Posts Tagged Peralta

Peralta Saves Taxpayers $5 Million with Bond Refinancing

1 July 2020

Oakland, CA – In the latest demonstration of financial stewardship by the Peralta Community College District (PCCD), the District has sold General Obligation bonds from bond measures passed in 2006, 2009, and 2018 to finance capital projects throughout the district while saving taxpayers $5.1 million in reduced debt service.

In April, the District successfully sold $115 million of general obligation bonds authorized by the voters of Alameda County in the election of 2006 (Measure A) and 2018 (Measure G) at a much lower rate than what was promised to taxpayers, successfully minimizing any added debt. Soon after, the District refunded $22.9 million of its series 2009 (Measure E) bonds to generate $5.1 million in debt service savings for taxpayers. Like the district’s new money issuance, the refunding bonds received high ratings of AA- from Standard & Poor’s and AA by Fitch Ratings.

This was made possible by the careful planning, successful marketing strategy, and expert monitoring of market conditions by the District and its financing team.

“We’re pleased to save the taxpayers over $5 million dollars while fulfilling our mission to deliver educational services and programs that enhance the region’s human, economic, environmental, and social development. This latest success wouldn’t be possible without the leadership of Dr. Carla Walter, Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, who led a team of financial advisors, bond counsel, bankers, underwriters, and more to make this savings for taxpayers possible,” said PCCD Chancellor Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud. “We continue to be grateful to the people of Alameda County for making capital improvements of the Peralta Community College District a priority.”

Bond funding is being used to support the District-wide facilities master plan, which includes renovating aging classrooms, building new science and technology labs, and modernizing facilities that are decades old. This will provide all of the students who attend Peralta Colleges with the first-rate educational environment they deserve. To learn more about the different capital projects underway at Laney College, College of Alameda, Berkeley Community College, and Merritt College, please visit build.peralta.edu.

Filed under: Uncategorized. Tagged: Measure A Bond, Measure E Bond, Measure G Bond, Peralta

Dr. Albert J. Harrison appointed interim vice chancellor of finance and administration

23 April 2019

A former chancellor at the District from 1995-99, Harrison comes out of retirement to oversee finance and administration

OAKLAND, Calif. (April 24, 2019) – On April 23, 2019, at its regularly scheduled Board meeting, the Board of Trustees of Peralta Community College District (PCCD) appointed Albert J. Harrison II, Ph.D. as interim vice chancellor of finance and administration.

Under a two-year contract starting April 25, 2019, Harrison is responsible for the administration and supervision of the District’s finance, accounting, accounts payable, payroll, purchasing, information technology (IT), internal auditing and budgeting services. He will monitor and direct the daily business operations and is responsible for coordination and providing support for budget development and oversight of the execution of the annual final budget.

“Dr. Harrison is a consummate educational leader,” said Frances (Fran) L. White, Ph.D., acting chancellor, PCCD. “I knew him when he was vice chancellor of finance and administration at Peralta, and later when he was chancellor at Peralta. Upon his retirement in 2004, I sought him out to come to College of Marin to help rebuild the finances at the college and achieve full accreditation status. I am grateful that he has committed to returning to Peralta to help us improve fiscal services and develop a sound fiscal improvement plan.”

Harrison is a practicing Certified Public Accountant, running a well-established CPA firm he founded in 1974. A former airman in the U.S. Air Force and police officer in Miami, he is also a retired educator who served more than 38 years in various positions with the California Community College System. Harrison began his professional career in academia in 1977 as budget director at Peralta Community College District and served as vice chancellor of financial services from 1984-95, eventually rising to become PCCD’s chancellor from 1995-1999. Subsequently, he was on the faculty at College of Alameda from 1999-2004, before heading to College of Marin as vice president of college operations from 2004-2013, including a period as interim president in 2010. Last year, he served as interim vice president at the College of Redwoods.

“I’m happy to return home and look forward to working with a great team in a wonderful institution,” said Dr. Harrison. “I wish to thank the chancellor and the board for their confidence in my ability to help.”

Harrison earned an associate degree at Miami Dade (Junior) College, a Bachelor of Science in accounting at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla., an MBA at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif., and a doctorate of philosophy in business administration with a specialization in management information systems, from Northcentral University in San Diego.

