I have been a resident of the Santa Clarita Valley for over 30 years, and an employee of the Santa Clarita Community College District for over 20.
In my many years as a member of the local and college community I have never seen so many constituency groups come together in unity as I did at the Sept. 10 meeting. This board did what even the former chancellor could not do: It created a common enemy to rally against. The suspension and termination of David Andrus was merely the tipping point causing a call to action.
I firmly believe it is in the best interest of the district that Mr. Fred Arnold and Ms. Sharlene Johnson recuse themselves from any current or future involvement in recruitment or screening of the interim president position. The district, which you have sworn an oath to serve, no longer has faith in your ability to do so. It no longer has trust in you. It will have no belief that the “leaders” you judge to be of merit will serve the district fairly, wisely or justly.
I ask that you finally put the best interest of the district to the forefront rather than personal ambitions and political aspirations, and truly act as public servants. Set aside your egos and allow those more qualified, those who have a better understanding of the college system and culture, and a better ability to listen rather than grandstand, take over this search.
Please do this at the least as a gesture of good faith to the people you have blatantly ignored for so long.
Samantha Weber