The concerns surrounding Del Terra are only part of a much larger problem at Rio Hondo College. Questions continue to grow about the District's repeated use of the same contractors, including WSP USA, TBP Architecture, Massadi Enterprise, A&B Construction, and BEST Contracting Services. Why do these companies continue to receive District business? How competitive are these contracting processes, and who is ultimately influencing these decisions?
Staff have raised concerns about favoritism and alleged political influence involving members of the Board of Trustees. These concerns deserve serious examination, not silence. The Board has a responsibility to oversee public funds, but oversight should never become political interference in the contracting process. How many more millions of taxpayer dollars will be awarded to Del Terra before the District provides meaningful answers?
Equally concerning is the apparent unwillingness of District leadership to challenge these practices. Where are the vice presidents, deans, and senior administrators who are supposed to protect the institution's interests? Even the newest Superintendent/President appears reluctant to confront controversial decisions or challenge influential Board members. Leadership should not be about avoiding conflict or protecting relationships. It should be about making difficult decisions and holding people accountable.
Fear of retaliation is another serious concern. Staff have described an environment where speaking up can carry consequences. Some have raised concerns about being directed to find budgetary "loopholes" rather than properly addressing financial issues. Others question whether administrators fully understand or are willing to confront problems within their own departments. When employees believe remaining silent is safer than reporting concerns, the institution has a serious problem.
Meanwhile, District leadership continues to emphasize celebrations, gatherings, and public appearances while difficult questions about spending, contracting, and accountability remain unanswered. Campus morale events have their place, but they are no substitute for responsible leadership. Students and employees deserve more than carefully managed appearances and reassuring speeches.
Rio Hondo College serves a community that includes many underserved and historically marginalized students. Every dollar spent on questionable priorities is a dollar that deserves scrutiny, particularly when student programs and services have real needs.
The Board of Trustees must be held accountable for its decisions, and District administrators must stop treating difficult questions as problems to avoid. Public funds are not political favors, and leadership positions are not meant to provide protection from scrutiny.
The District needs transparency in its contracting practices, an independent examination of concerns raised by employees, and meaningful protections for those who speak up.
The real question is no longer whether staff have concerns. It is whether anyone in District leadership is willing to confront them.