Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (read "Carolyn Batiste") tells minority trustees to "suck it up"

The San Diego Union Tribune reports today that "Barbara Beno, president of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, held a special training session for trustees of the Oceanside-based community college on the roles and responsibilities of the board and college president."

Ms. Beno made it clear that a president of an institution must NOT be held accountable by minority trustees if the majority trustees approve of the president's actions--even if those actions include using $2 million in taxpayer dollars to attack her opponents on the faculty and in the administration.

Ms. Beno had earlier warned MiraCosta "that its accreditation could be in jeopardy because...strife among trustees was negatively affecting the campus."

That's a pretty subjective determination, Ms. Beno. I think strife among trustees is very healthy, and has helped expose a corrupt system that benefits lawyers and insurance companies at the expense of taxpayers. But my guess is that this system is precisely what Ms. Beno wants to protect.

What do you get out of this, Ms. Beno?

Why do you want to keep $2 million investigations secret from the taxpayers who pay for them?

"[Speaking openly about issues that have been voted on]... doesn't help the college move on,” Beno said.

Clearly Beno means that it doesn't help the college stand still. It could result in changes. It could result in majority trustees losing elections. And that's what Beno doesn't want.

But wait. Are Beno and the majority trustees allowed to use public institutions and public money to control voters?

Clearly not. It's a clear misuse of public funds and abuse of public officials' power. Carolyn Batiste should be ashamed of herself. She has abused her power long enough.

Thank goodness candidate George McNeil is running to replace her.

The SDUT article continues, "Trustee Judy Strattan said if millions of dollars are being spent in a way she believes is irresponsible, she doesn't know if she can just let the matter drop. She referred to more than $2 million spent on the palm tree investigation, ensuing legal fees and related costs, which included a $1.6 million settlement agreement with [Victoria] Richart when she resigned."

Thank you, Judy. MiraCosta needs more trustees like you and Jacqueline Simon and Gloria Carranza and candidate George McNeil.

Beno's message for minority trustees is to "suck it up." This sounds like good advice for Ms. Beno to apply to herself. Just grit your teeth, Barbara, and count to 10. You can survive this. It's called open government, and it's an absolute requirement in a democracy.