Two weekend hate-related incidents have left UC Santa Cruz and Cabrillo College students, faculty and administrators feeling shocked, vulnerable and angry. At UCSC, suspects scrawled anti-Black, antisemitic and white supremacist graffiti on five areas at Crown and Merrill colleges, while at Cabrillo, someone set fire to the rainbow Pride flag at the Watsonville Center. School administrators have denounced the incidents and police are actively working to see if the cases are related.
Cabrillo College
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Lookout Update: Koenig met by angry Soquel crowd over proposed Homekey project on Park Avenue
Why a small town hall meeting turned into a sometimes-heated exchange between 1st District Supervisor Manu Koenig and a crowd of neighbors displeased at how a supportive housing project is being rolled out along Park Avenue in Soquel.
Posted inEducation
Cabrillo terminates embattled VP, with pay continuing through June 30
The Cabrillo College governing board has terminated Paul De La Cerda, its vice president of instruction, who faces embezzlement charges in Los Angeles. As the college appoints an interim successor, it will pay De La Cerda’s salary of $203,000 through June in what is being called “non-reemployment.”
Posted inEducation
Cabrillo vice president pleads not guilty to felony charges in Los Angeles
Paul De La Cerda, Cabrillo College’s vice president of instruction, pleaded not guilty Friday morning after being charged in December with embezzlement and misappropriation of funds.
Posted inEducation
Omicron surge pushes Cabrillo College to move most of its classes to online through Feb. 22
Following a rising tide of schools starting the 2022 academic year with remote instruction, Cabrillo College told the campus community Friday that most classes would be online through Feb. 22. The college doesn’t start classes until Jan. 24.
Posted inCOVID Today
As Omicron wave inundates California, here’s how you can protect yourself and others
Officials are urging Californians to do their part to help keep themselves and others safe during the latest coronavirus surge.
Posted inEducation
Questions linger after Cabrillo board of trustees places VP on administrative leave
Cabrillo College Vice President of Instruction Paul De La Cerda is on administrative leave until Jan. 31 after a Monday evening vote by the board of trustees. Officials have declined to provide reasons for the decision to put him on leave or why the January date was chosen.
Posted inEducation
Cabrillo vice president placed on leave following felony charges related to previous job
The Cabrillo College Board of Trustees placed Paul De La Cerda, the school’s vice president of instruction, on administrative leave through Jan. 31. The board did not explain its actions, though De La Cerda is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 7 related to two felonies he is accused of committing while employed by East Los Angeles College.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Cabrillo vice president is charged with embezzlement, misappropriation of funds from former job
Paul De La Cerda, 47, was charged with one felony count each of misappropriation of government funds and embezzlement of government funds. De La Cerda is accused of forging documents he submitted for reimbursement, according to the district attorney’s office.
Posted inEducation
Cabrillo College enrollment declines, but at lower rate than community colleges statewide
Between fall 2019 and fall 2020, the California Community Colleges system saw an enrollment decline of 14.8% — a result of the wide-ranging impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though Cabrillo College saw a decline of 10.9%, that was better than the statewide average.
