Southwestern College's multi-part unveiling of the new corner lot development has also exposed new levels of tension among governing board members.
Trustee Nick Aguilar has publicly protested the administration's decision to host an event at a restaurant and to invite members of the business community using his name and district resources.
On May 24 the governing board will be hosting a business community event for an undisclosed guest list for an event called, "The Unveiling of the Corner Lot Project (Prop R) at Frida Mexican Cuisine." Aguilar, who walked out of an April board meeting in protest over the process used in selecting an architect, said he took offense to the invitations sent on behalf of the board.
In an open letter to board president Yolanda Salcido, which was also forwarded to various community organizations and media outlets, Aguilar formally protested the decision to host such an event at this time and said he was not asked to authorize the inclusion of his name and his title as trustee.
"I object to the use of Southwestern College (SWC) funds and resources used in connection with this reception," said Aguilar. "It is highly inappropriate to use SWC funds at any time for an extravagant event such as this reception, but it is especially imprudent when funding for public education is at historically low levels."
Aguilar said he disagreed with the location of the event because it is a waste of taxpayer's money.
Aguilar said he disagreed with the location of the event because it is a waste of taxpayer's money.
"Conducting a reception in an expensive restaurant with limited capacity using taxpayer resources, whether those resources are directly from the board or whether that is Prop R money that was given to (BCA Architects) to design or construct a facility on behalf of the college, is entirely inappropriate," he said.
SWC chief of communications officer Chris Bender denied any taxpayer money was used for the business community event.
"We have always planned on having several outreach events on the corner lot development," said Bender. "One each for the college, surrounding community, business community and media. We held our college event last Thursday. More than 110 people came and about one-third were students. In fact, architecture students brought their models to show."
Aguilar insisted that had he been provided the opportunity to speak on the matter he would have suggested the event be moved to an on-campus location, which would have been more accessible and accommodating to the taxpaying public. Aguilar said he made his concerns public through an open letter because he said he has repeatedly had trouble receiving any sort of response from both Superintendent Dr. Raj K. Chopra and Salcido.
"The fact that I have had such difficulty in getting responses to my inquiries for information and the fact that I have been prevented from expressing my views in the public meetings leaves me no other option but to look for any other avenue that I have at my disposal to make the public aware of issues of this importance," said Aguilar.
He said he felt his actions were necessary.
"It was absolutely appropriate," said Aguilar. "It is a matter for me as an individual board member and it is a matter of public interest. Since I was not given the opportunity to express my concerns fully at the last board meeting, this was the only other option that I thought might be effective in informing the public of the expenditures and inappropriateness of the reception and my views on it."
Bender said the corner lot project is the biggest development in the college's history since its original construction.
"It will generate new revenue for the college, create more classroom space across the main campus and make Southwestern a new point of energy for Chula Vista," he said. "It is our legacy to this community and we should be proud of it."
"It will generate new revenue for the college, create more classroom space across the main campus and make Southwestern a new point of energy for Chula Vista," he said. "It is our legacy to this community and we should be proud of it."
Aguilar agreed and said that because the project is of such high public interest, he felt the public should be aware of the use of resources to fund the extravagant event.
Aguilar said he gave the administration ample time to respond to his concerns prior to publicizing them. He said he has not yet received a response to his May 14 request for information from the president's office.
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