The fate of the faculty member who has been accused of elbowing a student at the 2022 commencement ceremony remained in limbo after the first closed session at the Board of Trustees meeting today.
The board did not take action at this time but announced they would hold a second closed session after tonight’s open session.
About 30 faculty members and staff showed up to the meeting dressed in red with green ribbons pinned to their shirt in support of the faculty member and several took to the stand during public comment in support of Moore.
Moore was the last of the speakers to take the stand.
“The investigation-findings report also inaccurately portrays my feelings. The report states that I show no remorse. I have supported the students and the community of Long Beach for over 20 years as a social worker and an educator,” Moore said.
The above report obtained from the board meeting on Wednesday is redacted mostly by Long Beach City College however personal contact information pertaining to the student has been redacted by Viking News on page 33.
“I would never conduct myself in that manner and as I stated in the beginning of the investigation the body contact was absolutely accidental,” Moore added.
The board announced they will hold another closed session and will make the decision after the open session portion of the meeting.
Dewayne Sheaffer, the man that hired Moore as a counselor at LBCC took the stand in defense of her employment. Sheaffer described her as a person with “high moral character who is always above board”.
“Diversity is important here at the college and yet she was the only African American faculty at commencement and this is what we’ve come to… it’s a bad look,” Sheaffer said.
Jimmie Flowers, an equipment tech at LBCC, knows Moore personally after attending the LEAD Academy in 2017-18 with her.
“What shocked me is that I have never seen a board member treat a faculty like that,” Flowers said, as he referred to the actions of Trustee Herlinda Chico at the 2022 commencement ceremony.
Moore addressed her supporters after the trustees returned to the open session of the meeting.
“I wanted to take a moment to thank you all. I am grateful that we have been united for a cause, for something that is unjust. Whatever happens let’s maintain this energy of being one, of being one as a union, of being one for faculty and staff so that we can continue to move our college forward,” Moore said.
The Viking will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information is made available.
Click here for the updated story: https://lbccviking.com/2022/09/board-of-trustees-vote-3-2-in-favor-of-moores-termination-at-lbcc