Around 100 employees and students at Palomar College rallied on Tuesday, coinciding with a meeting of the college’s governing board, to advocate for essential changes, including cost-of-living increases, the filling of vacant positions, and the reinstatement of an anti-racism policy. This demonstration marked the second organized by the college’s Council of Classified Employees in response to actions taken by the Palomar Community College District Governing Board over the past year.
Anel Gonzalez, president of the council, emphasized that the rally represents a broader movement rather than a mere reaction. “The board does not get to hold our campus hostage. We want a future built on respect, stability, safety, and student success, and we’re coming together to demand it,” Gonzalez stated. Participants displayed signs, chanted slogans, and listened to speeches outside the college’s library, where the governing board convened. The meeting was broadcast to those outside, with crowd reactions sometimes audible inside the public meeting.
Holly Hamilton-Bleakley, president of the governing board, acknowledged the concerns raised during the rally. “The board has been, and continues to be, fully committed to the good governance of Palomar College,” she noted. Hamilton-Bleakley, newly elected to her position, expressed her intent to collaborate with fellow board members to enhance student success and ensure fiscal stability.
One major point of contention is the request for a cost-of-living increase, commonly referred to as a COLA. The existing contract between the union and the district stipulates that employees should receive the annual state-funded COLA starting on July 1. However, the community college district did not receive additional funding this year based on the state’s 2.3% cost-of-living adjustment due to state budgeting guidelines that prevent drastic cuts. In August, the classified union lodged a complaint with the California Public Employment Relations Board, an independent agency overseeing labor relations in public sectors.
Speakers at the rally also highlighted numerous unfilled positions at the college, with Gonzalez stating, “People are doing two jobs, and it’s hurting our community. Our working conditions are [the students’] learning conditions.” Lawrence Hamilton Lawson, co-president of the college’s faculty union, reinforced this point, indicating that inadequate staffing adversely affects both teachers and students.
In response, district officials explained that some vacancies result from a strategic hiring process that factors in needs assessment and budget considerations. Last year, the district faced a $3.2 million budget deficit and projects a deficit of approximately $7.2 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year, with similar figures anticipated for the following two years. Plans to address this financial shortfall include spending reductions and utilization of the district’s $29 million reserve fund.
The rally occurred during a transitional period for Palomar College, following the departure of Superintendent and President Star Rivera-Lacey at the beginning of the month for a new position in Riverside. The governing board unanimously appointed Tina Recalde, Assistant Superintendent and Vice President of Instruction, as interim president during the search for Rivera-Lacey’s replacement.
Tensions have escalated between the board majority and some employees and students regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion measures. The recent board majority, consisting of Hamilton-Bleakley, Vice President Yvette Marie Acosta, and Jacqueline Kaiser, has faced backlash for their decisions, including the replacement of an anti-racism policy with a subcommittee tasked with exploring alternatives. A vote in April also removed land acknowledgments from meetings.
During the meeting, Alyssa Vafaei, an instructional designer at Palomar, urged the board to reconsider its actions, stating, “I urge this board to reflect seriously on the message you are sending through what you chose to remove, minimize or dismiss as insignificant, because, to those living with the consequences, it was never ‘no big deal.’”
Palomar College, located in San Marcos, serves approximately 29,000 students across its education centers in Escondido, Fallbrook, and Rancho Bernardo. As the community continues to push for changes, the future governance and operational strategies of the college remain in the spotlight.
