Delta teachers say they have no confidence in board

By Amanda Dyer
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Updated: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 12:30 AM PDT

Delta College's teachers' union announced its vote of no confidence in the college's trustees at Tuesday night's regular board meeting and has started work to help unseat board members up for re-election.

The few dozen faculty members who attended the meeting vigorously applauded union president Joe Gonzales' announcement.

Most faculty members wore solid-white, pin-on buttons, which one instructor explained are sort of a silent protest that teachers can wear in the classroom because it does not convey any particular message.

The announcement stemmed from a faculty-wide vote that took place between May 27 and June 16. Ninety-five percent of the ballots turned in indicated that teachers have no confidence in the board.

The San Joaquin Delta College Teacher's Association referenced its ongoing struggle to settle its contract with the college, but said it is even more concerned with what it perceives as the trustees' inability to steer the college in the right direction.

"We're less interested in a contract than helping to put the college's house in order," said Sam Hatch, a Delta instructor and communications officer for the faculty union.

Hatch cited last month's less than favorable grand jury report, which said the board squandered millions of dollars of Measure L funds. Voters approved Measure L, a $250 million bond meant to make number of improvements to Delta's home campus as well as build satellite campuses, in 2004.

The union's spokesman also referenced the college's recent run-in with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges' accreditation committee, which suggested the trustees adopt a code of ethics among other things.

Hatch said union is also looking for members of the community who will run against board members up for re-election, including Trustees Leo Burke, Anthony Bugarin and Greg McCreary.

Hatch said the union was partnering with other civic groups for the search, but declined to say which ones.

Trustee Dan Parises, also up for re-election, announced Tuesday that he will not seek another term.

Other trustees had little to say about the faculty's announcement.

"I appreciate that the faculty was honest with us," Trustee Janet Rivera said.

Trustee Maria Elena Serna emphasized that the board is not avoiding adopting a code of ethics. It just simply ran out of time while dealing with more important matters, she said.

Both Serna and Rivera said the board will adopt a code of ethics at Thursday's meeting.

At the end of the meeting, Gonzales took the podium once again to say things were not all bad.

Since the vote was taken some progress has been made, he said.

"Personally, we'd like to extend the challenge to prove us wrong," [Gonzales said].

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