MHCC Board of Education Minutes: Session 1118
A meeting of the Mt. Hood Community College District Board of Education was held February 19, 2025, with an Executive (Closed) Session at 6:00 p.m., and a Regular Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. The Executive (Closed) Session was held in the President’s Office, Academic Center Building, Room 2350 and the Regular Board meeting was held in the Board Room, Academic Center, Room 2360, at Mt. Hood Community College, 26000 SE Stark Street, Gresham, Oregon, and via Zoom.
Session 1118
1.0 Executive (Closed) Session
- Members Present: Diane McKeel, board chair, Andrew Speer, board vice chair, Diane Noriega, Marie Teune, Annette Mattson, ShaToyia Bentley, Dana Stroud
- Members Absent: None
- Additional Attendees: Dr. Skari, president, Roxanne Richardson, board executive assistant, Jennifer DeMent, vice president, Finance and Administration, Terry Rogers, associate vice president, Human Resources, Ross Hume, director, Labor and Employee Relations
Chair Diane McKeel called the executive (closed) session to order at 6:04 p.m.
2.0 Labor Negotiations
The board convened in a closed executive session in accordance with ORS 192.660(2)(d) to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to carry on labor negotiations.
3.0 Labor Negotiations
The executive session was adjourned at 6:39 p.m.
4.0 Convene Regular Session / Call to Order / Declaration of Quorum
- Members Present: Diane McKeel, Board Chair, Andrew Speer, board vice chair, Annette Mattson, Marie Teune, ShaToyia Bentley, Diane Noriega
- Members Absent: Dana Stroud
- College Representatives: Dr. Skari, president, Roxanne Richardson, board executive assistant, Tina Redd, vice president, Student Development, Jennifer Boehmer, vice president, Advancement and Community Engagement, Jennifer DeMent, vice president, Finance and Administration, John Hasegawa, Full Time Faculty Association (FTFA) President, Marilyn Pitts, Part Time Faculty and Tutors Association (PFTA) President, Michael Flores, Classified Education Association (CEA) President, Isaias Damian Figueroa, financial affairs representative, ASMHCC, Terry Rogers, associate vice president, Human Resources, Ross Hume, director, Labor and Employee Relations
- Additional Attendees: None
Chair Diane McKeel called the meeting to order at 6:43 p.m. and declared a quorum was present.
4.1 Approval of Agenda
Chair Diane McKeel called for a motion to approve the February 19, 2025 agenda. Vice Chair Andrew Speer motioned to approve the agenda and ShaToyia Bentley seconded the motion. The motion carried by the following vote:
- Andrew Speer – Yes
- Annette Mattson – Yes
- Marie Teune – Yes
- ShaToyia Bentley – Yes
- Diane McKeel – Yes
- Diane Noriega – Yes
- Dana Stroud – Absent
5.0 Public Input
There was public comment received from:- Mike Grochala, Work Study – in person
- Holly Wheeler, CEA Bargaining – in person
- Amy Salsbery, CEA Bargaining – in person
- Steve Herff, on behalf of another CEA member (anonymous), CEA Bargaining – in person
- Laura Nitti, CEA Bargaining – in person
- Jennifer Hare, CEA Bargaining – in person
6.0 Reports
6.1 Correspondence
There was no correspondence.
6.2 Second Quarter Financial Update and Overview of Budget Assumptions
Jennifer DeMent provided a second quarter financial update and overview of 2025-2026 budget assumptions and answered questions from the Board. The college is proposing a 3% tuition increase, which rounds to $4 per credit that was also discussed and will be brought forth to the board for a vote at the regular April 2025 board meeting.
6.3 Comprehensive Facilities Plan Update
This update was moved to the March 19, 2025 regular board meeting.
7.0 Business / Action
7.1 Consent Agenda: Approvals & Information- Minutes – Board Work Session 1116, January 13, 2025
- Minutes – Board Regular Session 1117, January 15, 2025
- Monthly Personnel Report
- Monthly Financial Report
- Monthly Head Start Report
- Approval to Utilize Goods and/or Service Contracts in Excess of $150,000
Chair Diane McKeel called for a motion to approve the February 19, 2025 consent agenda. Diane Noriega motioned to approve the agenda and Vice Chair Andrew Speer seconded the motion. The motion carried by the following vote:
- Andrew Speer – Yes
- Annette Mattson – Yes
- Marie Teune – Yes
- ShaToyia Bentley – Yes
- Diane McKeel – Yes
- Diane Noriega – Yes
- Dana Stroud – Absent
7.2 MHCC Head Start and Oregon Schools Association Contract Ratification
Terry Rogers presented the MHCC Head Start and Oregon Schools Association Contract Ratification and asked for board approval. Chair Diane McKeel called for a motion to approve the MHCC Head Start and Oregon Schools Association Contract Ratification. Vice Chair Andrew Speer motioned to the approve MHCC Head Start and Oregon Schools Association Contract Ratification and Diane Noriega seconded the motion. The motion carried by the following vote:
- Andrew Speer – Yes
- Annette Mattson – Yes
- Marie Teune – Yes
- ShaToyia Bentley – Yes
- Diane McKeel – Yes
- Diane Noriega – Yes
- Dana Stroud – Absent
7.3 2025 Board Policy and Administrative Regulation Process
This agenda item was moved to the February 21, 2025 Board Retreat meeting.
