For the second time in three years the Peralta Colleges Foundation (PCF) fall fund raising dinner has been canceled. Together with the spring golf tournament, these annual events raise scholarship money for Peralta students.
At the Sept. 11 PCF Board of Directors meeting, the co-presidents announced that they made “a business decision” to “postpone” the fundraiser because they felt money wasn’t coming in quickly enough.
Several directors expressed surprise and concern over not being consulted but none challenged the co-presidents’ decision. Director William Patterson stated that Peralta has many friends who would support the dinner, especially during the Peralta Community College District’s 50th Anniversary.
In closed session, the PCF Board voted to remove Executive Director Romeo Garcia. That decision has not been made public. Removing Garcia deprives students of the benefits from his experience and connections as both a lifelong Oaklander and an educator. The decision to “postpone” the fundraiser will cost Peralta students tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships next spring.
I am currently the student worker at the PCF and met Garcia through my work to reform financial aid by serving on the newly formed Peralta Student Council. As the new executive director of the PCF, he made presentations across the district to make students aware of the scholarship money available.
In the semester before he arrived (Fall 2012), 36 scholarship applications were received. This fall more than 335 students submitted over 1,000 applications for scholarships!
Before coming to Peralta, Garcia was the director of Upward Bound at Mills College and founder and co-principal of Arise High School in Oakland. For nearly two years Executive Director Garcia has tirelessly promoted the PCF to students, donors and Peralta communities.
He supervised three audits in 18 months to restore the foundation’s financial health (a prerequisite for applying for grants), grew the staff and scholarship funds, and automated the scholarship application and review process. Who will the PCF directors hire with Garcia’s experience and leadership? The current co-presidents’ actions have damaged the Peralta Colleges Foundation’s reputation and ability to support Peralta students. I think the PCF Board of Directors should vote to remove them.
Please contact the Peralta College Foundation’s Directors and let them know what you think. You can find them at http://web.peralta.edu/foundation/about-us/board-of-directors/