The Latino Leadership Council called Tuesday for an investigation into the dismissal of former Community College of Denver President Christine Johnson and into the operation of the Colorado Community College System.
The council claims Johnson’s firing was political. She is the sixth community college president to leave since October 2004 when the current president of CCCS, Nancy McCallin, took the post.
“We are asking for justice, for equity and for transparency,” said Manuel Solano, former regional director with the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund.
An investigation is unlikely, said Evan Dreyer, Gov. Bill Ritter’s spokesman. “The action was a unanimous board action and there are reviews and audits underway,” he said. “Those need to run their course.”
Johnson, who is Latina, was fired last month for financial and personnel issues, including directing the chief financial officer to under-represent CCD’s reserve finances after the CFO expressed discomfort about showing they had extra money. The pair did not misrepresent the funds, instead sending an e-mail to CCCS saying they could not calculate it based on confusion about the reporting system. The CFO was not fired.
“I am not confident the process leading up to the dismissal of Dr. Johnson was fair,” said state Sen. Paula Sandoval, D-Denver.
Rhonda Bentz, spokeswoman for the Colorado Community College System, said there are two ongoing audits of CCD’s finances. “The outside audit was presented to the board and then the board reached a consensus to not renew the (Johnson’s) contract.”
Bentz points out that of the eight presidential changes since McCallin came to CCS, three were vacant and filled by interim presidents, three resigned and one died. Two in interim positions were hired permanently.
“I think each situation is individual to itself. People make changes in their careers, they decide to retire. You have to look at these as individual circumstances,” Bentz said.
Johnson has been lauded for her efforts to get minority students into classes and her outreach to those who might not otherwise get a higher education. She also raised private funds to assist students who are undocumented , who do not qualify for public assistance.
“She is a pioneer in that,” said Nita Gonzales, president of Escuela Tlatelolco. “We don’t know if that played a part.”
