Message from Mr. John MooreApril 28, 2003

The Board of Trustees of the Cerritos Community College District has arrived on a settlement with College President, Dr. Jane Harmon. Under the terms of the settlement Dr. Harmon, who has been on paid administrative leave since July 17, 2002, resigns from the District effective close of business June 30, 2003.

She will be paid a lump sum of $145,418.00, the equivalent of her salary for the last year of her contract (July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004). She will also receive health benefits through June 30, 2004 unless she secures another position before that time.

Through the agreement the District will not pay out any more monies than was originally committed to, when Dr. Harmon was placed on an 18-month leave of absence. This time period is mandated by California statute.

An insurance policy will cover $58,000, the equivalent of her salary from the conclusion of her leave of absence to the end of her contract year.

Dr. Harmon’s resignation leaves the President’s position vacant. Currently Mr. John Grindel has been serving as Acting President, a post that he was appointed to on July 17, 2002 by the Board of Trustees while Dr. Harmon was on administrative leave.

As required by Title V, the College has begun the process of selecting an Interim President to succeed Dr. Harmon effective July 1, 2003. It is the intent that the process be carried out as quickly and expeditiously as possible so that someone is in place as Interim President on July 1, 2003. 

The Office of Human Resources is coordinating the selection process. In the interest of shared governance the Board of Trustees has directed that a screening committee of the different campus constituencies be formed and the Interim President job be posted for college employees only. 

The screening committee will be composed of one member of the Board of Trustees, two faculty members, one manager, one vice president, one classified employee and one student.  The tentative timeline for the selection process is as follows:

April 25 – Posting of Interim President’s position.

May 19 – Deadline for submission of applications.

May 20 through May 23 – Paper screening of applications.

Week of May 27 – Screening committee to interview candidates for recommendation to the Board of Trustees.

First two weeks of June – Board of Trustees to interview candidates.

June 18 – Board of Trustees to approve the employment of an Interim President effective July 1, 2003.

It is the desire of the Board of Trustees to select an Interim President for the 2003-2004 academic year. The Board and District will then conduct a presidential search during the 2003-2004 year with the intent of filling the position by summer 2004.