Students Infected: Statement on Coronavirus at Rio Hondo College by Gary Mendez-Board Member

[This is a statement of an individual elected board member and does not represent the views of the entire board of trustees of Rio Hondo College District]

I regret to inform my constituents of Rio Hondo College Area 4, that a second student at Rio Hondo College has tested positive for the coronavirus.  I was informed at about 12 noon on April 22, 2020 by the college superintendent/president, and by an email from a member of the pubic, with little to no specifics.  It is not confirmed if the student continued to visit Rio Hondo College since the campus remains open for student services and library services against my strong objection. 

As an elected governing board member of Rio Hondo Community College District representing Area 4 (Los Nietos, Santa Fe Springs, South Whittier, North Norwalk and portions of Whittier City and Downey, I hereby strongly request that the Rio Hondo College Library and Student Services (the campus) be closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic and direct (non-essential) employees to work from their homes and that students not visit the college campus in order to contain the virus to prevent illness and death of students, employees and the public. 

On Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at about 7:00 pm, a neighbor knocked on my house door asking why her son, a Rio Hondo student (and my former karate student), was going to the college everyday to go to the library when her other children were at home in shelter as directed by the local school district. She continued to explain that she has her two parents living with the family of six and was worried that they can get sick from the student. I told her I will look into it. 

On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in an emergency meeting, the superintendent was given “emergency authority” by the board of trustees to make crucial decisions for the health and safety of students, employees, and the public.  The superintendent/president Dr. Arturo Reyes communicated to the board that he intends to keep the campus open and operating during the pandemic which I objected.  The campus remains open.  For over seven weeks I have expressed my objection to such decision which jeopardizes the health and safety of students, employees and the public.  No grade is worth the sickness and death of a student, employee or the pubic. I hold the college superintendent/president Dr. Arturo Reyes, the Dean of the Library, the Administration and the Board of Trustee’s for refusing to act to protect students, employees and the public.

On Thursday, March 12, 2020 at about 10:30 am, I walked the open campus, with a 3M face mask and rubber gloves, to search for my neighbor’s student and to check up on employees.  Overwhelmly, employees were worried about their health and safety and were without face mask and gloves.  I found the student and explained the ramifications of him going to the Library and possibly catching and infecting his family which can lead to sickness and death.  He expressed that no one at the college had told him of the consequences of bringing home the virus.

The Rio Hondo College campus and the Library remains open. While Cerritos College shut down on or about March 10, 2020.

On April 22, 2020, at the Rio Hondo College special meeting (not having to do with the coronavirus) a member of the public, a former local librarian, informed the Board of Trustees and the superintendent/president that it was irresponsible for the campus and the library to remain open.