Mary Dowell seeks to silence questions at MiraCosta College about investigation into $300 worth of palm tress that cost $3 million
"Speaker Mary Dowell, a lawyer with 30 years of experience representing community colleges in California, briefed trustees on details of the Brown Act."
North County Times January 23, 2008
MCC trustees discuss ways to ease conflicts
By: PHILIP K. IRELAND Board hopes to iron out years of differences
CARLSBAD -- MiraCosta College trustees received primers in state open meeting laws, their duties as elected policymakers and how to work together effectively in a workshop Tuesday in Carlsbad.
The goal of the six-hour retreat, said board President Carolyn Batiste, was to "begin the work that will help us focus on quality government."
The seven-member board has been at odds for more than two years over former President Victoria Munoz Richart's handling of an investigation into the illegal sale of palm trees from the campus's horticulture department. Disputes arising from the investigation led to the departure of five college employees and several lawsuits, including a suit by attorney Leon Page. That suit claims the college violated the Ralph M. Brown Act, a collection of state laws requiring public agencies to conduct business in public.
Speaker Mary Dowell, a lawyer with 30 years of experience representing community colleges in California, briefed trustees on details of the Brown Act.
David Viar, president of American River College in Sacramento, talked to trustees about the tenets of effective governance.
Bill McGinnis, a trustee of Butte-Glenn Community College District and a past president of the Community College League of California, presented the characteristics of a "high-performing board." He then led trustees in a discussion of the continuing conflicts that divide the board.
Trustee Judy Strattan said she would not be able to move forward until the board majority agrees to talk about the causes and effects of the investigation.
McGinnis urged Trustees Strattan and Gloria Carranza to leave their conflicts over the horticulture investigation behind and focus on educating students.
After the meeting, Batiste said she thought the day yielded good results. She said she hopes the college will host at least one more retreat before May, when trustees are slated to hire a new college president. Earlier in the meeting, trustees discussed the possibility of raising the pay package for the president as a way to attract the most qualified candidates.
The retreat, attended by the seven trustees, five administrators, three presenters and two members of the press, cost $6,800, according to MiraCosta Director of Human Resources Sheri Wright.
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Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Consortium Workshop Training
http://www.lcwlegal.com/training/november.asp
November 2007
November 29 Legislative Changes for California Schools
California School Boards Association Annual Conference | San
Diego | Mary Dowell
November 30 Computer Use Policies
California School Boards Association Annual Conference | San Diego | Bruce
Barsook
November 30 Community College Issues
California Council of School Attorneys | San Diego | Mary Dowell
and Eileen O'Hare Anderson
November 30 Legislative Changes for California Schools
California School Boards Association Annual Conference | San
Diego | Mary Dowell
http://www.lcwlegal.com/training/erc.htm
What is an Employment Relations Consortium (ERC)?
An ERC is a number of local agencies (cities, counties and special districts), or
school and community college districts, in a geographic area joining together
for the purpose of securing quality employment relations training, consultation
and informational services on a very economical basis. Currently there are
over 400 cities, counties, school districts, community college districts,
universities and other public sector agencies involved with Liebert Cassidy
Whitmore's 31 consortiums.
Click here to view our current Consortium List.
http://www.lcwlegal.com/training/erclist.htm
Bay Area Cupertino, Milpitas and Palo Alto and Mountain View
Bay Area Community College Districts Community Colleges throughout the
Bay Area
Bureau of Jewish Education Los Angeles
Central Coast Personnel Council (CCPC)
*Comprised of Educational Institutions Santa Barbara
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the Central Valley
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throughout Southern California
Ventura/Santa Barbara Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Santa Paula, and Ventura
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
DECISION OF THE
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
RELATIONS
Mary L. Dowell, Attorney
for Los Angeles
Community College.
District. Before Jaeger,
Morgenstern and Burt,
Members. DECISION ...
www.perb.ca.gov/decisionbank/pdfs/0417E.pdf
-
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
DECISION OF THE
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
RELATIONS ...
LOS ANGELES
COMMUNITY. DISTRICT,
Respondent.
Appearances: Mary L.
Dowell COLLEGE. Case.
PERB. No. LA-PN-34 ...
www.perb.ca.gov/decisionbank/pdfs/0388E.pdf
"Faculty Discipline: Break the Taboo" This is the precise issue that led to problems at MiraCosta. Obviously, MiraCosta needs a new trainer on this issue. Way too many taboos were broken by Victoria Richart.
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ASSOCIATION OF CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICERS/ EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OFFICERS
ANNUAL FALL TRAINING INSTITUTE WORKSHOP 2 –
FACULTY DISCIPLINE: BREAK THE TABOO
Presenters:
Mary Dowell, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, and Sandra Lindoerfer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Citrus College
Mary and Sandy have worked together on numerous cases of faculty discipline, including cases that settled and cases that went to hearing. Come hear how they have developed practical strategies for successfully implementing this most difficult of all employee issues.
