Changes are coming soon to the Yosemite Community College District as both a vacancy on its board and the resignation of one of its school presidents were announced this week. 

The YCCD Board of Trustees recently welcomed a new face with the election of Milton Richards to Turlock’s Area 3 seat, and is now soliciting applications to serve as an appointed member for Area 4. 

The seat representing Area 4, which includes Hilmar, was left vacant when former Trustee Anne DeMartini resigned on Jan. 3. She is the wife of former Stanislaus County Supervisor Jim DeMartini, who did not seek a fifth term this past November after announcing he would be retiring and moving to Nevada. 

Anne DeMartini was first elected in 2002 and most recently won the 2018 election; thus, an appointee to this position would serve only until the results of the November 2022 election are finalized. Interested candidates would have to run for election in November 2022 to fill the vacancy, when the position will be up for a full four-year term. 

Rather than hold an election for the seat, the Board of Trustees has decided to fill the vacancy by provisional appointment. Unless a petition containing a sufficient number of signatures is filed with the Stanislaus County Office of Education within 30 days of the appointment, it will become effective. 

Applications are due no later than 5 p.m. Feb. 4. Finalists will be announced Feb. 11 and the Board will interview the candidates and make the provisional appointment Feb. 16. 

According to a statement released by YCCD, the Board is seeking candidates who have the ability and time to fulfill the responsibilities of being a member of the Board, which include:

·         Participate fully in the work of the Board, which includes attending all Board meetings and key college events, studying and discussing policy issues, and participating in trustee education programs.

·         Be knowledgeable about the communities served by the colleges and be willing to act on behalf and for the benefit of those communities.

·         Be committed to community colleges and their missions; understand educational, social, and economic policy issues.

·         Engage in balancing the needs of many diverse groups; be able to contribute to and build consensus.

·         Contribute to effective Board functioning and support the authority of the Board as a whole.

Board of Trustees Regular Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, and those interested can contact YCCD Chancellor Henry Yong at 2201 Blue Gum Ave. in Modesto, by emailing chancelloryong@yosemite.edy or by calling 209-575-6509. The application packet can also be found at https://www.yosemite.edu/trustees/

In addition to seeking a new Trustee, YCCD is also in search of a new president for one of its campuses after Modesto Junior College President Dr. James Houpis resigned this week. Houpis replaced then-Interim MJC President Steve Collins in March 2019 and had previously served as the Dean of Academic Support and Learning Technologies at Skyline College.

Chancellor Yong announced that a Search Committee for the next president would be formed shortly and include representatives from all constituent groups, including students and the community.