7.4 Board Policies First Reading
The board conducted a first reading of the board policies in Chapters 5 and 7, and relevant information about the policies were provided by President Skari. The board placed each policy into one of three categories: moved forward as is; moved forward with revisions; or postponed.
- Chapter 5 – Student Services, BP 5140 – Accessible Education Services (AES)/ Student Disability Services – moved forward as is
- Chapter 7 – Human Resources, BP 7120 – Recruitment and Hiring – moved forward as is
The board policies in Chapter 5 and 7 were moved forward for a second reading.
8.0 Board Member and Committee/ Liaison Reports
8.1 Board Agenda Review
Board members discussed and provided feedback on the next month’s regular session meeting agenda for March 2025.
8.2 Bond / PAC Update
Vice Chair Andrew Speer provided updates on bond and Political Action Committee (PAC) activities to date for the Board.
8.3 Community Engagement Committee Update
The Board Community Engagement Committee met and decided to seek guidance from the bond Political Action Committee (PAC) on where best to focus efforts in the community to support the bond. The committee discussed ideas on interest groups to focus on and will share these notes with the group to help generate ideas.
8.4 Board Member Reports
Board members shared their report of board committee and liaison activity since the last board meeting.
9.0 Closing Reports
9.1 ASMHCC Representative- Isaias Damian Figueroa (ASMHCC Financial Affairs Representative) – Figueroa, who is stepping in for the college student body president, highlighted several events and exciting things happening in their area including the Annual Club Fair, Student Budget Forums, ASMHCC Volunteer Service Project at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), ASMHCC Meet and Greet with the college President and Board, Black History Month featured film showing and discussion, and Heartbeat Retreat. Last Figueroa stated that ASMHCC voted to unanimously approve the proposed budget requests for the Co-Curricular and Athletic Finance Council for the 2025-2026 school year.
- John Hasegawa (FTFA) – Hasegawa discussed the FTFA’s support for CEA staff and shared that faculty are worried about the letter that was received by the Federal Government and how that impacts what they are teaching in their classrooms. Hasegawa also highlighted that the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) faculty group is almost finished with their Grading for Equity Book group instructional book and that they will be meeting with a colleague of the author to do a Q&A session and will also be attending the Oregon Sanctuary Promise meeting along with other faculty to learn about this program.
- Michael Flores (CEA) – Flores shared that CEA bargaining is ramping up and mobilizing for a strike and are that they are hoping to settle their contract tomorrow, during mediation.
- Marilyn Pitts (PTFA) – Pitts shared that their support for the CEA and that they sent the PTFA newsletter to be distributed to President Skari and the Board. Pitts also responded to a discussion earlier in the meeting regarding the ASMHCC Meet and Greet event with the college President and Board and gave feedback on how to follow up with students after this kind of event to provide further information and context on questions asked.
- John Hamblin (Student Development) – Hamblin did not attend due to another college responsibility.
- Tina Redd (Instruction) – Redd had no additional updates to report.
- Jennifer DeMent (Administrative Services) – DeMent had no additional updates to report and shared a Popular Annual Financial Report handout with the Board.
- Jennifer Boehmer (Advancement & Community Engagement) – Boehmer shared that it was a wonderful privilege to get to go the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) National Legislative Summit, early February, with the Board and that they learned a lot to bring back to their work.
9.4 President’s Report
President Skari provided their President’s Report to the board stating that enrollment is up 4% for winter term and that they will share more updates at the coming Board Retreat February 21, 2025. The report concluded with a showing of the following video Trailblazers: Stories of MHCC First-Generation Students, https://youtu.be/Vnza5JjbGP4?si=WdfPMF5BfN9t9y1j.
10.0 Adjournment
There being no further business, Chair Diane McKeel called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Diane Noriega motioned to adjourn. ShaToyia Bentley seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
Prepared by:Roxanne Richardson, Board Executive Assistant
Minutes approved on Mar. 19, 2025 - RR