On Nov. 8, 2022, we exercised our right to vote and cast our electoral voices for or against several ballot measures and candidates for elected state and local offices. In this mid-term election, voters in CR’s Area 1 (Ferndale) had an opportunity to choose between Mr. Roman Rubalcava and Ms. Lorraine Pedrotti to replace Trustee Tracy Coppini as a member of the College of the Redwoods Board of Trustees, who will step down from the board in January.
Ms. Lorraine Pedrotti ultimately prevailed in her run to replace Trustee Coppini. Two current trustees, Mr. Danny Kelley and Mrs. Carol Mathews ran unopposed and will continue to help me lead the college into the future. Trustee-Elect Pedrotti, Trustee Mathews and Trustee Kelley will be sworn in at our Dec. 13 board meeting.
As Ms. Pedrotti prepares to join the board, I want to thank Trustee Coppini for his long service as a trustee. His knowledge of the community and dedication to College of the Redwoods was invaluable to our success over the past several years. Trustee Coppini exemplified the board’s commitment to its mission to provide students with an exceptional education, support the administration, and encourage faculty in innovative teaching. During Tracy’s tenure on the board, even when faced with difficult decisions, the board’s collegiality and appreciation for one another’s background and expertise allowed trustees to reach consensus.
When we discuss higher education, we usually talk about the faculty, staff and students. In the run-up to the election, a community member asked me what a trustee does and why someone unfamiliar with higher education should care about who is elected to the CR Board. I realized that I am uniquely qualified to answer this question, having a close relationship with the board and a perspective on the important leadership role that our trustees play in CR’s governance structure that most people don’t have.
My answer was, even if you don’t attend or work at a community college, I believe there are plenty of reasons to care about what the seven elected members of the CR Board of Trustees do. The work of our trustees extends to much more than academics. They oversee CR’s budgets, which go toward all kinds of projects beyond academics — think new buildings, land development, and construction, all of which affect the surrounding community.
Our board’s role is dictated by our accrediting body. They are an independent, policy-making body that establishes those broad policies appropriate to the academic quality, integrity and fiscal stability of the College. They set the vision, mission and goals for the college, reflect the public interest in the institution’s educational quality, and protect the college from undue influence or political pressure. Our board makes sure that the college is accomplishing its goals for student success. The board regularly reviews key indicators of student learning and achievement and institutional plans for improving academic quality. The board also delegates full responsibility and authority to the president/superintendent to implement and administer board policies without board interference and holds the president/superintendent accountable for the operation of the college.
As I reflect on the challenges over the last several years, I am struck by how College of the Redwoods has remained strong because our trustees have embraced their role and set the tone for excellence in the institution.
Ms. Pedrotti is joining a board that is committed to supporting whatever is necessary to address the complex issues the institution faces. In my time as president of College of the Redwoods, the Board has always been a group who do not run from challenges, but rather address them head-on with inclusivity and determination and I fully expect that this will remain true as we swear in our new and returning board members on Dec. 13.
Dr. Keith Flamer is the president of the College of the Redwoods.
