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Concerns on Hansen to be aired at meeting
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 12:07 PM PDT
COOS BAY — After months of indecision, the Southwestern Oregon Community College Board has scheduled a special meeting next week to present grievances against President Judith Hansen in open session.
If the board finds there is factual evidence of improper behavior by the school’s executive, it may choose to again hire an outside arbiter to investigate the concerns.
At Monday’s regular meeting, board members exchanged criticisms of each other, rather than Hansen, over the handling of the inquiry. The issue was first broached following an executive session in February, when the board voted to hire the Oregon School Boards Association to “investigate areas of concern.”
 Judith Hansen
It eventually became clear the areas of concern revolved around the professional conduct of Hansen, who subsequently requested all discussions about her performance be held in open session.
When the board reconvened in March, it reversed its earlier decision to hire OSBA and instead chose to conduct further internal talks.
Acting on his own, board member Harry Abel prepared six resolutions that he passed out at the beginning of the meeting in hopes of having them put on the agenda. This request was ultimately denied by Chairman Lonny Anderson, who said board policy requires all concerns be presented to the president before they reach the governing body.
“We are the measure of last resort, not the first ones,” Anderson said.
The college’s legal counsel, Roger Gould, went further, arguing the board couldn’t hold a hearing to discuss Hansen’s behavior because it does not have a board policy explaining how such an event would be organized.
He also took to task board members who he suggested were taking steps to gather information against the president.
“It’s a cancer that diseases the entire body,” he said. “Don’t do that.”
Abel expressed frustration at the turn of events, noting complaints were presented to Hansen during the February executive session.
Hansen sat through most of these discussions without making comment, but at times spoke up to clarify comments, such as those made by Abel about the February meeting.
She said that forum had been designed without providing her an opportunity to respond to all the accusations. She also noted Gould was not told of the meeting and another attorney was asked to attend in his place.
“The full intent of that meeting was not known to me, nor everyone else on the board,” she said.
Rick Howell was one of those members who agreed that there wasn’t enough information provided at the February meeting to proceed with an investigation. Unlike Anderson and Gould, he said he believed it was appropriate to begin investigating the allegations now. While he said he thinks most are unfounded, not pursuing the issues could tarnish the college’s reputation.
“If we don’t answer those questions, people will wonder if there is a whitewash job here,” he said. “That concerns me.”
Howell said the issues raised by Abel in his resolutions were specific enough to at least present to Hansen so she could respond to them.
They include questions about the handling of public safety, personnel matters, fiscal issues and providing information to the board.
The suggestion to schedule a special meeting next week was proposed by board member David Bridgham.
“It’s been over two months that these issues have been on the table,” he said. “I would like to meet next week.”
The meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday, May 5, in Tioga Hall.
In other business Monday, the board:
n adopted a new truck-driver training program, pending state approval; and
n accepted a list of proposals from the city of Coos Bay regarding the possibility of having the college hire officers for the Coos Bay Police Department to patrol the campus. The board is scheduled to discuss the matter at its next regular meeting and invited city officials to make a presentation. |
