Rio Hondo College Superintendent/President officially submits notice of Retirement.

Email sent to all staff:

From: Ted Martinez, Jr. Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2012 3:56 PM To: AAA--All Staff Subject: Message from the President

As I conclude my 41 years of service to community college education, I have informed the Board of Trustees of my intention to retire effective June 30, 2012.

I am quite proud of our collective achievements these past five years. Together, we have advanced the Rio Hondo College reputation, academic programs, services to students, and our connections to our community. I am truly grateful to you for your support.

It is now time for a new generation of leadership to take Rio Hondo College into the next 50 years, which will surely be filled with outstanding accomplishments.

I wish to thank the Board of Trustees for their support; our administrative team for your talent and leadership; the faculty for your dedication to student achievement; and to our staff for your commitment to supporting student success.

Thank you.

Ted Martinez, Jr., Ph. D. Superintendent/President Rio Hondo College

South Whittier Satelite College Center - Short Change

There is a ridiculous argument being advocated by Russell Castañeda Calleros, the governmental affairs director, at Rio Hondo College regarding the South Whittier Satellite Center. He say's, "the people in South Whittier need more green space than college classrooms."

The voters voted on a $234 million dollar bond which $3 million was committed and budgeted for a college satellite center in South Whittier. Some administrators, including Russell Castañeda Calleros, are planning to short change the project thereby breaking the promise made to the community to invest the full $3 million in the satilite center.

What it comes down to is whether to build three or four classrooms. Of course this would mean serving fewer people at the site and instead adding a small patch of grass and a tree. Russell Castañeda Calleros makes the argument that the people of South Whittier and surrounding area need more "green space" than classroom space for courses and programs.

Now, I consider myself an environmentalist and have a good policy track record. But this is about Rio Hondo Community College serving people in an area with high unemployment, the furthest south community from campus, a working class community, limited in transportation, and with no high school.

I'm stand steadfast that the people of South Whittier deserve more classroom space to take college courses that will help them attain better paying jobs, help young adults get in college, and improve the community overall rather than a small patch of grass with a tree. There are several good parks in the area.

Russell Castañeda Calleros and others are attempting to short change the people of South Whittier and I wont let them do it without a fight.