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 Chachere, Joseph Bowman, Travis Exstrom, Jesse Johnson

Executive Cabinet: Interim President Penn, Danielle Slota, Rolita Ezeonu, Josh Gerstman, Maribel Jimenez, Melanie Lawson, Michael Pham, Tim Wrye, Tony Garcia

Assistant Attorney General: Justin Kjolseth

Absent: 

Study Session call to order: 9:01 a.m.

Discussion Topics

Presentation of proposed WAC changes (1321-126, 1321-140-012, and 1321-140-013), Francesca Fender and David Menke

Presentation of the 2026-27 Fiscal Budget, Michael Pham

Continued discussion of proposed property acquisition*, Michael Pham 

Presentation of ratified WPEA agreement**, Melanie Lawson

Meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

 

Board of Trustees Meeting

Location

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

General Session Minutes

Roll Call

Board of Trustees: Chair Swenson, Vice Chair Chachere, Joseph Bowman, Travis Exstrom, Jesse Johnson

Executive Cabinet: Interim President Penn, Danielle Slota, Rolita Ezeonu, Josh Gerstman, Maribel Jimenez, Melanie Lawson, Michael Pham, Tim Wrye, Tony Garcia

Assistant Attorney General: 

General Session called to order: 11:01 a.m.

Approve minutes

Approve minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of July 16, 2026

Trustee Bowman motioned to approve, Trustee Chachere seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Opportunity for public comment

None

Standing Reports

• Highline College Education Association: No report this month
• Washington Public Employees Association: Sheena Pennell
• Faculty Senate: No report this month
• Associated Students of Highline College: No report this month
• Highline College Foundation: Tentative
  • Record number of scholarship applicants as well as emergency funding awards. Partners at GESA Credit Union honored Highline with $5,000. 

Action Items

• Action item a. Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget

Trustee Exstrom made the following motion – Whereas the College had provided a preliminary review of the FY26-27 Budget in July 2026, and 

Whereas the College has provided the finalized version of the FY26-27 Budget today, and

It is therefore, per the request and recommendation of the Highline College interim president, I move for the Board to approve the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. 

 

Trustee Bowman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

• Action item b. Ratification of the Highline College 2027-2029 WPEA Agreement

Trustee Chachere made the following motion – Whereas the College has provided final review of the 2027-2029 Highline College WPEA Agreement today,  and Per the request and recommendation of the Highline College Interim President, Dr. Jamilyn Penn, I MOVE to approve the Highline College WPEA Agreement for 2027-2029 

 

Trustee Bowman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

• Action item c. Real Property Acquisition
  • Trustee Exstrom made the following motion – Whereas the Welcome Center for Student Success capital project has been significantly delayed due to state budgetary issues. SBCTC estimates the Welcome Center for Student Success may not be funded until at least 2039-2041 biennium, 

 

AND Whereas the current buildings, to be demolished as part of the Welcome Center for Student Success capital project, including B-6, B-15, B-16, and B-18, have either exceeded their operational lifespan or are approaching the end of their useful life, 

 

AND Whereas Highline College continues to face significant challenges in terms of physical space to accommodate programs, services, and offices to serve students, 

 

AND Whereas a commercial property (Premises), located at 23835 Pacific Highway S., Kent, WA 98032, adjacent to Highline College campus, is being offered for sale, 

 

AND Whereas acquiring the Premises provides an opportunity for Highline College to address some of our critical physical infrastructure deficiencies. 

 

It is therefore, based on the recommendation of Highline College interim president, the Board of Trustees approves for Highline College to pursue the acquisition of the Premises in accordance with the process established by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.  

 

 Trustee Chachere seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Area reports

• Academic Affairs: Interim Dr. Rolita Ezeonu
  • Highlighted executive summary from submitted written report.
• Administrative Services: Dr. Michael Pham
  • Celebrated facilities team for all of the work done over summer to beautify the campus
• Equity, Diversity and Transformation: 
  • Written report stands
• Human Resources: Melanie Lawson
  • Celebrated the bargaining teams for the WPEA 2027-2029 CBA and recognized both bargaining teams
• Information Technology Services: Tim Wrye
  • Celebrated the ITS team for updating the classrooms and large meeting spaces over the summer months
• Institutional Advancement: Joshua Gerstman
  • Web team busy launching 8 new academic sites over the summer with more to come over the coming months. Shoutout to Outreach and Recruitment Team for partnering with Public Safety on the new ORCA card program available to students. Encouraged attendees to follow Highline College on the various social media platforms.
• Student Services: Tony Garcia
  • Celebrated Student Services Staff for supporting our students every step of the way from enrollment through completion!

Interim President’s Remarks

Celebrated the work occurring over the summer the months. Excited for Opening Week Convocation, Strategic Planning, and community learning. Written report stands as submitted. Celebrated facilities and their commitment to communication over the summer months during the great work that happened to further beautify the campus environment. Recognized the work being done in Campus View by COCM to support our students that chose to live in campus housing. Celebrated the bargaining teams for the WPEA 2027-2029 CBA. Spoke to the interventions being done by veteran’s service to intervene with suicidal ideation and supporting their health, well-being, and success.

Unscheduled Business

Chair Swenson provided updates to the presidential search and directed individuals to refer to the website for timelines and opportunities to provide questions and comments.

Adjournment

 

General Session was adjourned: 11:41 a.m.

Minutes Signed and Approved

The meeting minutes from Sep. 17, 2026, were approved and signed into record by Chair Swenson and Interim President Jamilyn Penn on Oct. 15, 2026

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.