Delta official's status a puzzle

• Condon has been on medical leave off-and-on for the better part of a year, and has continued drawing pay during that time.

• Also during that period she has applied for top positions at two other colleges.

• Prior to going through an interview process at one of those campuses, she sent out an e-mail to Delta faculty stating she was sick with pneumonia.

Condon's computer has been wiped clean and someone else has moved into her office.

No one seems clear on why Condon is on leave, and president Raul Rodriquez said policies prevent him from probing too specifically about her illness.

In the meantime, some faculty members are irked — saying they've been told not to probe Condon's lack of attendance even though they say it's stalled improvements they expected her to carry out.

"I feel I've been lied to and a lot of people in our division feel they have been lied to (also)," said Ted Roach, automotive technology instructor.

Condon did not respond to numerous requests for comment.

Pneumonia, then a job interview?

Condon is Delta's assistant superintendent and vice president of instructional services.

She came to Delta from Riverside Community College, where she was the associate vice president of human resources.

Condon joined Delta in January 2005 and is responsible for organizing all instructional programs and services at the college.

Condon's pattern of lengthy absences began in March 2006.

Since then, she has been a finalist for president jobs at both Mesa Community College in Ariz. and College of the Desert in Palm Desert.

Some faculty became inflamed after Condon sent out an e-mail last October saying she would be away from Delta because of pneumonia. But it appears she was actually in the process of applying for the Mesa job during that time. As part of that application, Condon gave a speech to the Mesa community on why she was the best candidate for the job.

Della Condon's status at Delta

Jan. 15, 2005: Condon begins at Delta as the assistant superintendent and vice president of instructional services.

March 2006 — September 2006: Condon is medical leave.

Aug. 15, 2006: Dr. Kathleen Hart is appointed acting assistant superintendent and vice president of instruction.

May 14, 2007: The Chaparral, the student newspaper at the College of the Desert, reports that Condon as one of three finalists for the president position and that she would appear in a series of public forums on campus.

Oct. 30, 2007: Condon sends a campus wide e-mail saying that she will be out for a couple of weeks due to pneumonia.

Nov. 15, 2007, (16 days after the e-mail about pneumonia): Condon is taped by Mesa college doing a speech about why she was the best candidate for the president position.

November and December 2007: Finalists for the president position at Mesa begin the "rigorous" part of their hiring process.

First week in December: Rodriguez sends a campus wide e-mail stating that Condon would be on indefinite medical leave.

Dec. 13, 2007: Mesa officials decline to appoint Condon as president.

Jan. 15, 2008: Dr. Kathleen Hart is appointed as the interim for Condon's position.

— News-Sentinel staff

E-mail from Condon

Dr. Della Condon sent the following e-mail campuswide Tuesday, Oct. 30, two weeks before she was taped on Nov. 15 in Mesa, Ariz. at Mesa Community College:

Greetings Everyone,

A funny thing happened to me this week. I went on a trip out of town and ended up with pneumonia from a cold that I had a couple of weeks ago. I wanted you to know that I will be at home for a couple of weeks recuperating. In the meantime, please continue the fine work that you do and if you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at extension 5047.

Best regards,

Dr. Della Condon

To see Condon's speech visit:

Mesa Community College Media Services
Mesa Community College Media Services archives

The speech was recorded and a Web link to it was later sent anonymously to Delta instructors.

Officials at Mesa could not disclose whether they knew Condon was on medical leave or were aware of her unusual attendance pattern.

"I cannot disclose anything of that nature ... (and) she did seem like a viable candidate," said Jerry Davis, interviewer and vice president of administration services at Mesa.

Some instructors at Delta have seen program changes delayed and projects put on hold during Condon's absences.

When Condon first started at Delta, she told the applied science and technology division they would receive additional money and a larger building for classes with too many students according to Roach.

Roach worked on committees with Condon in which his division was promised a larger budget and building expansions. However, they haven't seen any of the promises carried out since she has been gone from the school.

And some instructors are upset about the lack of clarity about Condon's status at the college.

"A lot of (instructors) thought she got fired, but our administration more or less told us to keep our noses out of everything," Roach said.

Questions remain

Questions about how Condon can juggle medical leave with demanding interviews for executive positions elsewhere remain largely unanswered.

Board policy states sick leave may be accrued from previous employers and may be used as long as the time off does not exceed 100 working days at one college for one illness.

Condon's most recent leave started at the beginning of December, according to Wetstein. During that month, the finalists for the president position at Mesa college began the "rigorous" part of their hiring process which included meeting with members of the college and community members according to Davis, the vice president at Mesa.

Rodriguez, Delta's president, said his hands are tied in terms of permanently replacing Condon until her medical leave is used up.

A decision on Condon's contract is due sometime this month, he said.

He was aware Condon had applied to another community college while on leave, but didn't feel it was a problem.

"She is certainly allowed to go apply for a job elsewhere, as (an) employer (we) can't stop her from applying, it is her right to do so," Rodriguez said.

According to board policy, Delta supervisors may request a statement from a physician explaining the reason for an employee's absence over five days.

However, according to Rodriguez, he cannot ask specifics about why Condon has been gone. He declined to say whether he had in fact even requested a doctor's note for Condon.

Condon has been replaced on an acting basis by Dr. Kathleen Hart, former dean of research, planning, and development who previously served as interim for Condon for eight months in 2006.

In turn, Hart's position is being filled by Dr. Matthew Wetstein, former president of the California Teacher's Association and political science instructor.

Hart is making $141,974 and Wetstein is making $124,412 according to the San Joaquin Delta College documents.

Reader Feedback

educator wrote on Mar 9, 2008 1:45 PM:

" Giovanina and T&C both bring up good points.

Rodriguez needs to grow a spine and make a decision. According to faculty in Riverside, she was sick there too. She was gone for 5 months in 2006 and then shows back up wearing an obvious wig. We all know whats going on. But no one at the top has the spine to fo0llow the rules and cancel her contract.

If she had been a pleasure to work with/for it might be worth keeping her. But she was not a good administrator. "

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T & C wrote on Mar 9, 2008 11:27 AM:

" Board policy states sick leave may be accrued from previous employers and may be used as long as the time off does not exceed 100 working days at one college for one illness". Anything over 5 days requires a doctors statement as to the illness and no one seems to request one. I would say what I am thinking but then my post would be deleted!
"

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Giovanina wrote on Mar 9, 2008 10:20 AM:

" End the "raza" control of Delta. "

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OTH wrote on Mar 8, 2008 12:04 PM:

" Hey, it's only taxpayer money what do they care. Any other worker in the private sector would have been fired long ago. "

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Concerned Reader wrote on Mar 8, 2008 10:28 AM:

" Memo to Board of Trustees:
1. Dump Rodriquez and Condon
2. Promote Hart and Jennings
Bring integrity back to Delta! "

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educator wrote on Mar 8, 2008 7:12 AM:

" Since Dr.Hart has stepped in, things are starting to move forward. Two year old tenure notices have gone out. Dr. Condon dropped the ball on that. Dr. Hart, Wetstein and Charles Jennings are three very honest administrators who are dedicated to the college. We are lucky to have them. The board and the President should look to them as an example. They could learn a lot from these three people. "

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educator wrote on Mar 8, 2008 7:08 AM:

" Good job Ted Roach. The Union needs you. Condon has been a disappointment in many ways. She could not be trusted to tell two groups the same thing. She made promises that it seems that she had no intension of keeping. I have had pneumonia twice in the last three years. I found myself in no condition to travel, or even make it out of bed for a short time. Condon travels to Arizona and gives a lengthy speech. Does she think we are all stupid?
"

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