Sacramento Bee: Sierra College in Turmoil - The 90-day clock is ticking

Sierra College in turmoil
The rapid departure of a popular president divides the Placer County campus.
By Kim Minugh -- Bee Staff WriterPublished 2:15 am PST Monday, February 21, 2005

After two months of upheaval and uncertainty at Sierra College, at least one thing is clear: For many at the Placer County college, forgiving, forgetting and forging ahead are easier said than done. The departure last month of President Kevin Ramirez has been a destabilizing force on campus, one that has ignited talks about a trustee recall campaign and unionization of the management team.

"The mixture of outrage, bewilderment, frustration and confusion about all that has gone on - I'm not sure this thing wraps up easily or simply," said Dan DeFoe, a history and communication studies professor. For now, an interim president has been appointed and classes are back in session, but the 20,500-student community college is markedly different from when students were last here.

Two new trustees, Aaron Klein and Scott Leslie, are being blamed for what many call the biggest upset in the college's history: the rapid departure of a popular president who, just two months after being publicly blasted by Klein, was recognized with the highest award given to administrators by the Association for California Community College Administrators.

"The college is going through a very tough time right now," said Nancy Palmer, a trustee since 1994. "This is the most difficult thing we've ever done." Many of Ramirez's supporters refuse to accept the official explanation that, after 12 years as president, Ramirez wanted to leave, and that he was not forced out in a power play by Klein, Leslie and board President Jerry Simmons.

"In my opinion, Sierra College is in a lot of trouble," said history professor Barbara Fairchild. "There's an agenda playing out here." That perceived agenda is the heart of a divisive debate on campus.
Many faculty members have questioned the motivations of Klein, Simmons and Leslie, all of whom are involved in local or statewide Republican politics. Some speculate the trustees are trying to make a name for themselves, and possibly gearing up for future political endeavors. That's the best-case scenario, Fairchild said. "The worst-case scenario is they'll try to control hiring and curriculum."

Klein and Leslie's fund-raising abilities have fueled the concerns. In 2002, trustee David Creek raised the most money for a Sierra College board seat in 15 years, with $7,250. In the November election, Klein and Leslie set a record, raising $44,000 and $53,000, respectively. Many of the contributions came from Republican groups or figures. "I believe they do come with a partisan agenda, with a strong idea of how things should be," said counselor Vicki Skeels. "It looks like they are trying to build careers on some grandstanding."

But Klein said his critics are using his Republican Party affiliation as an excuse to derail his agenda of fiscal accountability. "The only place where the Republican Party affects the Sierra College trustee role is that they supported me during the campaign. They're my friends," Klein said.

The turmoil began on Dec. 20, when Klein called for Ramirez's resignation and submitted a complaint to the Placer County registrar alleging that Ramirez had violated campaign finance law regarding a bond measure. The complaint was forwarded to the state Fair Political Practices Commission, which has declined to say whether an investigation is being pursued.

After five meetings and closed-door deliberations, trustees voted 6-1 to approve a retirement agreement for Ramirez that could cost the college $500,000 or more. Klein is now the target of a budding recall campaign being organized by about 35 faculty members and the community, said part-time journalism professor Kent Pollock.

"Aaron Klein was the irresponsible pit bull who led the charge," he said. "This is a guy who attempted to defame and steal a man's integrity in order to advance his own political power base." Paperwork for a recall cannot be filed until early March, when a 90-day waiting period after the swearing-in of a trustee is up.
Additionally, the college's management team is taking the unusual step of seeking union representation to ward off any more drastic administrative changes.

"If a board can fire a president on something other than job performance, on politics ... I assume they can fire any one of us," said Brian Haley, president of the management senate and dean of learning resources. "Our concern was we didn't know who they were going to go after next." All trustees interviewed - six of the seven - said the concerns about further personnel changes are unwarranted and, to assuage fears, the board recently renewed managers' yearlong contracts ahead of schedule.

Simmons said the board has been dominated by Republicans for some time, and there have been few disagreements between the board's Republicans and lone Democrat David Ferrari. Leslie agreed, saying he expects the board's future votes to be 7-0, not 4-3. "People can characterize the board however they want, but the goal of the board is to work together collaboratively in the best interests of the college," he said. But for many, the jury is still out.

Faculty members, and even some trustees, have pledged to watch closely how the board proceeds with business. "Do I have a worry? Yes. But ... we have to digest a few meals here and see what happens," said trustee Creek. Referring to the recall regulations, he added, "The 90-day clock is ticking."