A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Community College District VIII, 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, state of Washington, will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The business session will begin at 9:00 AM. This meeting will be conducted both in-person at Cedarbrook Lodge, Studio, and remotely via Zoom. A telephone line will also be available. Pradnya Desh, Chair, will preside.
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Students, faculty, staff, and community members are welcome to address the Board of Trustees during the “Public Comment” portion of each meeting. Each speaker is allotted up to two minutes. The Board does not respond to questions or comments during this time, as operational matters are delegated to the college president.
Public comments may be provided in one of three ways:
The Board will convene in executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1) for the following purpose(s): (i) To discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation. No final action will be taken during this executive session.
The Board will convene in executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1) for the following purpose(s): (g) To review the performance of a public employee. No final action will be taken during this executive session.
A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Community College District VIII, 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, state of Washington, was held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Pradnya Desh, chair, presided. This meeting was held in B201 and on Zoom. A telephone line was also available.
Chair Desh called the business session to order at 9:03 AM.
A quorum of the Board was present.
Present: Chair Pradnya Desh, Vice Chair Rich Fukutaki, Trustee Richard Leigh, Trustee Greg Dietzel, President David May, Assistant Attorney General Tricia Boerger (attended remotely 9:00 – 9:30 AM), and Board Secretary Alicia Keating Polson.
Absent: none.
There were 2 guests in attendance.
Trustee Leigh made a motion to approve the agenda (January 21, 2026). Trustee Dietzel seconded.
The motion passed unanimously.
There was no public comment.
At 9:07 AM, Chair Desh announced the Board would convene for 15 minutes in executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1) for the following purpose: (i) To discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation. Assistant Attorney General Tricia Boerger was present for the litigation-related discussion. Chair Desh announced that no final action would be taken during the executive session.
The executive session ended at 9:22 AM
Chair Desh called the business session back to order at 9:25 AM.
Sean Marsh, Vice President of Institutional Advancement introduced himself to the Board and shared his early priorities for his new role.
Dr. Jess Clark, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs provided an update on accreditation, including an overview of what the Board should expect in the upcoming Year 7 site visit.
Chair Desh called for a 10-minute minute recess at 11:25 AM
Called back to order at 11:35 AM.
Dr. David May, President, provided a report on ongoing external partnerships.
Chair Desh adjourned the Board of Trustees meeting for a 60-minute lunch break at 12:00 PM.
Chair Desh called the business session back to order at 1:05 PM.
At 1:10 PM, Chair Desh announced the Board would convene for 15 minutes in executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1) for the following purpose: (g) To review the performance of a public employee. No final action will be taken during this executive session. Chair Desh announced that no final action would be taken during the executive session.
The executive session ended at 1:25 PM.
Chair Desh called the business session back to order at 1:27 PM.
Dr. May and Dr. Jorge de la Torre, Vice President of Administrative Services discussed budget and finance with the Board.
Chair Desh called for a 15-minute minute recess at 3:00 PM.
Called back to order at 3:15 PM.
Dr. Alicia Keating Polson, Executive Director of the President’s Office presented some draft changes to the Board Policy & Governance Manual for consideration and provided an overview of some changes to expect to see in future Board packets to increase the digital accessibility of the Board’s meeting materials.
There being no further business, Chair Desh adjourned the Board of Trustees meeting at 4:25 PM.
Attest: Alicia Keating Polson
Secretary, Board of Trustees
Community College District VIII
Pradnya Desh
Chair, Board of Trustees
Community College District VIII