'I have stayed the course'

When San Joaquin Delta College Trustee Dan Parises announced at a board meeting last week that he would end his 33-year career as a trustee by not seeking re-election, his announcement was met with several "thank yous" for his time. One even came from Joe Gonzales, a Delta teacher and president of the teachers' union, who at the same meeting read a vote of no confidence in the board.

Parises is the first to recognize that his time on the board has come with some difficulties. However, he said, he's also proud of the many accomplishments that San Joaquin Delta College has celebrated over the past third of a century.

Dan Parises

During his time on the board, Parises estimates that the college educated more than 40,000 graduates, and he hopes that students will continue pursue their dreams at the school.

Though he will not seek re-election, Parises said he will serve the remainder of his term, during which he hopes to help the board work together and arrive at a consensus about its future.

Parises corresponded with staff writer Amanda Dyer about Delta's highlights, lowlights and what's yet to come.

Q: How do you feel you've left your personal mark on the college?

A: My personal mark on the college comes from my years of experience. I have been a strong presence there for many years. My 33-year tenure has allowed me to acquire a great deal of knowledge and history of the college, and has allowed me to bring balance and stability to the decision-making process.

Q: This past couple of years must have been tough for you. How has it affected you?

A: I have stayed the course. I never once changed my vote.

Throughout my tenure, I have had the pleasure of working with many fine colleagues and peers. There were times we agreed to disagree, but always respectfully, and in the end, the majority vote determined a united direction.

Delta's highlights

Dan Parises described several highlights of his time as a trustee at San Joaquin Delta College. Those included:

The completion of Atherton Auditorium

Retiring the original bonds on the Pacific and Pershing College Campus

Bringing Stanislaus State to the Delta campus so students could attain a four-year degree

Instituting children's day care, so young mothers could attend school

Expanding nursing programs

Building the new Microscopy Building, with Delta being one of the two in the U.S. to have such a program

Instituting the Caterpillar-Diesel instruction center

Building the Goleman Library, and most recently, beginning a remodel

Building the Checcetti Baseball Field, and recently refurbishing the field in 2007

Building new tennis courts

Building DeRicco Stadium

Adding new track and field facilities

Rebuilding the women's softball fields

Updating the electrical loop, connecting six centers on the main campus

Updating the central plant for heating and cooling

Starting the Tracy Learning Center

Creating the Passport to College program

Establishing the Middle College High School

Constructing the new Gateway Building

Passing the $250 million dollar bond to: Build a campus in Mountain House, to renovate the main campus in Stockton and to purchase sites for satellite campuses in Galt and Lodi.

Delta's changes

During his 33 years on the board, Trustee Dan Parises said San Joaquin Delta College has seen several changes. Some of those changes included:

"In the beginning, the college focused primarily on college prep. While college prep remains a priority, we've since developed vocational teaching partnerships with various business entities, such as Caterpillar-Diesel and Nissan Motors, where students can take courses and put their skills immediately into the workforce for demanded jobs.

We now have a Small Business Development Center that assists with any aspect of small business development, from starting a small business to business expansion, including problem solving for existing businesses. It's a great resource for our community.

We have Middle College High School, paid for by Lodi Unified, attended by approximately 150-plus high school students that are taking college prep courses while going to high school.

In addition, our student population has become more diverse, where over 50 percent of the students are minorities coming to the college to get a college education.

Our population is growing. Due to the projected population increase, we've had to plan for satellite campuses at Mountain House, Lodi, Manteca and long term, Galt."

The last few years, the dysfunctional dynamics on the board have created a divide and conquer situation, at the expense of achieving the goals of the college. There has been a general decline in the ethics, respect and conduct of some of the board members. This has affected our ability as a board to make progress.

Q: What about the future of the board? How can it heal?

A: There are obviously numerous dynamics, personalities and politics in play that contributed to the current state of affairs, including the press.

There are fundamental rules of order and respect that need to be honored. Sometimes you agree to disagree, but once the majority votes, you move forward as a team. The board will have to learn to work together again and put personal agendas aside.

Q: What advice would you have for the next trustee who fills your position?

A: Learn about the history of the college, listen to the voice of your constituents, keep an open mind and remember that a trustee's responsibility is to protect the taxpayers and ensure a quality education for our students.

Q: What about the San Joaquin County Grand Jury report? It seemed to be very critical. What are your thoughts on how the board was judged?

A: At this time, I cannot comment. The board of trustees is currently in the process of preparing a response to the grand jury's findings.

Q: What do you make of what happened at the Victor Road site?

A: I believe we need a site in Lodi.

We have to remember that property is more affordable today than it will be in the future, so planning ahead is critical to meeting the educational needs of our growing populations. The majority of the people in the district see the value of having a satellite campus in Lodi, and I support that. It is the responsibility of the board to have the foresight and the fortitude to plan for the future.

Q: What about your land deal with San Joaquin Valley Land Co? Do you think not telling the board was a simple mistake? Do you think it was blown out of proportion? (In January of 2006, Parises sold property to a developer that worked as a broker on the Lodi Victor Road site.)

A: Both the counsel for the board of trustees and the board itself were told. It was not a secret, and there was absolutely no conflict of interest.

Q: What ever happened to the Galt site? Do you feel Delta needs two north county campuses?

A: The intent was to purchase a site in the northern part of the district, actually in San Joaquin County, next to the city of Galt.

The district northern boundary is Highway 104 in Sacramento County, which is currently under residential development. This site is earmarked for future, looking out 20-plus years, in anticipation of continued growth in that area.

Q: Out of your 33 years on the board, what are you proudest of?

A: I always voted for a balanced budget and to keep our reserves at 5 percent or more. I have fulfilled my role to protect the taxpayers and ensure a quality education for our students.

