Rio Hondo College president's pay, benefits draw ire of faculty association

“Wow” It is almost all I can say….. I remember when administration announced enormous budget cuts coming to RHC and how urgent it was to be more observant of spending practices. Shortly after, though, RHC opened new positions, including classified, faculty, and administration. Everyone looked around with the belief that we would be alright after all. RHC has always been good about avoiding layoffs and working around cuts. With an excellent CFO, we could never go wrong and have never gone wrong. To withstand every cut in education since the early 90s and have no layoffs since, says something about our CFO. Then layoffs were announced, classes were cut, but yet positions in certain areas still filled. We have so many categorically funded positions and programs on campus & only very certain employees targeted in very specific areas. We gave veteran employees their walking papers, while keeping part time positions in the same categorical budgets. How do we make sense of that? Then, miraculously, even after being told the federal backfill was not enough, a few positions suddenly came back, but of course with the clear understanding that this will only be until June 2010.

You have administrators going through PERBS (Public Employment Relations Board) with their employees because they refuse to take on the duties within their job descriptions that they are paid for and pass on those less favorable duties to their lowest paid employees in the departments. RHC would rather pay thousands of dollars to fight a job duty WITHIN their job description, then to keep students serviced. And now this. A president who has dismissed employees with the excuse of budget cuts, have cut classes for students with the excuse of budget cuts, will say that the level of service we were providing is no longer possible with the excuse of budget cuts, can drive up to campus in his fancy car and have the audacity to look into our eyes and claim to have the employees, faculty & classified alike as well as students in mind in all decisions. We have a Board, with the exception of Ms. Martinez, who sat around a table and approved the layoffs of these employees, cuts in classes, and disregard for student services, while at the same time announce in a community newspaper that the increase in salary and benefits were made because “we saw he was someone with the goods to deliver.” Most of the employees laid off were excellent employees as well. Some being here almost 10 years with not a scratch on their record. Some being recognized by several constituent groups, including STUDENTS, for their excellence in service both within and outside the scope of their regular job duties.

What has Dr. Martinez done so extraordinary since his arrival? We all deserve a raise to meet the works we do within our jobs. If you use the same resource (salary.com ) you will see that we are of the lowest paid employees within the state, whereas the administration ranks by far one of the highest paid. We have all taken cuts, are being realistic and mindful of the dealings within our educational system, while the administrators increase their salaries, titles, benefits, resources, and shove off those less favorable duties to the little guys who will be gone with the excuse of budget cuts if they refuse to conduct every duty assigned to them. What a sad, sad time for RHC.

I wish somebody would pay me $750 a month for a transportation allowance ... so I could lease a Maserati!

Hiring a non-local who resides in the San Diego area makes no sense.

Everybody at RHC has taken a huge hit - except Dr. Martinez!

Tracy Garcia sucks!

I understand that these salaries are a mere average on what most school presidents receive, but to have every other constituent cut back on costs, hours, and especially workers makes us wonder why he cannot lead by example. And if this amount was too little to begin with, why dud he take up the job at all? It's these ideas and questions that keep getting ignored and pushed off to the side. We are students with questions, questions that sometimes cannot be answered because they choose not to look at us and give us a direct answer. Which brings us to our final question, what would you do with $30,000 ? Buy books? Increase the number of class sections? Or give your president an unfair raise?

David Siegrist for Rio Hondo College Board--Area #1
As the only candidate for Rio Hondo, Area #1 who opposes wasteful spending at Rio Hondo College, if elected I will ask Dr. Martinez (out of his consideration for students) to take a 25% pay cut. The Superintendent of Schools in Corona did just that!
Also, I will lobby the Board to HALT THE IDIOTIC PLAN TO BUILD A $5million Taj Mahal
in El Monte. Once built, how will we pay to keep it open. Smart people say, "Use our local schools, such as Mulhall and Norwood, and ALL OUR HIGH SCHOOLS." Whittier has done this for 20 years. No off-campus site there!
See www.riohondo.edu Fall 2009 Schedule of Classes (10 in Whittier...Zero in El Monte.
We had a Rio Hondo Campus here from 1996 to 2003. Quintero voted to close it "temporarily." It's never reopened. Rio can build a $5million site on Monday, run of general funds and then close the place on Tuesday.
Don't continue to waste our money on high salaries and to build unneeded off-campus sites.