An active community volunteer, Harrison was on the board of directors of the San Francisco Community Music Center, Berkeley Oakland Support Services, and RC200, Urban Community College Districts. He was also an advisory committee member for California State University, East Bay; on the chancellor’s advisory committee at Cal-Berkeley; and, is currently a member of the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society. Harrison is also an accomplished jazz musician.

About the Peralta Community College District

Founded in 1964, the Peralta Community College District (PCCD) is a collaborative community of colleges comprised of Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, and Laney and Merritt colleges in Oakland, Calif. The Peralta Colleges provide a dynamic multicultural learning environment offering accessible, high-quality educational programs and services, including two-year degrees, certificates and university transfer programs, to more than 30,000 students. PCCD is home to award-winning Peralta TV (Comcast ch. 27/28, AT&T ch. 99) and public radio KGPC-LP 96.9 FM. To learn more about The Peralta Colleges, visit www.peralta.edu

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Filed under: Announcements, Board of Trustees, Peralta News, Uncategorized. Tagged: finance, Peralta, vice chancellor

Leigh Sata appointed interim vice chancellor for general services

27 March 2019

Sata will oversee facility and property services for the District and the four Peralta Colleges

OAKLAND, Calif. (March 27, 2019) – On March 26, 2019, at its regularly scheduled Board meeting, the Board of Trustees of Peralta Community College District (PCCD) approved the appointment of Leigh Sata as interim vice chancellor of general services.

Under a two-year contract starting March 27, 2019, Sata will direct the Department of General Services (DGS), which provides centralized services to the District, including facility and property services, as well as facilities maintenance & operations, capital outlay, design & construction, facilities planning & development management, and Peralta police services.

Sata brings to the role more than three decades of experience in architecture and education, including a long history with the California Community Colleges, managing both capital projects and large bond programs.

“I’m thrilled the District has an exceptionally qualified facilities and bond program expert on board our team,” said Dr. Frances (Fran) L. White, acting chancellor, Peralta Community College District.

Sata comes to PCCD from Santa Rosa Junior College, where he was senior director, capital projects. Previously, Sata was executive bond manager for Solano Community College, and a project executive and construction program manager for the Swinerton Management and Consulting team, where he led project teams for the following clients: College of Marin, San Mateo County College District, San Francisco Unified School District, Lycée Francais de San Francisco, and San Mateo-Foster City School District. He was also director of university architecture at the University of San Francisco, and a senior project architect at many design firms, specializing in projects for educational institutions.

Sata was a student at the University of California at Davis, eventually transferring to the University of California at Berkeley, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture. He is currently a candidate in the Global Executive Ed. D program at the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education.

An active community volunteer, Sata served as vice-chairman, board of directors for the French American International School in San Francisco and is currently an advisory board member for Nihonmachi Little Friends Pre-School.

About the Peralta Community College District

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Filed under: Announcements, Board of Trustees, Peralta News, Uncategorized. Tagged: general services, Leigh Sata, Peralta, peralta colleges, vice chancellor

PCCD names Dr. Frances (Fran) L. White as acting chancellor

27 February 2019

OAKLAND, Calif. (Feb. 27, 2019) – On February 26, 2019, at its regularly scheduled Board meeting, the Board of Trustees of Peralta Community College District (PCCD) named Dr. Frances (Fran) L. White as acting chancellor of the District. Her start date will be March 1, 2019. The employment agreement will be considered at the next scheduled Board Meeting on March 12, 2019.

Dr. White comes to the Peralta Colleges with nearly four decades of experience in higher education and a long history with the California Community Colleges in a variety of roles, including serving as interim president at both Berkeley City College and College of Alameda in 2016. She was also superintendent/president of the Marin Community College District for six years, retiring in 2010. Prior to that, Dr. White was the president of Skyline College in San Bruno, Calif., the executive vice chancellor at City College of San Francisco, and the interim chancellor of the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District. She also served as assistant dean of communication, arts and physical education at Laney College, where she was a faculty member for several years.

PCCD Board President Julina Bonilla has been working with current Chancellor Jowel C. Laguerre for several months to prepare the District for this transition. During a closed session on Feb. 22, 2019, the Board voted unanimously to accept an early retirement and release agreement with the Chancellor effective March 1, 2019.