8:30-10:00 a.m. WORKSHOP – MESQUITE ABCMOCK TRIAL: SEXUAL HARASSMENT VS. ACADEMIC FREEDON
Presenters: Mary Dowell and Shelline Bennett, both Partners, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore You’ve seen them on TV, now come see one in person! Join us as two of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore’s top litigators go toe to toe in a mock trial. They’ll both be litigating to win. Come enjoy the show and help decide a sensitive case: Sexual Harassment vs. Academic Freedom. Learn what your district can be expected to know and how to avoid those unwanted situations
10:15-11:45 a.m. WORKSHOP – MESQUITE ABC TOWN HALL MEETING-PART 2 –
ABSENTEEISM/DISABILITY ISSUES
Presenter: Mary Dowell, Shelline Bennett, and Laura Schulkind, all partners, and Pilar Marin, Associate, all from Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Do you have questions? Well, we've got answers. Come get your questions answered while learning how you can protect your agency (and yourself) from absenteeism and disability issues. Community college employees are protected by broad and far-reaching state and federal laws. Share your questions with others who probably have the same problems, concerns, and issues.
2:00-3:15 p.m.WORKSHOP 3 – OLEANDER B
WHAT EVERY CHRO NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE ED CODE BUT SOMETIMES FORGETS
Presenters: Mary Dowell, Partner and Pilar Morin, Associate, both from Liebert Cassidy Whitmore This workshop will focus on advanced issues that experienced human resources staff face. Participants are encouraged to bring their tough human resources questions to the workshop. This workshop covers topics including: Hiring and Retaining Employees with Criminal Records, Temporary Faculty Members, Leaves for Academic Employees, Termination of Academic Employees, Personal Service Contracts, Administrator Contracts, Disability Allowance and Disability Retirement.
http://achroeeo.com/Documents/ACHRO% 20Program%202007%20Final%209.30.pdf.
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Mary Lucrece Dowell -
#78763
Bar Number 78763
Address
Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
6033 W Century Blvd
#500
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone Number (310)
981-2000
Fax Number (310)
337-0837
Undergraduate School
Univ of California; CA
Law School UC Davis
SOL King Hall; Davis CA
Labor & Employment
12/28/1977 Admitted to
The State Bar of
California
SAN DIEGO
EDUCATION REPORT
BOARD OF EDUCATION SANTA BARBARA ELEMENTARY AND HIGH
SCHOOL DISTRICTS REGULAR MEETING
August 22, 2001
CALL TO ORDER/CLOSED SESSION
The Santa Barbara Elementary and High School Districts' Board of Education
met today in the Board Room of the Santa Barbara School Districts'
Administration Center, 720 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, California.
Claire Van Blaricum called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., and adjourned to
Closed Session. The public session was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Robert
Gonzalez, Director of Facilities and Operations, led the Pledge of Allegiance
B.1 MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING – SANTA BARBARA BIG PICTURE HIGH
SCHOOL
Deborah Flores introduced the item and stated that she was recommending
that the item be pulled from the agenda. She stated that the Board had
directed staff to forward concerns to the District’s attorney,
Mary Dowell, who developed the Memo of Understanding (MOU) that was
included in the Board Agenda packet for this meeting. After the last Board
Meeting, the Big Picture Company invited the top candidate for the dean
position to attend their two-week training session at their expense. After the
training, the superintendent met with the dean candidate to receive feedback.
As a result of that feedback and subsequent telephone conversations with the
Big Picture representatives, it has been determined that the Big Picture may
not be a good fit for the District. The superintendent stated that she would
come back to the Board at the September 12 Board Meeting with a proposal
for pursuing an alternative high school program.
http://www.sbsdk12.org/board/minutes/2001/board_minutes_08-22-01.pdf.
She teaches colleges like MiraCosta how to "break taboos" when
disciplining faculty
Mary Dowell is a lawyer who trains college administrators to "break the
taboos" regarding faculty discipline.
MiraCosta College president Victoria Richart and her attorney Daniel
Shinoff certainly broke a lot of taboos as they spent $3 million dollars to
investigate $305 worth of un-reimbursed palm trees.
It's bizarre that she claims to know how to successfully discipline faculty
members, when all she has to offer MiraCosta is strategies for
pretending there never was a problem.
Here is how Mary Dowell advertises herself:
"FACULTY DISCIPLINE: BREAK THE TABOO
"Presenters: Mary Dowell, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, and
Sandra Lindoerfer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Citrus College
"Mary and Sandy have worked together on numerous cases of faculty
discipline, including cases that settled and cases that went to hearing.
Come hear how they have developed practical strategies for
successfully implementing this most difficult of all employee issues."
from:
ASSOCIATION OF CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICERS/ EQUAL
EMPLOYMENT OFFICERS
ANNUAL FALL TRAINING INSTITUTE WORKSHOP
http://achroeeo.com/Documents/ACHRO%20Program%202007%20Final%209.30.pdf.