Rancho Santiago College District trustees establish committee to assess chancellor’s performance.

The Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees has initiated the formation of an ad hoc committee aimed at assessing the performance of Chancellor Marvin Martinez. This decision follows a closed session meeting where potential disciplinary actions, including dismissal, were discussed. The ad hoc committee will be a temporary body responsible for preparing a detailed performance evaluation for the full board, although specific details from the recent meeting remain undisclosed due to the privacy of the session.

This evaluation emerges in the wake of a forensic audit completed in March 2025, which uncovered a million fund linked to insurance rebates. According to RSCCD Board President Phillip Yarbrough, the board members were previously unaware of this fund, which had been utilized for various district expenditures. Concerns have also been raised by faculty union representatives, who asserted that the fund’s existence was kept hidden from them, suggesting it could have significantly benefited college employees.

Chancellor Martinez, who has held the position since his appointment in 2019 following a prior tenure as president of East Los Angeles College, has previously labeled the accusations regarding the undisclosed funds as “unfounded.” He maintained that neither he nor any district staff concealed the funds, claiming that their existence predates his time with the district and asserting that it is difficult to believe the board was unaware, given that regular rebates had been issued since 1997.

The forensic audit revealed that while there was no direct evidence of fiscal mismanagement, district administrators may have violated state and local regulations for several years by failing to include the insurance rebates in annual budgets or audits. Notably, approximately million from the fund was allocated to settle a lawsuit, and another million was used to stabilize the 2019-2020 budget.

Martinez was not present during the board meeting when the ad hoc committee was established, which includes trustees Yarbrough, Tina Arias Miller, and David Crockett. Yarbrough emphasized the board’s commitment to accountability, stating that decisions regarding who would be held responsible would be made following the evaluation process.

Chancellor Martinez, responsible for overseeing a significant network of community colleges, including Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College, has faced mounting criticism from various board members and district staff. Former senior administrators voiced concerns during public comment, citing issues such as a lack of transparency and a toxic workplace environment.

Requests for comments from Martinez and Vice Chancellor of Educational Services Enrique Perez went unanswered. A spokesperson from the Chancellor’s Office indicated that the institution does not comment on personnel matters but reaffirmed the district’s ongoing commitment to supporting students, faculty, and staff across its campuses.

The Board of Trustees is adhering to Board Policy 2435, which outlines the procedural framework for the Chancellor’s evaluation process, including the formation of the ad hoc committee. As the evaluation unfolds, the community will be watching closely, particularly in regard to the implications it may have for the leadership of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.