Phase 2 begins in San Mateo County college district chancellor search

Trustees agreed to pay the firm $48,000, paid in two equal installments, to begin the second phase of the search. According to a recruitment packet also approved by the board Wednesday, the district is looking for a well-rounded, diversity-focused chancellor with strong relationship-building skills. 

“The successful candidate will be an accomplished, equity-minded, visionary, strategic leader who thrives in a diverse, multi-campus, unionized and participatory governance environment. SMCCCD is seeking a student-centered leader with high emotional intelligence, excellent communication, and interpersonal skills who strongly advocates for diversity, equity, inclusion, and access,” read the recruitment packet. 

The San Mateo County Community College District’s search for a new chancellor was prompted by the retirement of Michael Claire who stepped down from the role this year after about 40 years with the district. Claire took on the chancellor position after former chancellor Ron Galatolo abruptly resigned in 2019. 

Galatolo currently faces 23 charges of fraud and financial malfeasance by the county’s District Attorney’s Office following a whistleblower complaint in 2019. Galatolo and his lawyer Chuck Smith have denied any wrongdoing. A pretrial hearing is set for Jan. 31. 

Dr. Melissa Moreno, the former president of Skyline College, has served as interim chancellor since this April after being appointed to the role by the board in February. 

In other business, the board also voted 4-0 to enter into a contract with the architectural firm HKS Inc for preliminary design services for the College of San Mateo Building 9 Library. The contract is valued at a little more than $1 million, half to be paid by the district and the other half by the state. 

“Looking at the library now — I just walked through it — it is pretty antiquated,” Trustee Wayne Lee said. “I think the library is not a library anymore, it’s a learning center, it’s a tool. We shouldn’t look at it as just a place of racks and books.” 

HKS will complete the first of three phases for remodeling the library, acting College of San Mateo President Richard Storti said. The district is still waiting to learn how much financial support it’ll receive from the state, he said, noting that the district would only be out up to $200,000 if no other action was taken beyond completing Phase 1. 

“I see this as a cheap option on hoping the state comes through with enough money to make this work,” board Vice President John Pimentel said. “It is an old building and if we can figure out how to get the state to pay for it, then let’s do it.”