Hicks-Dumanske for community college board

I don’t know Lisa Hicks-Dumanske. Therefore, I’m no judge of her potential as a SMCCCD Trustee.

In that regard, endorsements are important. If you respect the person making the endorsement, one can trust their opinion of a candidate.

Karen Schwarz, who endorsed Ms. Hicks-Dumanske, was first elected to the District Board in 1995. Twenty-five years ago! Talk about the power of incumbency. I am not against seniority, as institutional memory is important for continuity, but what happened during her watch?

The most significant event was the hiring of Ron Galatolo. The Community College State Chancellor threatened the District for violating rules in the hire and the faculty union too complained. It took local politicos to resolve this crisis. From that point forward, it appears that Karen Schwarz was one of Galatolo’s strongest supporters. When I spoke with him after his unceremonious departure as Chancellor Emeritus (he contacted me upset about my Letter to the Editor – “Choosing the next college district chancellor,” December 3, 2019), he suggested I speak to people at the District to defend his record. None would speak to me. The first name he gave me was Karen Schwarz.

As is Board protocol, community members can request time to speak on a proposal. I was a resident of San Carlos at the time, a former SMCCCD employee, and an educational researcher; I wished to speak about “students first,” the District’s mantra. I had concerns about the data used for data-informed decision-making. Only 18% of “first time, full time” students (those most likely to succeed) graduated in three years for a two-year associates degree; that meant that four-out-of-five students did not graduate on time. My analysis indicated that of a typical first-year class of 1,450 students, only 272 graduated on time, leaving 1,178 students to drop out, stop out, or drag along. Trend analysis indicated there was little improvement to student metrics over years. This was on Trustee Schwarz’s watch.

Interim Chancellor Claire acknowledged, in writing, my request to present in December 2019; however, he responded that the Board President, Karen Schwarz, controlled the agenda. At the January 8 Board meeting, President Schwarz verbally acknowledged the request and said that we would hear from Dr. Reiner soon. In particular, I had concerns that the District Fact Book was non-functional (https://www.smccd.edu/factbook/) and the District Scorecard and Metrics was in need of improvement to be of use to faculty and staff (https://smccd.edu/strategicplan/scorecard-and-metrics.php).

I was not invited to speak in January 2020, nor February or March, though I wrote to the President Schwarz and the Board each month to remind them. This is a reflection, in my opinion, of the general lack of responsiveness to community concerns and failure to be transparent (see “An arrangement to conceal — separation agreement prevents officials from explaining Galatolo’s removal,” Emily Mibach, Palo Alto Daily Post, September 4, 2019).

I am no longer a resident of San Mateo county, so I have no standing in the election. However, I am a higher education professional who has worked all over the country. I’ve seen many community college boards operate. I’m researching a book which includes my observations of SMCCCD.

As I said at the start, I do not know Lisa Hicks-Dumanske. Therefore, I am no judge of her potential as a SMCCCD Trustee. Karen Schwarz is “supporting Lisa Hicks-Dumanske to fill that seat” which she held for 25 years.

You be the judge.

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Michael B. Reiner, PhD, is a higher education consultant and educational researcher. Previously, he was a professor of psychology and college administrator at City University of New York (CUNY), Miami Dade College, the Riverside Community College District, and the San Mateo County Community College District. mreiner32205@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-b-reiner-phd-14057551/