Board of Trustees Meeting

Location

Hybrid Meeting Format: offering both in-person and virtual meeting access

Minutes

Attendees

Board of Trustees: Chair Swenson, Vice Chair Bowman, Trustee Exstrom, Trustee Johnson

Executive Cabinet: John R. Mosby, Jordan Mellott for Danielle Slota, Rolita Ezeonu, Jamilyn Penn, Josh Gerstman, Maribel Jimenez, Mary Nganga for Melanie Lawson, Michael Pham, Tim Wrye

Assistant Attorney General: Michael Hemker

Absent: None

Study Session call to order: 9:05  a.m.

Discussion Topics

• Review of 2025-26 Fiscal Year Budget – Dr. Michael Pham – Dr. Michael Pham – 15 minutes
• Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining*

Executive session called to order at 9:30 a.m. for 30 minutes, extended to 10:20 a.m.

Meeting adjourned at 10:28 a.m.

Board of Trustees Meeting

Location

Hybrid Meeting Format: offering both in-person and virtual meeting access

General Session Minutes

Board of Trustees: Chair Swenson, Vice Chair Bowman, Trustee Exstrom, Trustee Johnson

Executive Cabinet: John R. Mosby, Jordan Mellott for Danielle Slota, Rolita Ezeonu, Jamilyn Penn, Josh Gerstman, Maribel Jimenez, Mary Nganga for Melanie Lawson, Michael Pham, Tim Wrye

Assistant Attorney General: Michael Hemker

Absent: None

General Session called to order: 10:35 a.m.

Opportunity for public comment

None

Standing Reports

• Highline College Education Association – Dr. James Peyton- Spoke to the tragedy and remembrance of 9/11. Faculty are currently ramping up for Fall Quarter and even looking out to Winter for scheduling and prep. Spoke to the budget presentation from study session and how that work is due to the creativity and innovation of those who work here at Highline and the work they do for students. James recognized and thanked the faculty members- Katie Baker, Kate Modic, Doug Avella-Castro, and Darin Smith who were on the HCEA negotiation team.
• Washington Public Employees Association – Richard Cannefax- Bargaining teams have met 3 times to work on negotiations and Executive Cabinet worked with Dr. Mosby to hold a classified staff quarterly meeting. Spoke to member concerns surrounding negotiations and the possibility of joining the coalition.
• Faculty Senate – No report. Senate did not meet over the Summer.
• Highline College Foundation – The Highline Foundation Board held their annual retreat two weeks ago. Thanked Chair Swenson for attending. Thunderbirds Soar has sold approximately 96 tickets, which is half of their goal. The foundation has received 2 substantial new gifts from donors recently. A former student, Carol Grubaugh, has reached out to start a scholarship on behalf of her Uncle.

Recommendations for Action

• Action item a. Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget

Whereas the College had provided a preliminary review of the FY2025-26 Budget in July 2025, and

Whereas the College has provided the finalized version of the FY2025-26 Budget today, and

Per the request and recommendation of the Highline College President, Dr. John R. Mosby, Trustee Exstrom moved for the Board to approve the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

Motion seconded by Vice Chair Bowman. Motion carried forward.

• Action item b. Ratification of the Highline College HCEA Agreement, 2025-28

Whereas the College has provided final review of the 2025-2028 Highline College Association Agreement today,  and

Per the request and recommendation of the Highline College President, Dr. John R. Mosby, Trustee Johnson moved to approve the Highline College Education Association (HCEA) Agreement for 2025-2028.

Motion seconded by Vice Chair Bowman seconded. Motion carried forward.

Area reports

• Academic Affairs: Interim VP Dr. Rolita Ezeonu – Thanked the board for the ratification of the HCEA contract and echoed prior thanks to the bargaining teams. 11 days until Fall Quarter starts. She’s very happy to welcome the 22 new faculty members to the college this year.
• Administrative Services: VP Dr. Michael Pham – Dr. Pham spoke about the college setting aside money for capital projects that are needed and the challenges that comes with finding and allocating money for that and how conscious and conservative we’ve been in terms of budget planning. We cannot ignore the facilities, we need to invest in them.
• Equity, Diversity and Transformation: VP Dra. Maribel Jimenez- Report stands as written.
• Human Resources: Mary Nganga for VP Melanie Lawson – report stands as written
• Institutional Advancement: Josh Gerstman – This morning we have the Washington Community and Technical Colleges American Indian Indigenous Studies Advisory Board (WCAAB) on campus, hosted by Dr Tanya Powers and Josh and Dra. Jimenez had the chance to join before the board meeting. Drew DeSollar is our new Videographer/Motion Graphics Designer. The Des Moines light rail station is officially opening December 6th and we couldn’t be more excited.
• Student Services: VP Dr. Jamilyn Penn – Student Services has been prepping all summer for Fall Quarter. All departments have been hard at work getting students ready for the coming quarter.

President’s Remarks

Dr. Mosby acknowledged current political climate tensions and the fact that anyone should be able to have a safe space to express their views without violence.

Unscheduled Business

Adjournment

General Session was adjourned: 11:18am

Minutes Signed and Approved

The meeting minutes from September 11, 2025, were approved and signed into record by Chair Swenson and President John R. Mosby on October 9, 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.