Jeff Sanceri addresses the Peralta Board of Trustees during the public comment portion of their Oct. 14 meeting. (via PCCD TV)
The Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees heard a public comment concerning the district’s policies around ICE, reviewed survey data results on food and housing insecurity among California community college students, and approved multiple facilities projects at their regular meeting on Oct. 14.
Public comment
Peralta Foundation of Teachers President Jeff Sanceri spoke during public comment about “state-sanctioned violence that is closing in on Oakland, Berkeley, and the surrounding communities.”
Sanceri pointed out that the California State University, another public college system, has previously given information about students and faculty to the federal government. He urged the board to ensure that the district protects the immigration status of students and faculty.
“Faculty should get assurances from administration,” Sanceri said, “that faculty will have the flexibility to teach and for our students to learn in a context and space where they are safe.”
Gilkerson reports on CoA ribbon-cutting, basic need survey
Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson shared details about College of Alameda’s ribbon-cutting for its $36 million Transit Technology Center on Sept. 30. The program will consolidate classrooms for the Automotive Technology, Auto Body and Paint, and Diesel Mechanics programs at CoA.
Gilkerson unveiled the results of a statewide student basic needs survey conducted by the Community College League of California’s Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce, which she chairs.
The survey collected data from nearly 77,000 students across 102 community college campuses during the spring and summer semesters of 2025. All four Peralta colleges were included in the survey.
Gilkerson said that according to the results of the survey, two out of three students “lack reliable access to food and housing.” Nearly half of respondents reported food insecurity, 58% reported housing insecurity and 20% reported experiencing homelessness.
She said that the results of the survey will help inform how Peralta college presidents and basic needs coordinators respond to student needs.
Consent Calendar
The consent calendar is a group of agenda items that are voted in one motion without discussion. The board can pull items for discussion and vote on those items individually.
The board voted unanimously to approve all items on the consent calendar, with no items pulled for discussion.
More money for MESA
Trustees approved an additional $130,656 for each campus’ Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program. MESA provides support to “economically and educationally disadvantaged students” who major in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields and plan to transfer to a four-year university.
Renovations and “unforeseen” construction
An additional $3,888,986 was approved to the district’s existing contract with Rodan Builders, Inc. for the ongoing locker room renovation project. This amendment brings the maximum contract price for the project to $12,373,986. The amendment also includes an update to the schedule of the project, which is now anticipated to be completed in late Sept. 2026.
Trustees approved an additional $120,796 to Alten Construction to “address unforeseen additional construction” on CoA’s Transit Technology Center.
Jacobs Project Management Co. was awarded a maximum of $478,913 to complete “construction management services” for the fire alarm project at Laney College.
The company has also contracted with the district to oversee renovations to Laney’s theater, locker room, student center, and learning and resource center, for $3.3 million in total. The renovations began construction on Oct. 28.
Kone Inc. received $329,090 to increase the scope of their contract with Peralta to repair and maintain 29 elevators throughout the district. Since Sept. 2019, Kone Inc.’s contract for the repair and modernization of campus elevators has cost the district a total of $3.8 million due to extensions and expansions in scope.
Jeweld Legacy Group, LLC, an Oakland-based consulting firm, entered a $150,000 consulting agreement with the district to develop and document a district-wide safety plan. The agreement stipulates that Jeweld will develop a plan that is “sustainable, trauma-informed, and holistic.”
New hires and a resignation
The board approved Megan Gorham’s employment as CoA’s principal library technician, effective Sept. 8.
Additionally, the board approved temporary employment for Rebecca Danton as an interpreter for the hearing-impaired, and Terelle Baley for financial aid and placement assistance, at Laney through June 30, 2026.
The board approved Christine Trowbridge’s employment as Director of Workforce Development at Merritt through Oct. 20, 2026.
Board members also approved Reeshemah Thornton’s resignation from her position as Dean of Enrollment Services at Merritt, effective Aug. 26.