Four of Maricopa’s colleges — Estrella Mountain, GateWay Community College, Phoenix College and South Mountain Community College — are federally designated Hispanic-serving institutions.
However, O’Banion said the likelihood Maricopa will lose it is minimal.
“It’s possible but it’s not likely,” he said. “It’s so devastating that cooler heads will prevent that from happening.”
The impact and influence of rogue trustees is similar in appointed, elected, or mixed governing boards, where nearly 6,500 trustees serve about 600 community colleges, O’Banion said, who estimated there at least 40 to 50 rogues. They cause damage disproportionate to their small numbers, he said.
“The overwhelming majority (of trustees) are people of great honor and great integrity, but what we need are other trustees to take on these aberrant trustees and censure them publicly,” Roueche said. “That has been a difficulty in the past, they have been unwilling to confront or sanction aberrant behavior.”
Changes at Maricopa
Although it is still unclear whether the consultants’ review will help correct rogue behavior or exasperate divisions, a press release from the Maricopa district on Monday announced the governing board has adopted measures to improve its governance following a lengthy retreat.
