Smiling faces of SRJC students and faculty filled the small reading room of the Mahoney Library at SRJC’s Petaluma Campus on Valentine’s Day, all for a Board of Trustees Meeting? Not so much.

The large, inspired crowd was in audience for Susan Jaderstrom who was earning the well-deserved Employee of the Month Award.

Jaderstrom, an adjunct instructor, has been with SRJC’s Petaluma Campus since 1986 when it was a temporary building on the Sonoma Marin Fairgrounds. By 1991, she was welcomed to the Business Office Technology as full-time faculty and quickly became a favorite among students and faculty.

“We are so fortunate to have someone of Susan’s caliber to see us through the transitions and growth into the campus we are today,” said Dr. L Saldana-Talley, vice president, Petaluma Campus.

Jaderstrom was recognized for her effort and earning success with the growth of the Petaluma Campus, weekend classes, clothing bank for JC students who need nice clothes for interviews and more.

After a few motivating, funny and emotional speeches by faculty and Jaderstrom herself, the large crowd exited after the award was given and before the routine part of the BOT meeting commenced.

February’s meeting was SRJC’s President, Dr. Chong’s, first BOT meeting. Chong spoke briefly about “falling in love with SRJC” in his first month in presidency and said he is looking forward to working with everyone, faculty and student.

After the opening festivities, the Board of Trustees members got down to business.

The Board approved six more “existing course deletion/inactivation” (closing/canceling classes), bringing the total of existing course deletions/inactivation’s to 113 this 2011-2012 school year (p39 Feb. Board Agenda). No wonder why it seems there are less and less classes!

The Board also approved an out-of-country trip to St. Petersburg State University, Russia for six faculty and four students. The SRJC faculty and students will teach master classes in dance in exchange for taking classes at the university. This once-in-a-lifetime educational dance trip to Russia will take place in March.

A costly new building, B. Robert Burdo Culinary Arts Center was just approved for another change order for over $29,000. This equates to $542,199 in change orders for the building, increasing the original contract by 4.1 percent.

To conclude the Board of Trustees meeting, media instructor, Michael Traina, gave an update on the success and activities of the Petaluma Cinema Series, which he has grown since its debut in 2009.

The routine part of the meeting ended fast as the Board joked about “auctioning” through the approved items.