“I’m thrilled the District has an exceptionally qualified woman to take the helm and address day-to-day operations on an interim basis,” said Bonilla. “The Board and our stakeholders can now focus on implementing a national search for a permanent chancellor consistent with our shared governance selection process in a manner that engages the public and the community.

“The Board is committed to the highest levels of public transparency and accountability, added Bonilla. “I look forward to the active engagement and feedback of our campus communities and to keeping our East Bay public informed as we recruit the next leader to implement the vision of academic excellence and facilities upgrades necessary for the students we serve.”

Dr. White has a doctorate in education administration from the University of California at Berkeley, as well as a master’s degree in counseling psychology and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the California State University, East Bay. She is a community college graduate and earned an associate degree in general education from Merritt College.

Dr. White has served on numerous local, state and national boards, commissions and committees. She is the statewide recipient of the 2010 Harry J. Buttimer Distinguished Administrator Award in the California Community Colleges. Dr. White was named “Women in Business: Education Leader of 2009” for the North Bay Business Journal. She is a former member and president of the Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA). She is a past president of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) President’s Academy and served as a member of the President’s Academy Executive Committee for four years. She was appointed to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Board of Directors for a term of three years. Dr. White is a former member, Commission of American Council on Education (ACE), Office of Women in Higher Education; and a previous member of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC).

About the Peralta Community College District

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Filed under: Announcements, Board of Trustees, Peralta News, Uncategorized. Tagged: acting chancellor, chancellor, Chancellor White, Frances White, Peralta, Ph.D.

Chancellor Laguerre announces retirement

25 February 2019

OAKLAND, Calif. (Feb. 25, 2019) – The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Board of Trustees announced that Chancellor Dr. Jowel C. Laguerre will be retiring on March 1, 2019.

PCCD Board President Julina Bonilla has been working with the Chancellor for several months to prepare the District for this transition. During a closed session on Feb. 22, 2019, the Board voted unanimously to accept an early retirement and release agreement with the Chancellor. The Board will continue work it began with the Chancellor to identify an acting chancellor and may make an appointment as soon as the next board meeting on Feb. 26. The District will then launch a national search to fill the position of the chancellor.

“I want to thank Chancellor Laguerre for his tireless dedication to our colleges, students, faculty, staff and the community. The board of trustees acknowledge our K-14 challenges and we are actively moving forward to quickly address our most pressing issues,” said PCCD Board President Bonilla. “The board of trustees is grateful for Dr. Laguerre’s willingness to help plan for a smooth leadership transition. We wish him continued success in his next chapter.”

During the election of Nov. 2018, the passage of two measures signaled voter confidence in the District and will help propel it for future success. Northern Alameda County voters overwhelmingly approved Measure G, Peralta Community College District’s $864 million bond proposal to facilitate improvements to facilities and new construction. Voters also approved Measure E, extending the current $48 per parcel tax to supplement funding for core academic programs at the Peralta Colleges, which include Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, and Laney and Merritt colleges in Oakland, Calif. The board of trustees is indebted to the community for its overwhelming support and passage of Measure G Bond and Measure E which will allow the District to address several priorities over the next five-to-seven years. Our students and community will be the well-deserved beneficiaries of new and refurbished facilities, including a new library at Laney College and a new child development center at Merritt College.

About the Peralta Community College District

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Filed under: Announcements, Board of Trustees, Peralta News, Uncategorized. Tagged: chancellor, Chancellor Laguerre, Julina Bonilla, Peralta

Webinar for Sustainability and Resiliency Master Plan (SRMP)

12 September 2017

Peralta has put together a webinar to outline our efforts towards sustainability and resiliency – our Sustainability and Resiliency Master Plan (SRMP)

Peralta Colleges

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Posts Tagged Peralta

Peralta Saves Taxpayers $5 Million with Bond Refinancing

Dr. Albert J. Harrison appointed interim vice chancellor of finance and administration

Leigh Sata appointed interim vice chancellor for general services

PCCD names Dr. Frances (Fran) L. White as acting chancellor

Chancellor Laguerre announces retirement

Webinar for Sustainability and Resiliency Master Plan (SRMP)

Peralta Colleges