Students lack representation
Trustee fails to attend meetings, board needs policy to replace member
Reginald James
Issue date: 5/14/09 Last update: 5/18/09 at 11:38 AM PST
Section: News
Peralta Colleges Student Trustee Nicole Tobor has been noticeably absent from every board meeting this semester and more of half of the meetings in the fall.
Tobor was one of just two candidates seeking to represent students on the district's governing board. There are seven members elected by the public, and two positions for student members.
"From my understanding, she had some health problems" in the fall, and this spring, "she had a class that conflicted with the board meetings," said Peralta Board President Bill Withrow (Area 1--Alameda).
Student Trustee Yvonne Thompson was sworn in simultaneously with Tobor, but has not been in communication with her. "When I tried to connect with her, she was unavailable," said Thompson of her initial encounters with Tobor. "I kind of had to start by myself from the beginning."
Student Trustees receive a monthly stipend of about $250 for attending meetings. Records show Tobor received four stipends for attending meetings in June, July and December, and during the Board's August recess. She has not been compensated this year as she has not attended the meetings.
Tobor did not respond to requests for comment.
This is not the first time Peralta has faced this situation. In 2005, then Student Trustee Lana Spencer took ill and was unable to complete her second term. It was believed that Spencer would complete the term, but without a policy the position could not be filled, said said Lisa Watkins-Tanner, assistant for the president's office at Laney College.
"We didn't know she was sick," said Watkins-Tanner, who served as ASLC president and student trustee with Spencer. Watkins-Tanner was asked to create the policy, but was unable to implement it due to the other responsibilities associated with the position.
"It's important if anything happens," said Watkins-Tanner. "They could get sick, God forbid they could die…or they could even be crooked." She said there needs to be a way for students to be represented.
Tobor was one of just two candidates seeking to represent students on the district's governing board. There are seven members elected by the public, and two positions for student members.
"From my understanding, she had some health problems" in the fall, and this spring, "she had a class that conflicted with the board meetings," said Peralta Board President Bill Withrow (Area 1--Alameda).
Student Trustee Yvonne Thompson was sworn in simultaneously with Tobor, but has not been in communication with her. "When I tried to connect with her, she was unavailable," said Thompson of her initial encounters with Tobor. "I kind of had to start by myself from the beginning."
Student Trustees receive a monthly stipend of about $250 for attending meetings. Records show Tobor received four stipends for attending meetings in June, July and December, and during the Board's August recess. She has not been compensated this year as she has not attended the meetings.
Tobor did not respond to requests for comment.
This is not the first time Peralta has faced this situation. In 2005, then Student Trustee Lana Spencer took ill and was unable to complete her second term. It was believed that Spencer would complete the term, but without a policy the position could not be filled, said said Lisa Watkins-Tanner, assistant for the president's office at Laney College.
"We didn't know she was sick," said Watkins-Tanner, who served as ASLC president and student trustee with Spencer. Watkins-Tanner was asked to create the policy, but was unable to implement it due to the other responsibilities associated with the position.
"It's important if anything happens," said Watkins-Tanner. "They could get sick, God forbid they could die…or they could even be crooked." She said there needs to be a way for students to be represented.
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