Dr. Scheidt answers faculty critics Teachers want College board GiD TltE TElEscopE adminstration stands behind superintendent By Ted Witt, Escondido Times-Advocate Palomar College President Omar Scheidt is under fire from his faculty, which has given him poor marks in a job evauluation survey replete .with complaints about mismanagement, communication breakdowns and lack of attention to academics. But the college's Board of Governors remains firmly behind Scheidt. The problems with faculty relations, they say, are a direct result of Scheidt's difficult task of making Palomar's expenditure's equal the college's shrinking revenues. Real or perceived, the problems are affecting the morale of faculty, according to teachers, who say they are on edge anyway with the threat of massive cuts and layoff notices hovering over campus. The critical evaluation ofScheidtalso comes in a year during which faculty raises were canceled because of the tight budget. The unofficial faculty newsletter, the Fogcutter, has gone so far as to suggest Scheidt be replaced. More than half the respondents to a Faculty Senate evaluation of Scheidt's performance rated the president negatively, said Steve Hinthome, Senate President. Faculty members interviewed said they believe that Scheidt has failed to adequately include the faculty in decision-making. They also are upset about actions and recommendations to: Lengthen the period between paychecks for hourly employees. Hire new administrators before faculty members were satisfied that specific job duties were defined. Use a computer to determine seniority for instructors hired on the same day, a task long required by state law but riddled with mistakes when recently completed. Faculty members say Scheidt's actions make it appear that he puts the college's business concerns ahead of academic concerns. The evaluation is the faculty's second negative report in as many years, although Scheidt fared slightly better in this year's survey than the previous one, according to Hinthome. It has been shared with the Palomar College governing board in closed session. Not intended for wide circulation, the evaluation has been available only to Scheidt, the board and faculty members. A summary of the Scheidt's evaluation appeared in the faculty's unofficial newsletter, the Fogcutter, whose reports are unattributed and routinely critical of the administration. The trouble with the evaluation, says Scheidt, is that its comments are made anonymously, and he wants specific suggestions for improvement. If a problem e~dsts, he says, he wants to know where to go to solve it. Scheidt disagrees that he does not give sufficient attention to teachers' opinions or that he is lax in communicating with the faculty. Charges of poor communication are easy to make and are untrue, said Scheidt. He said he regularly holds forums and meetings which he calls "Conversations with the President." He walks the campus, attends plays, roots at football games, takes people out to lunch and drops in at various offices around the college. Unfortunately, he said, many of the forums he holds are not wellattended. Scheidt also said the faculty's evaluation reflects the divergent opinions of only 194 members of the faculty, less than half the teachers (Continued on page 2)
PllloiMir College
Volume 38 No. 11
A Publication for the Auoclated Studenta
FrldeJ, Mer. 11, 11183
Sen Mercoa, CA
policy change
By Ann Kopecky, San Marcos Courier Staff Palomar faculty members claim they are not being listened to by the college's president, they are not consulted on decisions which effect their classes and there is a basic mistrust between the faculty and college president. Palomar President Omar Scheidt says faculty members are not being specific in their complaints and suggestions and just by releasing to the public their concerns, they have taken advantage of a confidence the faculty and president previously had. The accusations and defenses between Scheidt and faculty leaders became public recently when the results of a faculty evaluation of Scheidt, done in December, was openly discussed. That public discussion also upset members of the college's governing board, which met February 22. "It's discomforting to see it splashed all over the newspaper," said board member William Boyce. "I just haven't been impressed charges stemming from their poor evaluation of DIFFERENCE OF OPINION - Palomar with thefactthatourchiefexecutive him. The Board of Trus tees remains firmly President Dr. Omar Scheidt has been spending officer is not concerned with educa(Photo by Bill Tharp) behind Dr. Scheidt. much of his time recently answering faculty tion. He came up through the l"anks as an educator," Boyce said. "It's more disquieting to find a process (the evaluation), that the board members questioned the credibility of, totally destroyed by a lack of confidence," said board senior citizens and students. For all "Working," author Studs Terkel's and Dana Charne Hayward is other performances, tickets are $5 member Charles Salter. observations of the working at- choreographer. Scheidt is beginning his sixth general and $4 seniors and students. Cast members are: titudes of white and blue collar year as college president. Joseph Craiger, Peggy Davidson, workers, will be the first drama Advance tickets can be ordered by And although board member Joan Keams, Ed Sadkowski, Steve calling the box office at 744-1156 Anton Simson agreed he didn't like production of the new year. "Working" wiU be performed on Schaeffer, Julie Sugarman, David E from 2-5 p.m., Monday through the report publicly discussed, he March 18, 19 and March 23 through Terrel, Bart Westbrook. Fridays, or by mail with payment took the board to task for not Joe Abreu, Billy Eilang, George and an enclosed self-addressed, listening 26 at 7:30p.m. Matinees will be at 2 the faculty's concerns. Kamoff, Angela Munoz, Curtis stamped envelope. The mailing p.m. on