UPDATE: COD Trustees Set Special Meeting On Friday

Are COD Trustees Prepared to Name New Superintendent/President on Friday?

PALM DESERT — The College of the Desert Borad of Trustees will meet in special session on Friday, less than 24 hours after the four finalists have participated in a public forum. 

Based on the published agenda, the board will accept public comments and then move into closed session for the purpose of the public employee appointment of a president/superintendent.

The Board of Trustee will meet at 8 30 a.m. on Friday at College of the Desert, 43-500 Monterey Ave,, Palm Desert, Building C – Boardroom.

This board is wasting no time after a botched false start.

Former Chair of the Board of Trustees, Bonnie Stefan, then-chair of the search committee for College of the Desert’s next Superintendent/President, made the “difficult but necessary decision to cancel the current search,” due to a confidentiality breach, according to a college-issued statement.

“Unfortunately, a reported breach of confidentiality by one or more members of the Presidential Search Committee has compromised the fairness and trust that are fundamental to this process,” according to the statement.

College of the Desert has initiated a neutral third-party investigation regarding confidential information related to the Fall 2024 search process, Nicholas Robles , Interim Public Information Officer, said at the time.

Four months later, Robles has refused to share the status of this investigations. Despite numerous promises to provide an update, he has never followed through, despite the College’s repeated commitment to transparency.

“On my list …, ” Robles said in an April 8 email. “I’m hoping to have something ahead of the BOT (Board of Trustees)  meeting.

On April 10, I asked again via text about the status.

“Still nothing ,,,” he said. “…I want extra due diligence before I officially put anything out.”

On Monday I asked again. His response follow:

“I still don’t have info,” I texted Robles.

“Let me put together a statement and get sign off from the higher-ups,” he responded. “That way, at least I’ve responded to you and then if more progress happens in the future, we can kind of keep it moving.

As of this morning, still status update.

I gave Robles notice that if I did not hear back from him i would write as much. It wasn’t a threat but a fair heads up ll media questions must go through him. He is controlling the narrative for the College, Why is he reluctant to be transparent with the public?

Why does it matter? Because some claim it has barely begun after all this time, adding, “You don’t know the half it,” one source said. claimed. Others say it begun. So, which is it?

UPDATE

About 4 p.m. Monday, about eight hours after this article was first published, Robles provided the following statement: from College of the Desert – “(The) Presidential Search Confidentiality Investigation College of the Desert is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and accountability in all aspects of its Superintendent/President search process. Following a reported breach of confidentiality during the initial search, an investigation is currently underway. Due to the sensitive nature of the matter, additional details are not available at this time and may not be shared publicly in the future. Breaches of trust are not aligned with College of the Desert’s values. The College remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring a fair, transparent, and equitable process for the selection of its next leader.”