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The Board of Trustees for the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District voted last month not to renew the current chancellor’s contract beyond its expiration in June 2019.
The vote not to extend Chancellor Jannett Jackson’s contract came during closed session at a regularly scheduled board meeting on May 15. The decision was 5-2, with trustees Hal G. Gin and Isobel Dvorsky in dissent.
Board members did not further explain their decision, and the board president has not yet responded to the Weekly’s request for comment.
The day after the board vote, Jackson sent out an email to the district community regarding the decision.
“At last night’s Board of Trustees’ meeting, a majority (5-2) of the Board chose not to renew my contract,” she said. “I respect their right to do that. I look forward to another year of working with you and serving the students of CLPCCD.”
By the time her contract expires on June 30, 2019, Jackson will have served six years in total — two three-year contract terms.
Jackson received a vote of “no confidence” from the Chabot Academic/Faculty Senate in November last year, according to the Chabot Spectator, the student newspaper for Chabot Community College. According to the newspaper, the “no confidence” vote was attributed to her leadership style and a perceived lack of communication with faculty.
Currently, Jackson is out of the office recuperating after surgery related to a ruptured appendix that caused an abscess in her hip muscle, according to the district’s weekly newsletter for the week of May 7.
Initially, former Chancellor Emeritus Helen Benjamin was set to serve as interim chancellor while Jackson was on medical leave. However, trustees voted at their May 15 meeting that Lorenzo Legaspi, the district’s vice chancellor for business services, would step into the role for the month of June. Then, depending on Jackson’s health status, Chancellor Emeritus Susan Cota would be asked to serve in the position for July and August if need be.
“According to their public discussion, they wanted to bring someone into this interim role who was familiar with the district,” district spokeswoman Guisselle Nuñez said.
Nuñez added that when speaking with Jackson last Friday, the chancellor reported the surgery May 30 was successful and that she is comfortable and resting.
The district has not announced any details regarding potential recruitment of Jackson’s successor.