David Siegrist, The Better Candidate for Rio Hondo Board, Area #1
(A real community college product--22total classes
at Chaffey J.C., Mt. Sac, and Rio)

P.S.: Miss Garcia has raised $34,000. What do the donors expect, huh
ALL MY CAMPAIGN FUNDS ARE FROM MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAVINGS.
I HAVE NOT ACCEPTED A PENNY FROM ANYONE. I BELIEVE IN SERVING
AND NOT SELLING OUT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
P.S.S.: See my info on smartvoter.org Thank you!

siegrist4riohondo@yahoo.com

Sammy Castillo wrote:

I understand that these salaries are a mere average on what most school presidents receive, but to have every other constituent cut back on costs, hours, and especially workers makes us wonder why he cannot lead by example. And if this amount was too little to begin with, why dud he take up the job at all? It's these ideas and questions that keep getting ignored and pushed off to the side. We are students with questions, questions that sometimes cannot be answered because they choose not to look at us and give us a direct answer. Which brings us to our final question, what would you do with $30,000 ? Buy books? Increase the number of class sections? Or give your president an unfair raise?

This is why I, David Siegrist, have chosen to run for Rio again.

Let's stop this confounded waste of our moneys and stop putting our young people into
greater and greater debt.

$5million for a needless center in El Monte. No way, Jose!

Let's use our high school campuses and the two beautiful completely
renovated elementaries (Norwood and Mulhall)--they are closed and will remain so for at least 15 years.

Rio may build a site today and close it tomorrow. If it opens, how much will it cost to
keep it that way?

We had a Rio center here for 7 years. They closed it "temporarily," with Andre voting to do that of course. It's never reopened.

A 16% pay raise for four years? Baloney, I say.

Ms. Garcia, my opponent supports this waste.

She also sees accreditation as "no problem...an item that is unfairly used
in a campaign." What do you think? Compton College lost is accreditation and
disappeared. It's now the Compton Education Center (AN OFF-SITE CENTER FOR
EL CAMINO COLLEGE.)

Please vote smartly: Check my ballot statement and compare that to what my
opponent has put down. I have 8 years of successful experience as a Board Member, and
underwent 2 WASC visits at Rio, 2 at Arroyo High School, 1 at Roubidoux High School,
and ALL WERE SUCCESSFUL AND PRAISED.

And, Norma repeats her chant that Rio has had low transfer rates and "That's why I went to Citrus." Low transfer rate comes from NO MONEY TO GO ON AND NEVER INFERIOR
ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, as Ms. Garcia implies over and over and over and over.

Her roots may be in El Monte...but her roots at Rio Hondo JUST WERE NOT AND ARE NOT THERE!

Thank you and please check your ballot and visit this site:

http://smartvoter.org/2009/11/03/ca/la/vote/s...

David Siegrist, The Better, Only Experienced Candidate for Rio Hondo

P.S.: All my campaign is paid for by my family and myself.
I choose to serve and not be beholden.
Norma has accepted $35thousand...I have accepted zero
from the special interests.

Sammy Castillo wrote:

I understand that these salaries are a mere average on what most school presidents receive, but to have every other constituent cut back on costs, hours, and especially workers makes us wonder why he cannot lead by example. And if this amount was too little to begin with, why dud he take up the job at all? It's these ideas and questions that keep getting ignored and pushed off to the side. We are students with questions, questions that sometimes cannot be answered because they choose not to look at us and give us a direct answer. Which brings us to our final question, what would you do with $30,000 ? Buy books? Increase the number of class sections? Or give your president an unfair raise?

Sammy,
You're right on!
Please vote: David Siegrist 4 Rio Hondo
This is why I, David Siegrist, have chosen to run for Rio again.
Let's stop this confounded waste of our moneys and stop putting our young people into
greater and greater debt.
$5million for a needless center in El Monte. No way, Jose!
Let's use our high school campuses and the two beautiful completely
renovated elementaries (Norwood and Mulhall)--they are closed and will remain so for at least 15 years.
Rio may build a site today and close it tomorrow. If it opens, how much will it cost to
keep it that way?
We had a Rio center here for 7 years. They closed it "temporarily," with Andre voting to do that of course. It's never reopened.
A 16% pay raise for four years? Baloney, I say.
Ms. Garcia, my opponent supports this waste.
She also sees accreditation as "no problem...an item that is unfairly used
in a campaign." What do you think? Compton College lost is accreditation and
disappeared. It's now the Compton Education Center (AN OFF-SITE CENTER FOR
EL CAMINO COLLEGE.)
Please vote smartly: Check my ballot statement and compare that to what my
opponent has put down. I have 8 years of successful experience as a Board Member, and
underwent 2 WASC visits at Rio, 2 at Arroyo High School, 1 at Roubidoux High School,
and ALL WERE SUCCESSFUL AND PRAISED.
And, Norma repeats her chant that Rio has had low transfer rates and "That's why I went to Citrus." Low transfer rate comes from NO MONEY TO GO ON AND NEVER INFERIOR
ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, as Ms. Garcia implies over and over and over and over.
Her roots may be in El Monte...but her roots at Rio Hondo JUST WERE NOT AND ARE NOT THERE!
Thank you and please check your ballot and visit this site:
http://smartvoter.org/2009/11/03/ca/la/vote/s ...
David Siegrist, The Better, Only Experienced Candidate for Rio Hondo
P.S.: All my campaign is paid for by my family and myself.
I choose to serve and not be beholden.
Norma has accepted $35thousand...I have accepted zero
from the special interests.

