Students, faculty and members of the public presented the Board of Trustees with a petition signed by more than 730 people to show their support for Superintendent-President Andreea Serban.

Several people showed up to express their concerns that some board members might want to replace Dr. Serban during the public’s moment to speak according to rumors they’ve heard.

Student Eric Togami said there is no more qualified person than Serban to lead the college. Academic Senate members Ignacio Alarcon and Dean Nevins spoke, but as member of the public and not representing the senate.

Nevins handed over the petition to the board with its 730 names.

Another one of the speakers was Joyce Powell, a member of the board from 1974 to 2006, who is disappointed over how the board is currently run and with the idea that Dr. Serban might leave.

“We have a wonderful Superintendent-President in Serban,” Powell said. “Why would you even think about replacing her?”

She urged the board to start with shared governance rather than be split up into two fractions of old and new board members.

“Don’t mess this up,” Powell said.

She was also concerned about the board members being too involved in small details.

“Let administration do their job,” she said. “You should not get too involved in the planning process. You will have nowhere to go when people disagree with you.”

After the meeting, she was still concerned about the board rushing things.

“They don’t know how to govern,” she said. “They have no experience with the college. It takes at least one term to learn how to do the job.”

Board president Peter Haslund didn’t comment on what was being said, but thanked the ones who took the time to come.

“I appreciate that every speaker has the best interest of SBCC at heart,” Haslund said. “As do all of us at the board.”

No other board members commented on what was said about them or Dr. Serban.

After the meeting, trustee Marty Blum thought it was “wonderful” that so many people had taken the time to sign the petition and come to the meeting to express their opinions.

“I’m always open to hear from the public,” Blum said.

She didn’t want to comment on what she thinks about Dr. Serban. She said that is something she will discuss with Dr. Seban herself, and “not to a reporter. “