, Chancellor Mark Rocha, hired by CCSF trustees, justified cuts and rejection of city funding in 2019 by saying that they were part of a “long-planned restructuring of the academic programs to prioritize the graduation of students of color,” while instead the cuts exaggerated the issues those students faced [14]; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees have consistently selected Chancellors who have made CCSF less accessible, with the CCSF Airport Center shutting down in 2020 under Chancellor Vurdien’s watch [15], CCSF Fort Mason shutting down [16] and CCSF Civic Center’s lease ending in 2020 under Interim Chancellor Dianna Gonzalez [17]; and Chancellor Mark Rocha allowing the [18] the CCSF Southeast Campus to become inactive [19]; and

WHEREAS, prospective chancellor Anita Martinez has widespread support throughout the city for her devotion and commitment to City College and has experience as a former teacher, administrator, and AFT and Academic Senate Leader, therefore be it

RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees will not rehire Chancellor Vurdien after his contract expires;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees will consult student leadership, faculty and staff constituencies, and CCSF community organizations in finalizing the next interim chancellor and permanent chancellor;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees will hire a permanent chancellor who will nurture the repair of City College, secure long term funding for CCSF, and respond to the needs of the CCSF community;

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees will appoint Anita Martinez, former community college teacher, and administrator as the interim Chancellor.

Citations:

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Support Anita Martinez as the new Interim Chancellor of CCSF

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