Roberto Garcia wrote:

Hiring a non-local who resides in the San Diego area makes no sense.
Everybody at RHC has taken a huge hit - except Dr. Martinez!
Tracy Garcia sucks!

This is why I, David Siegrist, have chosen to run for Rio again.

Let's stop this confounded waste of our moneys and stop putting our young people into
greater and greater debt.

$5million for a needless center in El Monte. No way, Jose!

Let's use our high school campuses and the two beautiful completely
renovated elementaries (Norwood and Mulhall)--they are closed and will remain so for at least 15 years.

Rio may build a site today and close it tomorrow. If it opens, how much will it cost to
keep it that way?

We had a Rio center here for 7 years. They closed it "temporarily," with Andre voting to do that of course. It's never reopened.

A 16% pay raise for four years? Baloney, I say.

Ms. Garcia, my opponent supports this waste.

She also sees accreditation as "no problem...an item that is unfairly used
in a campaign." What do you think? Compton College lost is accreditation and
disappeared. It's now the Compton Education Center (AN OFF-SITE CENTER FOR
EL CAMINO COLLEGE.)

Please vote smartly: Check my ballot statement and compare that to what my
opponent has put down. I have 8 years of successful experience as a Board Member, and
underwent 2 WASC visits at Rio, 2 at Arroyo High School, 1 at Roubidoux High School,
and ALL WERE SUCCESSFUL AND PRAISED.

And, Norma repeats her chant that Rio has had low transfer rates and "That's why I went to Citrus." Low transfer rate comes from NO MONEY TO GO ON AND NEVER INFERIOR
ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, as Ms. Garcia implies over and over and over and over.

Her roots may be in El Monte...but her roots at Rio Hondo JUST WERE NOT AND ARE NOT THERE!

Thank you and please check your ballot and visit this site:

http://smartvoter.org/2009/11/03/ca/la/vote/s ...

David Siegrist, The Better, Only Experienced Candidate for Rio Hondo

P.S.: All my campaign is paid for by my family and myself.
I choose to serve and not be beholden.
Norma has accepted $35thousand...I have accepted zero
from the special interests.

angela wrote:

So using the taxpayer dollars to increase adminstrative costs instead of spending the limited dollars on service-delivery to students (offering classes instead of cutting them) was deemed a priority? Lifetime medical benefits only after a mere five years of service? It's fun spending other people's money!

This is why I, David Siegrist, have chosen to run for Rio again.

Let's stop this confounded waste of our moneys and stop putting our young people into
greater and greater debt.

$5million for a needless center in El Monte. No way, Jose!

Let's use our high school campuses and the two beautiful completely
renovated elementaries (Norwood and Mulhall)--they are closed and will remain so for at least 15 years.

Rio may build a site today and close it tomorrow. If it opens, how much will it cost to
keep it that way?

We had a Rio center here for 7 years. They closed it "temporarily," with Andre voting to do that of course. It's never reopened.

A 16% pay raise for four years? Baloney, I say.

Ms. Garcia, my opponent supports this waste.

She also sees accreditation as "no problem...an item that is unfairly used
in a campaign." What do you think? Compton College lost is accreditation and
disappeared. It's now the Compton Education Center (AN OFF-SITE CENTER FOR
EL CAMINO COLLEGE.)

Please vote smartly: Check my ballot statement and compare that to what my
opponent has put down. I have 8 years of successful experience as a Board Member, and
underwent 2 WASC visits at Rio, 2 at Arroyo High School, 1 at Roubidoux High School,
and ALL WERE SUCCESSFUL AND PRAISED.

And, Norma repeats her chant that Rio has had low transfer rates and "That's why I went to Citrus." Low transfer rate comes from NO MONEY TO GO ON AND NEVER INFERIOR
ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, as Ms. Garcia implies over and over and over and over.

