Board of Trustees Meeting
Location
Hybrid Meeting Format: offering both in-person and virtual meeting access
Minutes
Attendees
Board of Trustees: Chair Bowman, Trustee Exstrom, Trustee Johnson, Trustee Savusa, Trustee Swenson
Executive Cabinet: President Mosby, Danielle Slota, Emily Lardner, Jamilyn Penn, Josh Gerstman, Michael Pham, Steve Sloniker, Tim Wrye
Assistant Attorney General: Bruce Marvin present
Study Session call to order: 8:14 a.m.
Executive Session called to order at 8:15 a.m.
The Board, as and when deemed necessary, may call an Executive Session for appropriate purposes under the Open Meetings Act. RCW 42.30.110
(g) To evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment or to review the performance of a public employee. However, subject to RCW 42.30.140(4), discussion by a governing body of salaries, wages, and other conditions of employment to be generally applied within the agency shall occur in a meeting open to the public, and when a governing body elects to take final action hiring, setting the salary of an individual employee or class of employees, or discharging or disciplining an employee, that action shall be taken in a meeting open to the public;
(i) To discuss with legal counsel representing the agency matters relating to agency enforcement actions, or to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation to which the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity is, or is likely to become, a party, when public knowledge regarding the discussion is likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency.
Executive Session scheduled to conclude at 9:30 a.m., extended to 9:50 a.m., extending to 10:05 a.m. Executive session adjourned at 10:05 a.m.
Discussion Topics
Action item review
The following list of action items are scheduled for motion during the June 8, 2023 General Session. This time is reserved for questions and discovery to prepare board member for vote.
Action item a.
RESOLUTION 176-2023
(Pertaining to Small Business Development Center, StartZone and SBDC)
Rich Shockley provided background on SBDC and StartZone
Action item b.
RESOLUTION 177-2023
(Pertaining to Small Business Development Center, StartZone and SBDC)
Rich Shockley provided background on SBDC and StartZone
Action item c.
Revision to the FY2022-23 Operating Budget
Backup documentation can be read here – FY2022-23 Budget Revision Proposal
Action item d.
RESOLUTION 178-2023
Authorization to expend funds
Action item e.
Student Services & Activities Budget, 2023-24
Memo submitted to board
Action item f.
2023-24 Board Officer and Committee Assignments.
Meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m.
Board of Trustees Meeting
Location
Virtual Zoom meeting: 10:30 a.m.
General Session Minutes
Roll Call
Board of Trustees: Chair Bowman, Trustee Exstrom, Trustee Johnson, Trustee Savusa, Trustee Swenson
Executive Cabinet: President Mosby, Danielle Slota, Emily Lardner, Jamilyn Penn, Josh Gerstman, Michael Pham, Steve Sloniker, Tim Wrye
Assistant Attorney General: Bruce Marvin present
General Session called to order: 10:31 a.m.
Approve minutes
Approve minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of May 11, 2023
Trustee Exstrom motioned to approve, Trustee Savusa seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Opportunity for public comment
Julie Pollard – Personal invitation to the ACHIEVE Capstone Celebration. Spoke to the history of the program and outlined the upcoming event.
Standing reports
- Associated Students of Highline College – Mahad Dahir
Hosted graduation cap decorating event. Held the final council meeting of the school year along with a pizza thank you. Global Fest was a huge success with high attendance and booth participation. Thanked the board and administration for giving the student body voice. Extended an invitation to the ACHIEVE Capstone event.
- Washington Public Employees Association – No report this month
- Highline College Education Association – Dr. James Peyton
- End of spring quarter and the traditional school year
- Faculty are busy teaching and helping students complete their coursework and their degrees/certificates
- Advising students for summer and fall quarters
- Some areas of campus are addressing how to successfully and strongly serve high numbers of students, while others are focused on declining enrollment in their programs
- Faculty continue to be inspired by students
- Faculty Senate – Gayatri Sirohi
- Provided an overview of what Faculty Senate was focused on during the 2022-23 academic year
- Discussion topics brought to senate this year include: Special offering of COL101 for student athletes, non-attendance policy, textbook availability in the bookstore, open education resources, revising the senate constitution. Many of these topics will continue into fall 2023.
- Fall will bring changes to senate committee members and the senate chair
- Policy Development Council topics discussed this year included the equity first policy, the social media policy, the first week non-attendance policy, the anti-hazing policy, the academic standards policy
- Highline College Foundation – Kevin Morin and Sherri Chun
- Sherri is a new board member for the Highline College Foundation. Shared a passion for increasing awareness of what the foundation does within the campus community. Announced that next year’s signature event will be hosted on Highline’s campus on October 7.
- Kevin is the incoming Chair of the Highline College Foundation. Provided a personal background and spoke to his personal journey with the organization. Currently focused on clarifying the roles of individual board member roles and responsibilities. Extended an invitation to the upcoming board retreat. Asked the board to share feedback on what they would like to hear in foundation reports in the coming months.
Action items
- Action item a. RESOLUTION 176-2023 (Pertaining to Small Business Development Center, StartZone and SBDC). Trustee Swenston motioned to approve, Trustee Swenson seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
MOTION
Per the Board’s legal authority,
WHEREAS, Highline College is fully committed to providing small business development services to its service area via the Small Business Development Center at Highline College; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Federal Way Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is accepting applications for funding to support microenterprise development projects in Federal Way,
I MOVE that the Board of Trustees of Highline College authorize submission of a Small Business Development Center application for 2024 funds from the Federal Way CDBG program in an amount up to $100,000.
