EL CAJON (Press Release)– The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board has unanimously selected Bill Garrett to serve a fifth term as president, while Mary Kay Rosinski and Edwin Hiel were elected to serve as fellow board officers for 2012.

Garrett has served since 2008 as board president for the East County district, with about 30,000 students at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges.

Rosinski was elected board vice president and Hiel was selected as board clerk at Tuesday’s board meeting.

Praising what he called a mutually supportive relationship developed over the years with administration, faculty and staff, Garrett said cohesiveness in the district is critical in these times of economic duress.

“The outlook for the state budget remains grim this coming year and we are not likely to see any relief as students contend with higher fees and reduced course offerings, and employees do their best to maintain the same level of service, despite fewer resources,” Garrett said.

“But even today, as the governor confirmed our worst projections for debilitating mid-year funding cuts, this board and this district are committed to maintaining a solid educational program. Our first priority remains to provide the classes and services our students need.”

Garrett also said that he appreciated the board’s confidence in his leadership and complimented the other board members for their dedication to students.

Garrett first joined the board in 2004, was elected to a two-year term in 2006 and to a four-year term in 2008. The former El Cajon city manager and past president of the Cuyamaca College Foundation has also served as a member of the college district’s Proposition R Citizens Bond Oversight Committee.

Chancellor Cindy L. Miles congratulated the board-elected officers. “Each member brings remarkable individual talents to the board,” Miles said. “Collectively, this is an exemplary board that any district would be honored to have.”

The board officers will begin serving their one-year terms in January. Hiel, the new board clerk, was elected to the governing board in 2010, He was an adjunct counselor and instructor at Cuyamaca College from 1999 to 2002, a counselor for international students at Grossmont College from 2000 to 2004, and is now a counselor/associate professor at San Diego City College.

Rosinski, who was elected to her first term on the board in 2008, is employed as a special education teacher for the National School District was nominated for Teacher of the Year.

Also on the governing board are Greg Barr, elected in 2006, and Debbie Justeson, elected in 2010. The student trustees are Christopher Enders for Grossmont and Charles Taylor III for Cuyamaca.

The governing board holds its regular meetings on the third Tuesday of each month. Meetings start at 6:30 p.m. after a closed session at 5:30 p.m. The board meets at ­­Griffin Gate at Grossmont College in even-numbered months (February, April, June, August, October and December) and at the student center at Cuyamaca College in alternate months.

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Preceding provided by Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District public information office