DA's Office to charge former community colleges chancellor with fraud

Posted by Michael B. Reiner, PhD
a resident of another community
on Apr 8, 2022 at 12:14 pm
Michael B. Reiner, PhD is a registered user.

DA's Office to charge former community colleges chancellor with fraud

Headlines are one thing, but it can obscure the reality of a complex situation. As a former employee of the SMCCCD, I have no evidence related to the charges, two of which have nothing to do with Mr. Galatolo's role as chancellor. If he misrepresented a donation on his personal state income tax and filed false registration of cars with the department of motor vehicles, those are a reflection on his personal character. Not my business.

However, as CEO of the District, he was in control of billions of dollars of construction funds from taxpayer bonds. If he received perks from companies to funnel business their way, that is a violation of the public trust. The public trust also rests with the elected District Board of Trustees. The current Board is made up of only two Trustees elected since 2020 (the post Galatolo era). The other three and two other former members were Galatolo's supervisors. They were elected officials responsible for holding their one and only employee, the Chancellor, accountable. There were many stories in the press over the years of behaviors that might have provoked Boards at other colleges to investigate and reconsider their trust in the Chancellor. Instead, they gave him raise after raise, up to $467,000, plus numerous perks.

Were they blind, inattentive, or just complicit?

Michael B. Reiner, PhD, is a higher education consultant and educational researcher. Previously, he was a professor of psychology and college administrator at City University of New York (CUNY), Miami Dade College, the Riverside Community College District, and the San Mateo County Community College District. mreiner32205@gmail.com LinkedIn: Web Link