Story by Ana Acosta

Palomar Board trustees will consider the renewal of President/Superintendent Joi Lin Blake’s contract during the Governing Board meeting at 5 p.m. on Oct. 8 in room SSC-1.

Teresa Laughlin, co-president of the faculty union, as well as Anel Gonzalez, president of the classified employee union, submitted requests for board trusteeship to table the decision.

Faculty members have requested for the contract be tabled (postponed) until a Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team Report is completed in review of the District’s current financial deficit.

If renewed at the meeting, President Blake’s contract will last until June 22, 2020 and will give her cost-of-living adjustment. According to the contract renewal document, the adjustment will increase by 3.26 percent on top of Blake’s annual base salary of $301,547.19 (not including benefits).

In an email sent to the Governing Board, Gonzalez said that cost-of-living adjustments are not typically given to employees when an institution is dealing with a fiscal crisis or deficit.

“Today we need you to lead by example and be transparent, showing us that you are taking the necessary steps for fiscal stewardship,” Gonzalez wrote in the email.

For live updates of the meeting, visit @telescopenews on Twitter.

Update: The meeting starts in 10 minutes. Another significant turnout tonight. @telescopenews pic.twitter.com/m6crbjJPxs

— Ana Acosta (@AnaReports) October 8, 2019

This is a developing story.