The Board of Trustees approved the classified staff’s contract agreement during their monthly meeting on Sept. 24.

“It wasn’t without heated discussions and passionate debates,” Superintendent/President Dr. Andreea Serban said, in reference to the board’s approval of the contract.

Approximately 50 people attended the meeting, although many found their way to the exit before it was over. The majority of people left after the board recognized seven City College employees for their work on campus.

Also, Student Senate President Emily Harrington spoke before the board, referencing the senate’s violation of the Brown Act.

“The student senate has been unintentionally violating [the act] for many semesters,” Harrington said.

“I think we have a great student senate,” Serban said.

President of the Academic Senate Ignacio Alarcon spoke as well, briefly discussing the upcoming accreditation that will be taking place on campus in the near weeks. He noted that by the next meeting, the accreditation team will have “come and gone.”

Director of the Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurshipand Innovation Melissa Crawford spoke about the center, and the things they are doing to increase students’ awareness that the center exists.

“Can’t make too much progress if no one knows you exist,” Crawford said.

Crawford told the board that 85 percent of students don’t want to work for an “established institution.” Board member Joan Livingston responded, “Where do we as an institution start looking for employees?”

The board is scheduled to meet next on Oct. 29.