The Cerritos College Faculty Federation addressed the Board of Trustees once again last Wednesday and called for an end to the 21 months of negotiations and contract disputes.

Also, Kathy Compton, secretary to the president of the Board, was honored with a plaque of retirement. She will retire next month after serving Cerritos College for 16 years. While Anna Fischer, Language Center instructor, received recognition as Classified Employee of the Month for October.

In addition, Cerritos College received a proclamation of recognition from the ABC Unified School District on the heels of its 50 years of service to surrounding community and students.

The award was presented by Celia Spitzer, ABC’s president of the Board of Education.

Thirty members of the CCFF once again had to address the issue of the current contract negotiations. The one issue that has been given the most emphasis has been the recommendation of having division deans assess instructors as opposed to the current peer-review system.

CCFF President David Fabish and CCFF secretary Robin Huber did not address the Board this time, however other faculty members expressed their frustration.

Bryan Reece, political science instructor, said, “We (CCFF and the Board) must find a way to come together.”

“The process of the negotiations is not the kind of thing that the union or the Board should be going through,” he added.

Dennis Falcon, political science instructor, agreed.

“I feel that I’m being sacrificed,” he said, “and(the CCFF) has a vision.”

He added that the Board should give the part-time and full-time instructors a vision.

Falcon, along with 30 others, had name tags on them with the names of the students from this semester.

“Some of the students wished they could have been here,” said Falcon, “but the students had to work and some have (to attend to) families so I (and other faculty) have them here spiritually.”

Furthermore, Falcon said that he would challenge the Board to a debate anywhere, at anytime on campus. The debate would be “for the lack of trust” that he says has occurred during the negotiations.

Suzanne Ashe, English instructor, had a Shakespearean point of view in the matter.

“We have dodged ‘the slings and arrows of misfortune’ in dealing with administrators and even presidents whose dismissal has taxed the local coffers heavily,” she said, “and yet, you distrust our judgment? I think that, truly is the question.”

“Are you pleased with the reputation you (the Board) are developing among faculty as being disrespectful of our professionalism.”

Janis Pizer, career services counselor, agreed.

She said that there are two things that the CCFF and the Board are fighting to negotiate: one, to keep the faculty peer-review and two asking how long does it take to settle the matter?

In keeping the peer-review, she said, “All we want is to have a fair contract.”

“Moreover, the peer-review of faculty will show the instructor themselves will be appreciated for the work that they do,” Pizer added.