Board of Trustees Meeting
Location
Hybrid Meeting Format: offering both in-person and virtual meeting access
General Session called to order at 10:30 a.m.
General Session Minutes
Roll Call
Board of Trustees: Chair Johnson, Vice Chair Swenson, Chair Exstrom, Trustee Bowman
Executive Cabinet: Acting President Penn, Danielle Slota, Rolita Ezeonu, Josh Gerstman, Maribel Jimenez, Melanie Lawson, Michael Pham, Tim Wrye
Assistant AAG Marvin
Approve minutes
Approve minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of March 26, 2025 and April 9, 2025.
Trustee Swenson motioned to approve, Trustee Exstrom seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Opportunity for public comment
Lisa Voso, spoke to the work of the public speaking center. Play and practice sessions – use conversational english to play games and participate in fun activities. Spoke about the Thunderword, it’s at risk of being cut a few years back, and the progress it has made since to include a podcast. Journalism courses are full! Views from 2300 to 18000 in 2025.
Rus Higley, celebrating 23rd year at the MaST Center, served over 14000 community members last year alone. Biggest growth this year is in educational programs including summer youth programs. New opportunity – Redondo is one of the top dive sites in the Puget Sound, the six gilled shark capital in the world. July 6th – Save the Date!
Tammy Hilton, Integrated Design – increased enrollment this year back above min amounts. Now working to increase their internship opportunities. With the MaST Center, Thunderword, and the Print Shop they have successfully increased internship opportunities on campus! Fall design project will be focused on environmental impacts of plastics on the puget sound.
Gerald Jackson, WPEA employee of 25 years. Here to stand with fellow WPEA colleagues to raise awareness about the legislative budget that did not fund the collective bargaining agreement for WPEA. They believe that OFM did not bargain in good faith. Delays from OFM contributed to a negative response and support from legislatures. Classified staff experiencing pay deficits. Here to speak on behalf of pay equity across staff.
Gum-Lai Ross, classified employee of 29 years. Here to empower employees to be authentic so that students will be empowered to do the same. Highline’s culture instills building bridges. Please celebrate staff through increased compensation.
Tara Woods, Transcript Evaluator for Highline College. Acknowledged that it is not Highline’s fault that funding is not in the state budget. Here to ask Highline to be active in conversation, to advocate beyond conversations with OFM. Pay equity for classified staff is needed to retain employees and support students and faculty. If the contract is not funded, how can Highline step in? What can Highline fund locally to show support of staff in the absence of state funding?
Zainab Hussein, Program Coordinator does not feel supported. Understands that the legislature did not chose to fund the contract. Needs Highline to step into the gap and to provide protections and fund locally.
Laura Holt, transcript evaluator and Highline employee of 20 years. Hear to ask what will administration and trustees do to support?
Standing reports
- Associated Students of Highline College – Theresa Anguerra
- Focused on candidate forums and interviews for next years board as well as recruitment of commencement speakers and commencement related activities.
- Highline College Education Association – Dr. James Peyton
- HCEA and Administration are negotiating the HCEA bargaining agreement. State budget picture and financial cuts are impactful. Federal political actions are impactful. Shoutout to classified staff!
- Faculty Senate – Cathy Cartwright
- Reviewing revisions to Academic Honesty Report and proposed revisions to faculty advising. Gathering extensive feedback on proposed reforms to the AA-DTA.
- Highline College Foundation – Sharon Vail
- It is officially scholarship season, with hopes to award $250k this year. Scholarships range from $1,000 t0 $4,000. Legends Luncheon for previous Highline retirees was a success!
- WPEA – George Babcock
- Classified staff feel their contributions are undervalued. The word equity feels like an excuse rather than a reality, a buzz word. Legislature decision not to fund the bargaining agreement has left staff helpless and angry. This is not only bad news for staff but also for the college as they expect we will see decreased employee retention and challenges in recruitment. Advocating for support in getting Gov. Ferguson to include CBAs in the budget.
Action items
Action item A.
Trustee Swenson motioned –
Whereas the College has requested a budget revision to the FY2024-35 Budget on April 30, 2025, and Per the recommendation of the Highline College President, John R. Mosby, I move that the Board to approve the REVISED FY2024-25 Budget to be effective immediately for the remainder of the fiscal year through June 30, 2025.
Trustee Bowman seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Area reports
See written reports submitted by Vice Presidents at April 30, 2025 Meeting Materials.
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- Administrative Services: VP Dr. Michael Pham
- Academic Affairs: Interim VP Rolita Ezeonu
- Student Services: VP Jamilyn Penn
- Institutional Advancement: VP Josh Gerstman
- Equity, Diversity and Transformation: VP Dra. Maribel Jimenez
- Human Resources: VP Melanie Lawson
Discussion
- Presentation of the proposed 2025-26 S&A budget for recommended action on May 28, 2025 – Theresa Enguerra, ASHC Finance Director
- Legislative updates – Josh Gerstman and Shakira Ericksen
Went into this session spending a lot of time and effort discussing the OFM error. Recognize that the attention placed here may have impacted the amount of attention we were able to place on supporting our WPEA members and their collective bargaining agreement. Efforts have been focused on strengthening our voice – hardest year for community colleges since 2008.
Legislative Breakfast was standing room only and conversations were civil which gained positive attention from the political figures in the room.
Clear and growing gap for community and technical colleges both at the local and federal level. Looking ahead – how can we help the trustees have a stronger voice in Olympia? Trustee Johnson noted that earlier discussions with the Governors office, beginning in early summer as the Governor’s budget is starting to be solidified by October. Trustee Swenson spoke to the need to look at spending from an outcomes lens. Trustee Bowman would like to see more collaboration between the other colleges and trustees in the region. Trustee Exstrom spoke to the federal level where this has been successful at times.
President’s remarks
None
Unscheduled business
New business
Adjournment
General Session was adjourned: 11:50 a.m.
Minutes Signed and Approved
The meeting minutes from April 30, 2025, were approved and signed into record by Chair Johnson and President John R. Mosby on May 28, 2025.
Mission Statement: As a South King County college striving for social justice, Highline College partners with global students as they envision, plan and achieve their educational and professional goals.