Melissa Meek, Spring 2009 Features Editor
The Los Angeles Community College District decided in favor of allowing the Patrick McCallum Group to continue their services to the District for another year, Oct. 22.
The Board of Trustees rejected the original plan to keep the group from Jan. 1, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2013 and instead, approved one year in a 5 to 2 vote.
“They’ve done an admirable job,” said Kelly G. Candaele, president of the LACCD Board of Trustees. “There is no one in Sacramento who knows more about our business than he does. It seems they would accomplish what we need.”
A termination clause set into the contract would authorize Chancellor Marshall Drummond to negotiate the annual cost throughout the year.
“There were concerns raised about the contract,” trustee Angela Reddock said.
Before the contract was voted on, the board was able to change the important points mentioned.
“We’re not approving a contract set into stone,” LACCD vice president Mona Field said.
The McCallum Group has serviced the LACCD for the last 10 years as their Sacramento lobbyist. They have since gotten $80 million in buildings for LACCD colleges and a higher enrollment rate.
“They have a tremendous amount of clients and it’s reflected in their service to the District,” trustee Georgia Mercer said.
MORE — USED TEXTBOOKS
As part of the Student Success Initiative, the LACCD has been working to help students achieve their goals of earnig degrees.
“We’re giving students the most used books as possible,” student trustee Rose Bustos said.
This would give students the reassurance that their books will be bought back by the bookstore. It would save students money to buy used books and they would be able to get more money back at the end of the semester.