Q: What will you do with your new-found free time?

A: I will be working hard on behalf of the voters until the end of my term, when my replacement takes the oath.

I look forward to spending more time with my wife, children, grandchildren and friends. We've already embarked on a family winemaking project and my wife and I look forward to some travel. Our focus is on family, good health and taking some time to smell the roses.

Reader Feedback

Lodian2 wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:09 PM:

" He must have been bought off for his 'change of mind" vote and getting the others (except Simas and McCreary) to vote the same. "

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JF wrote on Jul 26, 2008 2:33 PM:

" Dan you have 5 months left in your term, I hope that in some divine fashion you find your conscience and vote as you promised the Kennisson residents. I will keep praying for you Dan. "

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JF wrote on Jul 26, 2008 2:30 PM:

" It is just plain sad, DP stated to an organized gathering on Kennisson Lane before his county supervisor election slaughter, he told everyone attending "he would not support the Victor Road site" and then turned right around after the election and voted for it every single time. So now in this rubdown story he says:
"Q: This past couple of years must have been tough for you. How has it affected you?

A: I have stayed the course. I never once changed my vote". Maybe not, but you sure were not very truthful to your constituants Dan, especially the ones you know very well! "

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commonsense1 wrote on Jul 24, 2008 4:06 PM:

" Lodian2...Sorry, I was right the first time. "

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Lodian2 wrote on Jul 24, 2008 2:04 PM:

" Commonsense ----- "truthful". "

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commonsense1 wrote on Jul 24, 2008 12:33 PM:

" Lodian2....Sorry for the "moron" remark. Your accusations are pure, mean-spirited, uneducated garbage. I am curious though, what self-descriptive word would you use to describe your brilliant behavior? "

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Lodian2 wrote on Jul 24, 2008 12:07 PM:

" commonsense (?) --- thanks for calling me a moron, that was very tactful. I hope you are not who I think you are. "

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commonsense1 wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:01 PM:

" Lodian2.....STATE MANDATE....Delta can't build a campus on Armstrong, Harney Lane or any site within 10 miles of their existing campus. Armstrong Road, Reynolds Ranch, etc. were never even considered you moron. By the way, the developer for the Victor Road site is from Sacramento. What does that have to do with Reynolds Ranch? For the record, I have never met DP and probably never will. I am just commenting on the facts, nothing more. This is basic information printed numerous times in the LNS. While searching for factual info, what are the 5 names for the same development company? "

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Lodian2 wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:16 AM:

" To T+C ------ Yes, I believe so. "

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essayjay wrote on Jul 22, 2008 8:38 PM:

" conflict of interest poster child "

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OTH wrote on Jul 22, 2008 8:19 PM:

" commonsense 1

If it was only once that Dan Dan had neglected to mention a money deal. I was a teenager in the 60's and you know what, he was doing already back then. This is this man's lifestyle.

So when you pick some one to get all rah rah about try to pick some one with a few more ethics than our boy Dan Dan.

I know you guys stick together so maybe this kind of thing doesn't faze you. Sad. "

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T&C wrote on Jul 22, 2008 7:53 PM:

" Lodian 2, that happens to be the same developer with at least 5 different company names, doesn't it? "

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T&C wrote on Jul 22, 2008 7:51 PM:

" Common, why don't you accuse Lodian2 of being ignorant, too? You need to learn some new cheers if you want to keep rooting for your corrupted network. Do you think it might be yourself that's being ignorant? "

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s & W 500 wrote on Jul 22, 2008 7:02 PM:

" Dan Parises: Delta College is a great College. However, you never once mentioned students! That is what it is all about! Not b.s. Where has all the money gone? "

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Lodian2 wrote on Jul 22, 2008 6:29 PM:

" Question: Does DP get lifetime health insurance paid
by Delta College when he retires from the Board? "

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Lodian2 wrote on Jul 22, 2008 6:26 PM:

" The GJ needs to look into why Parises sold his land that was on a potential Delta College site (Armstrong Rd.) to the same developer/realtor that was selling land on Victor Rd. to Delta College. It may be a conflict of interest for him to have even voted on the issue. "

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commonsense1 wrote on Jul 22, 2008 1:49 PM:

" t&c....I don't know what makes you come up with these stupid statements, but it really works! The GJ report and recommendations have been out for weeks. DP sold his home and neglected to report it for 2 weeks. I'm shocked and dismayed the GJ didn't demand an explanation for this heavy-duty criminal activity. Do you spend every day spreading ignorance? "

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t&c wrote on Jul 22, 2008 12:03 PM:

" What about the land deal with SJVLC? The grand jury will want to know everything about that land deal. You say you answered to the board? Aren't you the board? And why did you suddenly forget about it when you filed your forms just a couple of weeks later? I'm sure the grand jury will be looking for that answer in 90 days. I hope those land deals are fully investigated by the grand jury after seeing your answer under sworn testimony. If they do, there will be a lot of surprises for many Lodians and their big money backers from down south. "

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Whoa Nellie! wrote on Jul 22, 2008 11:58 AM:

" Another wannabe politician who couldn't get elected to a higher office. Really, how many times did he run for our Assembly seat? That's how & why he spent soooo long at Delta. And the naive voters read "incumbent" next to his name and fill in the bubble.

1975.... 1975! That's when Big Dan first got elected. "

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OTH wrote on Jul 22, 2008 10:52 AM:

" Should be the term limits poster child for useless board sitter. "

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Observer wrote on Jul 22, 2008 10:06 AM:

" Q: This past couple of years must have been tough for you. How has it affected you?

A: I have stayed the course. I never once changed my vote.

Which equates to, "I'm stubborn and won't change my mind no matter what the facts may be. "

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