Dyana Delfín Polk, President of the PCCD Board of Trustees has provided a statement below intended to address community concerns with regards to PCCD's administrative leadership and to provide context for some of the decisions made by the Board of Trustees. The Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees, administration, faculty and staff continue to focus on our district's financial stability, full accreditation, and recent growth in student enrollment stemming from recent “Spring is Free” and “Fall is Free” enrollment campaigns. We trust this statement clears up any misinformation and informs the community about our next steps with regard to our permanent chancellor search.
The following is a statement from Dyana Delfín Polk, President of the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees
We value the leadership of the interim chancellor and all our staff, including our faculty. Our interim chancellor, the Board of Trustees, the PCCD administration, and our shared governance partners have helped chart a new and more successful financial course for the district. Up until 2020, our district was in serious danger of being put into receivership and being taken over by the State Chancellor's Office because of financial concerns in addition to potentially being forced to close our doors if we were unable to move out of probationary status with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). Both of these outcomes would have been catastrophic for our students and our Peralta community. Interim Chancellor Jannett Jackson was essential in providing stable and experienced leadership for PCCD and worked closely with the Board of Trustees to navigate these serious financial issues as well as a global pandemic. Like many of our fellow community college districts, the Board of Trustees and Interim Chancellor Jackson have had to make difficult decisions about the finances and future of our district during the pandemic and post-pandemic instruction and student services. Our faculty, classified staff, and administrators remain vital partners in ensuring that our district continues its student-centered approach.
PCCD is currently undergoing a national search for a permanent chancellor as well as other key high-level administrative positions. The Chancellor's search committee is comprised of members who are committed to ensuring that our next permanent chancellor has the support of the PCCD community. It is imperative that our constituents, which include our bargaining units, the faculty, classified staff, students, administrators, and community members continue to support the Board of Trustees in hiring and retaining a permanent chancellor who will live and work in our community. While this search continues, we remain in compliance with all rules and regulations regarding our executive and administrative staff contracts and will continue to work closely with our campus partners to ensure our district's success.