Her roots may be in El Monte...but her roots at Rio Hondo JUST WERE NOT AND ARE NOT THERE!

Thank you and please check your ballot and visit this site:

http://smartvoter.org/2009/11/03/ca/la/vote/s ...

David Siegrist, The Better, Only Experienced Candidate for Rio Hondo

P.S.: All my campaign is paid for by my family and myself.
I choose to serve and not be beholden.
Norma has accepted $35thousand...I have accepted zero
from the special interests.

Concerned Employee wrote:

I don't know ANYONE who receives a 16% raise after one year of service!!! Cutting classes to students, laying off employees, raising fees, etc... It is CLEAR where the board and the President place their priorities. It is unfortunate that Board President, and the current board members, feel that Dr. Martinez has been a "stabilizing force" on the Rio Hondo Campus - not true! This just goes to show how disconnected the current board is from the students, staff and faculty!

This is why I, David Siegrist, have chosen to run for Rio again.

Let's stop this confounded waste of our moneys and stop putting our young people into
greater and greater debt.

$5million for a needless center in El Monte. No way, Jose!

Let's use our high school campuses and the two beautiful completely
renovated elementaries (Norwood and Mulhall)--they are closed and will remain so for at least 15 years.

Rio may build a site today and close it tomorrow. If it opens, how much will it cost to
keep it that way?

We had a Rio center here for 7 years. They closed it "temporarily," with Andre voting to do that of course. It's never reopened.

A 16% pay raise for four years? Baloney, I say.

Ms. Garcia, my opponent supports this waste.

She also sees accreditation as "no problem...an item that is unfairly used
in a campaign." What do you think? Compton College lost is accreditation and
disappeared. It's now the Compton Education Center (AN OFF-SITE CENTER FOR
EL CAMINO COLLEGE.)

Please vote smartly: Check my ballot statement and compare that to what my
opponent has put down. I have 8 years of successful experience as a Board Member, and
underwent 2 WASC visits at Rio, 2 at Arroyo High School, 1 at Roubidoux High School,
and ALL WERE SUCCESSFUL AND PRAISED.

And, Norma repeats her chant that Rio has had low transfer rates and "That's why I went to Citrus." Low transfer rate comes from NO MONEY TO GO ON AND NEVER INFERIOR
ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, as Ms. Garcia implies over and over and over and over.

Her roots may be in El Monte...but her roots at Rio Hondo JUST WERE NOT AND ARE NOT THERE!

Thank you and please check your ballot and visit this site:

http://smartvoter.org/2009/11/03/ca/la/vote/s ...

David Siegrist, The Better, Only Experienced Candidate for Rio Hondo

P.S.: All my campaign is paid for by my family and myself.
I choose to serve and not be beholden.
Norma has accepted $35thousand...I have accepted zero
from the special interests.

RHC watcher wrote:

Considering the 'unexpected' Financial Crisis that followed right after this "summer 2008, bringing his annual pay to about $215,000" event - I guess the Board and President were lucky to have gotten this done before it looked inappropriate!!! Yeah Right!!!
The ONLY quality education that Rio Hondo Students can expect from now on are WELL PAID Administrators and Deans along with the President - who, I made add, had inappropriate - perhaps even conflict of interest, ties to the new Learning Resource Center Dean during the hiring process!(El Paisano Newspaper source)
The upper echelons of RHC are reaking of self-awarded, board incompetent leadership who have no interest in quality education - only selfish intentions covered up with public relations charades!
Sincerely,
Faculty Member wondering what the hell is going on in the Admin Blding!

Beware: The Faculty Leadership endores Norma Garcia (Hand-picked
by their hand-picked Andre)
TOO BAD THE MEMBERSHIP WEREN'T ASKED TO VOTE!

This is why I, David Siegrist, have chosen to run for Rio again.

Let's stop this confounded waste of our moneys and stop putting our young people into
greater and greater debt.

$5million for a needless center in El Monte. No way, Jose!

Let's use our high school campuses and the two beautiful completely
renovated elementaries (Norwood and Mulhall)--they are closed and will remain so for at least 15 years.

Rio may build a site today and close it tomorrow. If it opens, how much will it cost to
keep it that way?

We had a Rio center here for 7 years. They closed it "temporarily," with Andre voting to do that of course. It's never reopened.

A 16% pay raise for four years? Baloney, I say.

Ms. Garcia, my opponent supports this waste.

