Santa Barbara Community College Board of Trustees

Finally! A piece of journalism about the SBCC election that I can read without wincing and saying "That's not true!"
Thank you, Indy, for a straightforward, tell-it-like-it-is endorsement. Clear, concise, honest and fair in your depiction of the Board of Trustees race, you hit the nail on the head. It's time for new blood to lead SBCC!

Thank you Independent. I know it is time for a change at City College will be supporting all for candidates against the incumbents.

Larry Saltzman

Hooray for the Indy! This endorsement shows your clarity and dedication to seeing the truth of the matter. Our community and our College deserve the best. The four challengers will bring needed experience and resolve to SBCC.

David and Goliath--that's what my dealings with the college's decision making apparatus has felt like. I come from the perspective of a 5th year student attending one of the college's parent child workshops. For the past two years I have seen example after example how the college has stomped on the goodwill of its students, laid legal mine fields to disable the non-profits supporting the parent-child workshops and held the workshop instructors hostage by threatening to cancel their classes. During these two years I have attended many SBCC trustee board meetings and have witnessed firsthand exactly what the Indy staff endorsement describes which is an insulting and almost contemptuous reaction by current board members to the students they represent.

Since we lack the legal muscle of the administration, students of the parent child workshops have had to instead rely on integrity and openness as our advantage. I am thankful to the staff at The Independent for doing their research, recognizing our perspective and testifying as to how the Board of Trustees has enabled the current administration to jeopardize the parent child workshops.

Andy Beall

For so many reasons...this is right on.

All of this sure resonates with what the audience saw at the recent Faulkner candidates forum. Thank you Indy, for the solid journalism behind this endorsement. Your work helps those of us busy with other things, to sort out the truth so we can vote responsibly.

journalism with some meat. The Independent has such a big opportunity to shine in this city w/o a daily. Leave the tabloidish headlines for the 2nd string.
SAVE the parent/child workshops and the center for sustainability!

" It wasn’t that the campus canceled 100 Adult Ed classes this past summer; it was the abrupt, last-minute, talk-to-the-hand manner with which these cancellations were executed. It wasn’t that City College cut funding for four of the school’s Parent-Child Workshops — each one a stellar model of excellence — it was the adversarial, accusatory manner with which the administration negotiated these changes. "

This was such a cogent, well written endorsement! Kudos to the Independent editorial staff - I presume that there must have been tremendous pressure to endorse the old established incumbency. But this endorsement is the right thing to do. I sat in those board meetings last spring when speaker after speaker asked for just a modicum of respect for public input. It was met with indifference; in fact, with down right scorn and disdain by both President Serban and Board President Dobbs. I am not part of a special interest group, I am a community member, and I made up my mind then and there that these board members were not governing in the best interests of the community - that they actually hated the public comments portion of the meeting! They have become a money cabal, not for the interests of the college or the students, but of their own egos and the look goods for themselves in the community. One has just to read their candidate's statements to see that what's in it for them is the bragging rights to how many boards they can be appointed to - that, and the easy $200 per meeting and private health insurance billed to the college. Let them use Medicare. The new candidates bring renewed energy and focus to the board. They will actually do some work! I have doubts that the present board members even look at the agenda before they sit down at the meetings - they seem so befuddled by the evasive and plodding comments from the President. Finally, I want to say that when the new board members are seated, I'll still be coming to the meetings and watching, evaluating whether their actions match their words. This campaign has reinvigorated the democratic process and the accountability of our elected representatives. I am especially going to watch Morrie Jurkowitz, Joan Livingston, and Luis Villegas because their terms are coming due next, and of course, President Serban - whose arrogance toward the community seems unparalleled. I sincerely hope she gets booted out with this old board - it is her plotting and dissembling that is the reason this bungling board is being voted out. How could they still not get it? Duh! LMAO right to the polls. : )

Comments by "sbccstudent" are right on. Serban has more underhanded dealings and questionable practices relevant to administration than you would even imagine. And what has this "board" done??? Nothing but collect their checks and enjoy their free medical.

They hired this pathetic creature and don't want to admit it was a huge blunder. Get rid of Alexander, Dobbs, Green and O'Neill and then work on the rest of the board when they come up for re-election. Hire a President who really can BE a President for students, faculty, and community. Take a look at the quality deans who have left SBCC: Endrijonas, Smith, Warren. Retirement? Better jobs elsewhere? Think again.

Serban and her cabal of staff informants and underhanded dealings don't seem to affect the board. They appear to believe everything she tells them (or doesn't tell them). At some point, I hope all her scheming and complete arrogance will be recognized for what it is: a very crafty, socially inept woman who by default got the nod for President.

Vote out the incumbents and send a message. With 4 new board members, perhaps SBCC staff who live in fear of "speaking out" will come forward and expose Serban for what she is and what she has done.

Take it from one who knows first-hand…

In defense of my mother, Sally Green I must comment. My mother has been in education for over 40 years and was thrilled when Joyce Powell passed the torch to her (for the Carpinteria area) to be on the Board of Trustees, almost four years ago. This summer she retired from Canalino school where she was principal for seven years. She was so excited to pay full attention to SBCC, Carpinteria Education Foundation, Carp Women's Club, etc. etc. Alas SBCC has taken up much of her time in the last five plus months, there's not much time for other things, at the moment.
Despite all of this, I must tell all of you my mother cares nothing of status symbols, labels, recognition, etc. she does this for SBCC, she actually cares about education and the students. Young, old, toddlers, it doesn't matter the age, she just wants the best for the student. You can all vote for whom you like, but please know that Sally Green really does care about Santa Barbara City College, the students, educators, administrators, the Adult Ed and the Parent-Child Workshops.

Sam, I hope you and your mom are clear that all of the challengers appreciate and respect her contributions. This isn't about personalities, despite what some of the other incumbents have claimed. It's about fundamental problems with Board actions (and inactions), amid significant and widespread community concerns. I join the challengers in expressing appreciation for your mom's years of service. Things have changed dramatically at SBCC in the past two years, and it's time for Peter Haslund to step in to relieve your mom. I've spoken with Peter several times, and know for a fact that he appreciates her selfless and caring service.