- Action item b. RESOLUTION 177-2023 (Pertaining to Small Business Development Center, StartZone and SBDC). Trustee Swenson motioned to approve, Trustee Savusa seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
MOTION
Per the Board’s legal authority,
WHEREAS, Highline College is fully committed to providing small business development services to its service area via the Small Business Development Center at Highline College; and,
WHEREAS, the King County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is accepting applications for funding to support microenterprise development projects in King County,
I MOVE that the Board of Trustees of Highline College authorize submission of a Small Business Development Center application for 2024 funds from the King County CDBG program in an amount up to $100,000.
- Action item c. Revision to the FY2022-23 Operating Budget. Trustee Savusa motioned to approve, Trustee Swenson seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
MOTION
Per the Board’s legal authority,
Whereas the College has requested a budget revision to the FY2022-23 General Operating Budget on May 11, 2023, and
Per the recommendation of the Highline College president,
I MOVE for the Board to approve the REVISED FY2022-23 General Operating Budget as presented on June 8, 2023 to be effective immediately for the remainder of the fiscal year through June 30, 2023.
- Action item d. RESOLUTION 178-2023 (Pertaining to authorization to expend funds). Trustee Savusa motioned to approve, Trustee Johnson seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
MOTION
Per the Board’s legal authority,
WHEREAS, the new fiscal year will begin July 1, 2023; and
WHEREAS, a final determination of the budget may not be made prior to the date of October 1, 2023; and
WHEREAS, students have enrolled for summer session that will begin on June 26, 2023; and
WHEREAS, the disruption of planned and scheduled activities could seriously hamper the College’s operations for the 2023-2024 College year.
I MOVE that the Board of Trustees authorizes the President of Highline College and designees to expend funds beginning July 1, 2023, to meet College needs at the same rate as in the 2022-23 approved budget, or as additionally authorized by legislative action to take effect July 1, 2023. This authorization expires October 1, 2023 or upon the date the Board passes the motion to adopt the final budget for FY2023-2024, if the Board’s action on the budget precedes October 1, 2023.
- Action item e. Student Services & Activities Budget, 2023-24. Trustee Johnson motioned to approve, Trustee Exstrom seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
MOTION
Per the Board’s legal authority,
I MOVE to approve the Student Services and Activities Budget for academic year 2023-24 in the amount of $2,141,517.51
- Action item f. Employee request for individual defense. Trustee Exstrom motioned to approve, Trustee Savusa seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
John R. Mosby has been named as an individual defendant in a federal religious discrimination case – Diamond v. Highline College, et al. and has asked the Board to approve their Request for Individual Defense.
Before approving this request, the Board must make a determination that John R. Mosby was acting in good faith at the time the allegations in this lawsuit arose.
Having been advised about the circumstances underlying the claims in this case,
I MOVE that the Board determine that John R. Mosby was acting in good faith during all times relevant to this lawsuit.
Trustee Exstrom motioned to approve, Trustee Savusa seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Having determined that John R. Mosby was acting in good faith,
I MOVE that the Board grant John R. Mosby’s request for Individual Defense.
- Action item g. Employee request for individual defense. Trustee Exstrom motioned to approve, Trustee Swenson seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Michael Pham has been named as an individual defendant in a federal religious discrimination case – Diamond v. Highline College, et al. and has asked the Board to approve their Request for Individual Defense.
Before approving this request, the Board must make a determination that Michael Pham was acting in good faith at the time the allegations in this lawsuit arose.
Having been advised about the circumstances underlying the claims in this case,
I MOVE that the Board determine that Michael Pham was acting in good faith during all times relevant to this lawsuit.
Trustee Exstrom motioned to approve, Trustee Swenson seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
- Action item h. Employee request for individual defense. Trustee Exstrom motioned to approve, Trustee Swenson seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Jennifer Sandler has been named as an individual defendant in a federal religious discrimination case – Diamond v. Highline College, et al. and has asked the Board to approve their Request for Individual Defense.
Before approving this request, the Board must make a determination that Jennifer Sandler was acting in good faith at the time the allegations in this lawsuit arose.
Having been advised about the circumstances underlying the claims in this case,
I MOVE that the Board determine that Jennifer Sandler was acting in good faith during all times relevant to this lawsuit.
Trustee Exstrom motioned to approve, Trustee Savusa seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Having determined that Jennifer Sandler was acting in good faith,
I MOVE that the Board grant Jennifer Sandler’s request for Individual Defense.
- Action item i. 2023-24 Board Officer and Committee Assignments. Trustee Johnson motioned to approve, Trustee Exstrom seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
MOTION
MOVE THAT the following Highline College Board of Trustee committee member assignments for the 2023-24 academic year be approved effective July 1, 2023:
CHAIRPERSON: Travis Exstrom
VICE CHAIRPERSON: Jesse Johnson
ACT REPRESENTATIVE: Joseph Bowman
ACT LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE: Sharmila Swenson
HIGHLINE COLLEGE FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVE: Jesse Johnson
HIGHLINE COLLEGE FINANCE COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE(S):
- Travis Exstrom
- Incoming 2023-24 Trustee
Area reports
- Administrative Services: VP Dr. Michael Pham
Written report as stands
- Academic Affairs: VP Dr. Emily Lardner
Written report as stands
- Student Services: Interim VP Dr. Jamilyn Penn
Written report as stands
- Institutional Advancement: VP Josh Gerstman
Written report as stands
Discussion
- President’s Annual Report of Goals and Accomplishments
Presentation can be viewed here
President’s remarks
None
Unscheduled business
None
New business
None
Adjournment
General Session was adjourned: 11:38 a.m.
Minutes Signed and Approved
The meeting minutes from June 8, 2023, were approved and signed into record by Chair Bowman and President John R. Mosby on July 19, 2023.
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.