Representative Assembly Meeting
October 22, 1998

Members present:

M. Alvarado, C. Atmore, C. Beckstead, E. Bermudez, T. Bernstein, L. Boylan, A. Buckley, F. Chandler, H. Cohen, G. Dossett, D. Doten, J. Douglas, A. Gerl, P. Halliday, G. Heller, C. Limb, F. Manion, K. Mason, J. McKay, J. McMullen, J. Mills, M. Moassessi, B. Price, T. Randall, V. Rothman, L. Simpson, E. Singleton, L. Singleton, E. Spain, L. Staple, K. Sucher, N. Theiss, P. Wall, J. Watts, J. Yu

Members absent:

E. Bolivar-Owens, L. Bracamonte, J. Bresloff, J. Burris, K. Cerovic, K. Costello, H. Crane, D. Emery, L. Emile, G. Fouts, A. Freeman, M. Friedman, C. Hughes, S. Kurvinck, G. Lopez, A. Maddox, M. Mazorow, J. Murphy, D. Nannini, C. Nelson, M. Padilla, J. Quevedo, K. Shamey, L. Shishido, H. Sobel, M. Soldatenko, G. Strathearn, B. Tholen, S. Veas, H. Vishwanadha, D. Zehr, B. Zimmerman

Members excused:

L. Kawaguchi

Guests:

S. McDonald, C. O'Connell, L. Walker

I. President's Report - Fran Chandler

A. CCCI Meeting Report

One major topic was the revision of the Ed Code since it contains most of the faculty rights. It is generally accepted that it needs revision in part because of the past connection with the colleges and the public schools. However, a fear is that the faculty rights might be transferred to Title V, which can be changed by the Board of Governors and ultimately by the State Legislature. One strategy to oppose this possibility is to try to get all faculty organizations to agree to oppose this change at the legislative level.

Chancellor Nussbaum does not like many parts of Hayward's report. Nussbaum has dropped at least temporarily his opposition to local Boards of Trustees. However, he prefers not to have to consult with Districts in any way other than through the Senates, which is mandated by law.

Statewide collective bargaining is dead for the time being.

Provisions have been developed for annexing schools from another district.

Santa Rosa has achieved pro-rata pay at 84.7% for part-time instructors. Since we are at 65%, Santa Rosa provides a target to aim at.

B. FACCC Meeting Report

We have until March to submit bills for FACCC to support. To do so, contact John McDowell at Trade Tech.

FACCC wants excess STRS funds to be used for faculty benefits including improved benefits for retirees. It isn't yet known whether STRS will come forward with a benefits plan.

Some benefits in the Blue Cross plan are not so good as they were under Blue Shield, especially peripheral benefits such as acupuncture and chiropractic treatments.

FACCC is working on securing hiring rights for part-time faculty, including seniority rights.

It is continuing to work on ensuring a fair share for colleges from the Proposition 98 money and is working on a permanent property-tax backfill.

 

C. Southwest Faculty Alliance Meeting

It has met recently and. In November a small group will work with a representative from the Citizen's Commission. The Commission poses a danger because it opposes local Boards and shared governance and supports statewide bargaining. It desires to turn the community colleges into a system paralleling CSU and UC.

 

D.Higher Education Bond Act

Chandler urged all to vote for the Higher Education Bond Act in the November election. It will help us directly in contributing toward retrofitting the library.

 

II. Minutes of September 10 and 24, 1998

Kathy Sucher corrected the address for the association's Web page. It should read: http: //www.pacificnet.net/~smcfa The minutes were passed with this correction.

 

III. Negotiation Council Report - Teri Bernstein

 

An update will appear in the boxes today in answer to Dr. Robertson's letter. The Council, which is asking for 50% of the windfall money that the District will receive, believes that its proposal is principled because it eliminates risk for both sides. The proposal does not ask for money the District does not have and it does not allow the District to spend all the money on other projects. At a 6% increase the cost for faculty salaries would go up 12%: (Classified salaries went up 18% and the administration salaries ,39.5%.)

However, the Administration has offered faculty only a 3% increase.

 

IV. Academic Senate Report- Fran Manion

At the Senate meeting next Tuesday, Alan Buckley will talk about the changes in the evaluation policy that the Personnel Policies Committee has recommended. The Senate is also looking at an update of the shared governance policy in the Board Policy. Tracey Ellis will report on the department involved in Cal Works, and the Curriculum Committee will report on English prerequisites across disciplines.

 

V. Candidates' Forum, October 21

A large group attended the forum, where the candidates answered hard-hitting questions.

The Assembly debated the desirability of endorsing a candidate or candidates. Then Teri Bernstein offered the following motion, seconded by Bill Price.

The Faculty Association

Respectfully submitted,

Nina Theiss

Recording Secretary