The Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) held a virtual board of trustees meeting on Sept. 8, 2020. The board of trustees meeting began with student and college reports from all three community colleges in the district.

Oxnard College will be hosting a campus-wide book reading of “White Fragility” for its anti-racism campaign. Ventura College’s senate discussed anti-racism initiatives, including some demands for administrators, faculty, and classified professionals.

Dan Clark, the Academic Senate President at Ventura College, offered the example of integrating culturally relevant material into courses related to equity, diversity and inclusion.

“We are going to work with ways to influence curriculum, ways to influence the academic and professional manners to address anti-racism, and make Ventura College an anti-racism institution,” Clark said.

Similar to Oxnard and Ventura College, Moorpark College touched upon race. Loretta J. Ross, an activist and professor at Smith College will be hosting a zoom lecture on “Understanding White Supremacy,” on Sept. 29, 2020.

During the board meeting, Moorpark College had three representatives who gave speeches highlighting their goals for the new academic year.

Dr. Erik Reese, academic senate president, asked the board members to remember that everyone is struggling with the new virtual environment.

“I sincerely hope all three colleges and the district continue to support all of us: the classified professionals, administration, and faculty during this difficult transition. In addition to supporting the students where we place most of our focus, and rightfully so,” Reese explained.

Next on the agenda was the Oxnard College Childhood Development Center (CDC) update presented by Dr. Cynthia Herrera. Herrera is the chairperson for the Childhood Development Center Taskforce who presented the grant she’s supporting for the CDC.

The Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) is a grant that supports the participation of low-income parents in postsecondary education. The grant is accessed through the Department of Education and would support Oxnard College’s CDC.

“It is an opportunity to help fund our childhood development center over a 4-year period of time,” Herrera explains.

One of the final items on the agenda was the discussion about the FY 2021-22 Budget Reduction Scenarios.

Dr. David El Fattal, vice-chancellor of business and administrative services, presented the budget update with a draft budget reduction timeline. This year there is no requirement to do budget cuts or layoffs. The first item on the list was a discussion on budget reduction scenarios, itemization, and prioritization which is still ongoing through May 2020 to June 2021.

“The colleges and district office and district-wide started having discussions about a potential 10 percent budget reduction. So those conversations may be going on through June and maybe going on after that,” Fattal explained.

The review for the preliminary budget reduction scenarios, itemization and prioritization is planned for Mon, Jan.11, 2021.