The same day that State Center Community College District Chancellor Carole Goldsmith announced she would retire by September 2026, the union of community college faculty tallied “no confidence” votes and said she should step down immediately.

Instructors say that a culture of retaliation has grown during Goldsmith’s tenure. They also say that under her leadership legal expenses have tripled — in part due to actions taken against instructors. They also brought up a $161,000 contract awarded to a “goddaughter” of Goldsmith, and a Halloween costume contest at Madera Community College, where the leader of the academic senate was allegedly mocked by administrators.

Contract negotiations are underway between the district and the union.

“Under Goldsmith’s leadership, the district’s legal expenses have exploded, a team of bullies has enacted a culture of retaliation and fear, ignoring faculty expertise and silencing college voices,” said Keith Ford, president of the State Center Federation of Teachers union, at a Monday morning news conference.

“Faculty morale is at an all-time low. Goldsmith preaches kindness, but the faculty’s experience of her leadership is very difference from her carefully crafted public persona.”

Responding to the union’s claims, Goldsmith told GV Wire that “no confidence” votes are common, but they do not reflect the reality of the district. She said SCCCD is “strong and thriving.” She also said that the rise in legal fees reflects the complex environment of the day. Costs include contract reviews, labor negotiations, and more.

“Enrollment is at record levels, finances are solid, and student success continues to rise. My focus, and the focus of our entire team, remains on students, stability, and advancing the mission of this District,” Goldsmith said. “While we respect employees’ rights to express their views, the best place to resolve issues is at the bargaining table, not through political tactics. We remain committed to bargaining in good faith and moving forward together.”

Related Story: State Center Chancellor Carole Goldsmith Retiring in 2026

250 Members Voted for ‘No Confidence’ Statement: Ford

The union called on the SCCCD Board of Trustees to remove Goldsmith. In response, board president Danielle Parra said while she respects the rights of employees to voice their concerns, their job is to focus on the strategic direction of the district.

“We are stewards of public resources entrusted to us, and to the success and well-being of our students. We respect the rights of employees to express their views,” Parra told GV Wire.

Ford said that if the board does not act, they would discuss possible next steps at the union’s January meeting.

At the union’s monthly meeting last week, a member called for a “no confidence” vote and the 250 members who participated unanimously approved the resolution. The union has 1,200 members.

Ford said Goldsmith’s leadership has fostered toxic environments. He did not provide specific examples.

“It’s a little bit hard to do without getting into a personal grievance or complaint, but I can say very broadly that even when apparently acting magnanimously, she has threatened us,” Ford said.

Goldsmith said disagreements do arise, but that allegations should be addressed through established processes, “not through public bargaining tactics.”

71 Meetings Held to Forge Vision/Mission 2035 Plan

She said despite those disagreements, the college should get behind student success. The district recently adopted its Vision/Mission 2035 plan that took 71 meetings across all campus sites and included input from faculty, students, trustees, administration, and classified personnel.

The plan outlines how the nearly $700 million Measure Q should guide the future of the district.

Trustee Nasreen Johnson said the chancellorship is very difficult considering its size.

“The chancellor job for a district this size is very demanding, and I am pleased that we’ve been able to have her lead our district,” Johnson said.

Controversial Contract Given to ‘Goddaughter’

In June, the union filed an ethics complaint against Goldsmith after the board approved a $161,000 mediation contract to a close personal friend and “goddaughter” of the chancellor.

Many social media posts from Goldsmith refer to Ashlee Hernandez of ASH & Associates LLC as “goddaughter.” The district maintains she is only an acquaintance and that the relationship is not familial.

Faculty unrest arose that largely came to the surface after litigation from former Fresno City College basketball coach Ed Madec for wrongful termination. The district fired Madec for allegedly making threats against administrators.

Back-and-forth between court appeals ended with a judge earlier this year upholding Madec’s termination.

Investigation Underway Into Halloween Costume

The district board OK’d an investigation into a Halloween costume contest in which the public information officer for Madera Community College allegedly dressed as a mathematics instructor and president of the academic senate “mocking” him, said Todd Kandarian, the instructor reportedly targeted by the costume.

He said public information officer Corey Burkarth put on a bald cap, a Hawaiian shirt, and stuffed a pillow under his shirt to mock him, also using the same travel mug Kandarian is known to use. Kandarian said the two are not friends and do not interact outside of a professional setting.

Judges for the contest — all of them administrators, Kandarian told GV Wire — gave Burkarth the prize for best costume. Kandarian said administrators should have asked Burkarth about the costume rather than rewarding him for it.

A photo circulated of Madera College President Angel Reyna with Burkarth in costume.

“Any one of them could have stood up and said, ‘That’s not OK,’ ” Kandarian said.

Kandarian said he was targeted after statements he made to the SCCCD board on Oct. 7 that went against Reyna’s statement about successes at Madera College.

Goldsmith said the matter is “very serious” and is under investigation but she could not discuss it because it is a personnel issue.

Kandarian said while he welcomes the investigation, he is not optimistic anything will come from it.

“There are two types of HR Departments in the world. One type seeks to dissuade, dismiss or discredit complaints, to sweep them under the rug,” Kandarian told GV Wire. “The other type realizes that when you protect the employees from abuse, you are protecting the institution, because it allows you to identify issues early and remove them from your organization.”