Plant facilities staff nowhere to be found on campus

SOPHIE WARD Reporter

More than several of Pierce College’s plant facility staff failed to show up to work on Monday, according to the school's administration.

During the Academic Senate meeting on Sept. 27, Pierce Vice President of Administrative Services Rolf Schleicher announced that employees from plant facilities, except a few who showed up to care for the farm animals, did not come to campus to work on Monday.

The reasons for their absence are unknown. Schleicher was unsure if the situation resulted from work issues, compensation or COVID- 19.

“We’re trying to get to the root of that versus just, you know, trying to get people back," Schleicher said. "We want to understand what the needs are and what the issues are. We’re trying to get more information from the District too. We don’t know if this is something broader throughout the District.”

During their absence, Pierce has brought in additional assistance.

“Even in the interim, what we’re doing is we’re bringing in some extra help where required. We have more cadettes and more [security officers] and deputies here that can help out with locking classrooms or opening up classrooms,” Schleicher said. “I know the administrators that are here on the campus are helping wherever they can.”

Meeting attendees like Michael Van Dyke were interested in how Pierce plans to