She also sees accreditation as "no problem...an item that is unfairly used
in a campaign." What do you think? Compton College lost is accreditation and
disappeared. It's now the Compton Education Center (AN OFF-SITE CENTER FOR
EL CAMINO COLLEGE.)

Please vote smartly: Check my ballot statement and compare that to what my
opponent has put down. I have 8 years of successful experience as a Board Member, and
underwent 2 WASC visits at Rio, 2 at Arroyo High School, 1 at Roubidoux High School,
and ALL WERE SUCCESSFUL AND PRAISED.

And, Norma repeats her chant that Rio has had low transfer rates and "That's why I went to Citrus." Low transfer rate comes from NO MONEY TO GO ON AND NEVER INFERIOR
ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, as Ms. Garcia implies over and over and over and over.

Her roots may be in El Monte...but her roots at Rio Hondo JUST WERE NOT AND ARE NOT THERE!

Thank you and please check your ballot and visit this site:

http://smartvoter.org/2009/11/03/ca/la/vote/s ...

David Siegrist, The Better, Only Experienced Candidate for Rio Hondo

P.S.: All my campaign is paid for by my family and myself.
I choose to serve and not be beholden.
Norma has accepted $35thousand...I have accepted zero
from the special interests.

wendy wrote:

that's rio hondo for you! always give the big bucks to the first chair that doesn't need to put food on the table for their dependent kids. this is so typical of RHC and always has been. RHC classified employees gave up raises for 3 years in a row during the last crises with the promise to receive a gainful raise at the end but that NEVER happened....I haven't seen any triple dipping faculty or administrators being cut. what faculty can retire and then be hired as a director and then teach parttime while receiving their strs? Soooooo many

This is why I, David Siegrist, have chosen to run for Rio again.

Let's stop this confounded waste of our moneys and stop putting our young people into
greater and greater debt.

$5million for a needless center in El Monte. No way, Jose!

Let's use our high school campuses and the two beautiful completely
renovated elementaries (Norwood and Mulhall)--they are closed and will remain so for at least 15 years.

Rio may build a site today and close it tomorrow. If it opens, how much will it cost to
keep it that way?

We had a Rio center here for 7 years. They closed it "temporarily," with Andre voting to do that of course. It's never reopened.

A 16% pay raise for four years? Baloney, I say.

Ms. Garcia, my opponent supports this waste.

She also sees accreditation as "no problem...an item that is unfairly used
in a campaign." What do you think? Compton College lost is accreditation and
disappeared. It's now the Compton Education Center (AN OFF-SITE CENTER FOR
EL CAMINO COLLEGE.)

Please vote smartly: Check my ballot statement and compare that to what my
opponent has put down. I have 8 years of successful experience as a Board Member, and
underwent 2 WASC visits at Rio, 2 at Arroyo High School, 1 at Roubidoux High School,
and ALL WERE SUCCESSFUL AND PRAISED.

And, Norma repeats her chant that Rio has had low transfer rates and "That's why I went to Citrus." Low transfer rate comes from NO MONEY TO GO ON AND NEVER INFERIOR
ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, as Ms. Garcia implies over and over and over and over.

Her roots may be in El Monte...but her roots at Rio Hondo JUST WERE NOT AND ARE NOT THERE!

Thank you and please check your ballot and visit this site:

http://smartvoter.org/2009/11/03/ca/la/vote/s ...

David Siegrist, The Better, Only Experienced Candidate for Rio Hondo

P.S.: All my campaign is paid for by my family and myself.
I choose to serve and not be beholden.
Norma has accepted $35thousand...I have accepted zero
from the special interests.

The increase was 18 months ago and only brought the President's salary to less than the median in regards to the other area colleges. The article submitted was by the president of the Faculty Association. If one cannot read between the lines and read that this article is laying the groundwork for their negotiations, then you need to read closer. The President of the faculty association has stated publicly that his goal while being president is to get the President of the College fired - why? on what grounds? This article is only one of his tactics to discredit the President, whom I might add is doing a great job in leading the college to great accomplishments.

If employees feel disgusted and can't see the great things that are happening at the college, then go find another job -- that is if you can find one!

ps - in regards to the vehicle the president drives -- he had this car BEFORE he was hired - what do you drive?

Perhaps RHC could have added
a 16% increase in funds to the lagging environmental studies program. As a state employee, I am currently relegated to a 10% paycut and no vacation or sick leave accrual on these mandatory days off without pay! Is RHC hiring?

Wow! Looks like "Satisfied Employee" took the hits a little too personal. Hmmm...I guess this must be one of the members of the President's "Lunch Group".(the only satisfied employees on campus).