March 19 and 20. "The bottom line was the same as Playwright Stephen Schwartz has Brown Jr., Janice Gomez, Betsy address is Palomar College Theatre, last year's evaluation and the board created a thought provoking Malone, Mike Malone. Palomar College, 1140 West Mission refuses to listen. I think that's very Lori Hosepian, Mary Kay Bessler, Road, San Marcos, CA., 92069. musical from Terkel's book. derelict of the board," Simson said. Since "Working" is an ensemble Katherine Charles, Larry J.ohnson, "For the faculty to quietly perceive For more information call the Kim Neblett, Trena Simpson, Rod play, there are no leads. Director is an attitude of non-cooperation is Palomar College Theatre at 744Patrick Larmer of the Speech/ Tripp, and Susan Clore. disheartening," he said. General admission for Friday and 1150 or 727-7529, extension 2453 or Theatre Arts Department, while· The survey is distributed to faculJaime Malagon is music director Saturday evenings is $6, and $5 for 744-1156. ty members every year, said Steve Hinthome, a math instructor and president of the college's faculty Senate. The faculty senate is an official minutes i s like running a members will have a bake sale and body of the faculty. By Gloria Lee raffle, where they will sell arts and Hinthome said the evaluation What is it like to use a wheelchair marathon," said Larry Moore, a crafts. asked for responses in five major or write in braille? During Han- student who ·walks witli tlie -aia of" Valerie Scott, and brothers Jake areas and for specific suggestions on dicapped Awareness Week, March crutches. "When going uphill, the only way . and Archie Salazar, will provide ways Scheidt could improve 14-17, students can drop by the musical entertainment. "Money Student Union from 9 a.m. until 1 I can possibly make it is if some kind from sales will be used for relations with the faculty. soul gives me a push," added · a Over half of the college's facultY p.m. and discover for themselves. severely handicapped wheelchair- scholarships for disabled students," members returned the evaluation. said Shannon. "The purpose of this annual event bound student. The results are available only to Dale Kerckhove, also wheelchairis to help increase awareness of the " One of the most interesting items the faculty, Scheidt and the college's disabled and some of the hurdles ambulatory, mentioned a problem on display is the Apollo Laser, governing board. However, they must overcome to obtain a he encounters in the classroom. which has the capacity to increase Hinthome reported the area of college education," explained Em- "Most of the rooms do not have a the size of a normal printed page largest concern for the faculty was a mie Shannon, president of the U~ table I can get my chair under. This electronically. The words on the lack of confidence in Scheidt's defeated Club, which sponsol's makes note-taking, and especially page can be adjusted to four inches administrative capabilities. test=taking, extremely difficult." H.A.W. in height, thus being easily legible "He scored very badly last year,'' Then there is the student with no for the visually impaired," said Jim Hinthome said. "He scored a fifty Shannon added that another aim obvious physical disability, in"is to make our club more visible to cluding those with back injuries, Miller, counselor/ enabler, Han- percent confidence rating this year." Faculty president Bill Salomone the community and to emphasize heart trouble, or respiratory dicapped Student Services. phrased it another way. "He went the needs of all handicapped peo- ailments. "Standing still and look"Persons with various disabilities from a negative 60 percent to a ple." will be available to answer ing good is one thing," said one, "but questions and discuss the world of negative 50 percent." A pnmary hurdle for many of the moving quickly is another." Overall however, Hinthome said the disabled," added Ron Haines, In addition to demonstrating disabled is locomotion. " Just getting based on the evaluations, the faculty another counselor/ enabler at H.S.S. from one class to another in only 10 special adaptive equipment, club believes Scheidt has improved since last year. But the concerns are still there. "Some faculty members feel he for $50 each next year if their will be open for at least one more doesn't listen. Some think although By James Smith week, but only current legislators he acts like he's listening, they think proposal goes through. Fighting proposed tuition fees to it's just show," Hinthome said. The committee will have $500 to be are eligible for the position. community colleges was just one of "There's an article in the "ChroniOther items of note: (1) Appointthe orders of business at the March 2 used mainly for postage and bumper ment of J .C. Lowery as Mayfair, cle of Education" that says low ASG (Associated Student Govern- stickers, according to U rry. 1983 committee chairman, and (2) morale of college faculty is a ment) meeting Legislator Andy Wright -was an award that was presented to both problem across the nation. The nominated for vice-president after the Auto Body Club and Phi Rho' Pi concern is that faculty members are Legislator Leonard Flagg moved former vice-president Lisa Noonan's (speech team) for providing 14 not involved in governing that ASG president Jeff Urry be formal letter of resignation was donors each during the recent blood decisions," he said. Hinthome also sees a connection made ad hoc chairman of a com- submitted. Noonan, who resigned drive. No action was taken on a proposed between budgetary decisions and mittee that will challenge the state for personal reasons, was not preamendment to the school constitubureaucrats who are trying to sent at the meeting. (Continued on page 2) Nominations for vice-president tion. "soak" Palomar's full time students
Musical portrays 'Working' attitudes
Handicapped Awareness Week set
ASG baHies against proposed tuition fees