COSTA MESA : New College Board President Pledges to Maintain Quality

The new board president of the Coast Community College District, the largest in the county with more than 56,000 students, said maintaining quality instruction in the face of a shortfall in funding will be among her priorities.

Sherry L. Baum, a trustee in the district for nine years and a self-described community activist, was elected president of the board at Wednesday night’s Board of Trustees meeting.

“Maintaining quality instruction in the classroom, while making cutbacks that are caused by the shortfall of funding at the state and county level, are one of my priorities,” Baum said in a post-meeting interview. “Things are getting a little tougher, but I think we can get by if a good team is in place.”

Baum, past president of the West Orange County League of Women Voters and former high school board member for the Huntington Beach Unified School District, ran unopposed in the last election for Area 1, which encompasses the northern part of the county.

“I want to thank my colleagues,” said Baum, a resident of Seal Beach. “But I also want to remind you that I’m first among equals and my duties are to preside and speak for the board. But our task first and foremost will always be to serve the students.”

Board Trustee Armando R. Ruiz said he nominated Baum for the job because of her long line of experience.

“I think she’s going to provide the leadership that we need for the coming college year,” he said. “She’s been a board member for a few years and she was just reelected. She was unopposed in Area 1, which shows people respect and admire her.”

For his part, Ruiz rejected trustees’ attempt to make him vice president. He said he had other commitments, among them tending to the business of the California Community College Trustees, where he serves as as second vice president.

Former board president Walter G. Howald was elected vice president during the meeting.