Casey Kuhn/KJZZ

Meeting attendees gave the Maricopa County Community College board a standing ovation on Jan. 22, 2019, after a resolution was passed, written by new President Linda Thor.

A packed room observed the Maricopa County Community College’s board meeting Tuesday. It was the first with board member Linda Thor as president after the former board president resigned his seat last week.

The first item discussed on the agenda was a resolution that passed 5-1. Thor said the resolution establishes a new process for developing agreements with faculty.

“For the first time, this process will include adjunct faculty, as well as residential faculty, and it is intended to be expedient, collaborative and representative,” she said.

Unpopular decisions regarding faculty bargaining tools, the district’s football program and several lawsuits have put a spotlight on the colleges and the board.

“The board will review its own operational structure to ensure that we are expanding the board’s knowledge while we are also encouraging a variety of voices and viewpoints,” Thor said.

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