On Nov. 13, the State Center Federation of Teachers (SCFT) union came together to vote “no confidence” against State Center Community College District Chancellor Carole Goldsmith and over 250 faculty across the colleges all voted against her. Despite Goldsmith announcing her plans earlier that day to retire by September of 2026, the SCFT wants Goldsmith removed from her position as chancellor immediately.
The SCFT has taken immediate action against Goldsmith and her administration due to the “toxic environment” they have created against faculty in the SCCCD.
The SCFT is accusing Goldsmith of pushing back or ignoring faculty and union inputs and creating a $161,000 job opportunity within the district for her “goddaughter.”
Following the no confidence vote, Goldsmith has voiced her disagreements with the union’s actions with The Rampage.
“My decision to retire was something I’ve been considering for a long time, and I announced it last week after thoughtful planning,” Goldsmith said. “I’m disappointed that my announcement is being used as a bargaining tactic.”
In the SCFT’s Resolution No. 20251113.1, the SCFT maintains that their actions are the result of long-standing dissatisfaction with Goldsmith’s handling of district affairs.
“Chancellor Carole Goldsmith’s leadership at State Center Community College District, as reflected in the collective faculty survey responses. [It] is characterized by a pervasive crisis of governance and value that has centralized power, demoralized the workforce, and led to significant financial and ethical turmoil,” the first paragraph of the SCFT’s Resolution No. 20251113.1 states.
“I categorically reject these allegations. They are unfounded and misrepresent both the facts and the integrity of the District’s governance and procurement processes. The District follows strict policies and procedures to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with public agency standards. Allegations like these do not reflect reality. Our focus remains on students, stability, and advancing the mission of this District,” Goldsmith said.
A bar graph created with the SCFT’s survey data, comparing Goldsmith’s individual actions as chancellor to the members of her cabinet where she is voted “most unfavorable.”
SCFT President Keith Ford stands by the union’s actions, deeming them necessary to the success of the SCCCD.
“If the community wants these colleges to run well, and if they want to be given the world class education that they deserve, then [Goldsmith] needs to go, because she’s preventing us from being able to successfully do our jobs,” Ford said.
Despite the negotiations with Goldsmith’s administration to get SCCCD faculty full-time contracts going slower than the union’s wishes, they aren’t targeting her solely over the lack of contracts.
“It has nothing to do with how much we’re getting paid or what our benefits are,” Ford said. “Sure. Do we want that to get better? Do we feel like we deserve to be paid more fairly? Absolutely, but the no confidence vote has nothing to do with [contract] negotiations. It’s all about her leadership.”
Ford and the union have had to go through the Public Employee Relations Board (P.E.R.B.) and sue Goldsmith and her administration in the past in order to get “district remedies.”
Legal expenses under Goldsmith have tripled the district’s annual legal fee average and the SCFT argues that money should be used for the district’s schools.
“Where do you think that money is going to go? Well, here’s a thought. Maybe it goes to janitors, maybe it goes to groundskeepers, maybe it goes to actual jobs for actual people to actually run these colleges,” Ford said.
Goldsmith has stated that she isn’t worried about the union’s votes of “no confidence” and that she plans to continue serving her district for the remaining 10 months she’ll be in power.
“The chancellor in her comments has tried to dismiss our claims by saying votes of no confidence are common,” Ford said. “However, in our 60 years as the bargaining agent for the faculty at SCCCD, we have never taken this action, ever. This is not usual.”
Goldsmith’s actions have contributed to long-standing tensions between faculty and their district leaders.
Ford claims the culture created by Goldsmith has led to faculty “hiding in their little holes” instead of working with administration and other faculty.
“I miss being able to just sit in a room with people and deal with complex problems to try to make our students’ lives better, now all of our energy lately has been just defending our right to be here,” Ford said.
A previous version of this article inaccurately represented the motives and power of the State Center Federation of Teachers (SCFT) union. The previous headline read “SCCCD Faculty Unanimously Voted to Accelerate Chancellor Goldsmith’s Retirement,” which the union has no control over. The vote they took expressed a lack of confidence, but they cannot actively accelerate Goldsmith’s retirement. This article was adjusted on Nov. 21 and Nov. 24
