Santa Monica College Faculty Association

Representative Assembly Meeting

May 8, 2003

Members Present:  Rebecca Anderson, Vini Angel, Anthony Archer, Robin Briggs, Sandi Burnett, Fran Chandler, Tom Chen, Gordon Dossett, Carolyn Feruzzi, Robert Flores, Dennis Frisch, Carolyn Holmes, John Hoover, Marcella Kelly, Richard Lavalle, George Marcopulos, Ken Mason, Robert Massey, Kym McBride, Richard Mednick, Mitra Moassessi, Dana Morgan, Elaine Morton, Lyle Nichols, Jim Pacchioli, Pauli Peter, Paul Roberts, Saul Rubin, Michael Schwartz, Lantz Simpson, Eleanor Singleton, Michael Strathern, Lydia Strong, Kathy Sucher, Nina Theiss, Beverly Tholen, Alicia Villapando, Andrew Walzer, David Zehr

Members Absent: Maria Alvarado, Ed Bermudez, Juanita Burris, Paul Churchard, Becky Curtis, Patti Del Valle, Nick DiCamillo, Charlie Donaldson, Gail Edinger, Naja El-Khoury, Don Emery, Mark Foster, Kai Ganado, Claudia Garcia, Teresa Garcia, Bill Hogan, Ridgeway Knight, Jim Lemmon, Arnold Lessing, Karl Lisovsky, Alan Litt,

Fran Manion, Ben Martin, James Martin, Catherine Matheson, Richard McColl

Colleen McGraw, Brenda Ness, Melody Nightengale, Ernest Padilla, David Phillips,

Juan Quevedo, Boris Ricks, Stuart Sam, Christine Schultz, Sumy Takesue, Esau Tovar,

Michael Tracey, Denise Travis, Joseph Vargas, Leslie Vaughn, Sal Veas, Robert Ware,

Betty Wong                           

Members Excused: Garen Baghdasarian, Ann Maddox

Guests:  Alan Buckley, Jocelyn Kepler, Susan Sterr, Lesley Kawaguchi, Michael Soldetanko, Robert Taylor

I.          President’s Report- Lantz Simpson

            The Budget Committee met last Friday.  The three scenarios were presented.  Voted 11-2 to adopt the three scenarios with some “twicking”.  Recommendation sent to Dr. Robertson who in turn sent to the board. 

            Board Meeting:  70 people signed up to talk about the budget, 50 were students. The people who spoke discussed programs that are to be discontinued.  The Board did not take any action on the elimination of programs.

            Lay-off hearings:  15 faculty members had hearings in front of a Judge to decide if “the district is proceeding legally with lay -offs”.  Judge’s decision “the district is proceeding lawfully”.  May 15^th deadline is maintained district will proceed with lay offs.

Special Board meeting scheduled for May 15^th at 12:30 p.m. at the Madison Campus.  Need to coordinate to get students and faculty to attend meeting.

Meeting with Dr. Robertson:  Santa Monica Democratic Club and Ken Mason’s participation was discussed.  A letter was sent to Herb Roney regarding the SMDC disappointment with Santa Monica College.  Dr. Robertson is upset about the bad press. 

The three scenarios regarding the budget was the topic.  She agrees with the med and worst case scenarios.

Classified work share is at a stand still.

            Early retirement:  Tom Donnor wants to negotiate early retirement for the classified employees. 

Important for faculty who plan to retire to turn in their paper work as soon as possible.

Board intends eliminate the programs next week.

II.         Motion to approve early retirement: two parts, total retirement or limited retirement.  Dennis Frisch moved and David Zehr seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously. 

III.       2003-2004 Elections Report – Beverly Tholan

Ballots in Boxes the deadline is May 21, 2003 at noon.  Ballots will be counted that afternoon.

IV.        FACCC Focus Group:  May 30^th focus group at 9 a.m.  Jonathan Lightman and Richard Hanson will be present.  Would like 12 full time and 12 part time faculty to attend.  Will discuss 1. Prop 98, 2. Part timers having a larger role in FACCC 3. SMC’s role in FACCC.

V.          For the Good of the Order

            The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.