Community College Leader to Quit, Will Run District Foundation

Garland Peed, chancellor of the San Diego Community College District, will retire Aug. 31 to become chief executive officer of the district’s foundation.

The foundation, which was established by Peed in 1976 to raise additional funds for the district, has an endowment of more than $7 million and is governed by a board whose members are appointed by the district’s trustees. Peed serves as head of the foundation on a volunteer basis.

In 1985, the county grand jury investigated the foundation after the Community College Teachers Assn. raised questions about its practices, which the group said was impossible to monitor. The grand jury found no wrongdoing.

A Point of Concern

But the fact that Peed was serving as both chancellor and head of the San Diego Community College Disrict Foundation was a point of concern to some district leaders, including board President Charles Reid.

At a board meeting three months ago, Reid argued that Peed should choose between the two positions, but he was the only one of five trustees to take that stand.

“His taking an early retirement is certainly OK with me,” Reid said. “I’d support him in either position, I just didn’t think he should do both.”

Peed said his decision to step down from the $91,500-a-year chancellorship after 12 years was based on “timing.”

“I look forward and have two more years (as chancellor) and it’s all over,” said Peed, 57. “Whereas, if I make the move to join the foundation, that’s a whole new career. I’ll have six, eight, 10 more years.”

Peed also said he will be leaving at a high point in the district’s history, having accomplished what he set out to do.

“We’ve gone through Proposition 13, declines of enrollments and, right now, things are really, really good,” Peed said. “Enrollment is up. We’ve got money. I’ve done it, and it’s time to let someone else take over.”

As foundation boss, Peed said he will devote himself to building the endowment even more. He said that in the past, money raised by the foundation has provided scholarships and emergency loans for students, paid for a welding shop at City College and an electronics shop at Centre City Center.

Peed refused to disclose what his new salary will be but said it was less than he is paid as chancellor.

Reid said Peed’s decision came as a surprise to the board of trustees, which will immediately seek a successor.