Results from washtenaw.org. Jada Hauser | Washtenaw Voice
Ypsi resident ousts incumbent, highlights focus on economic development, accountability
Lily Cole
Editor
One incumbent and a newcomer win seats on WCC’s Board of Trustees.
According to election results from Washtenaw County, Diana McKnight Morton holds her place on the board with 34.64% of the vote or 74,612 votes.
Newcomer Eileen Peck has taken a seat on the board, beating out Alex Milshteyn, who got 31.40%, or 67,635 votes. Peck won with 33.31%, or 71,745 votes.
Peck’s term on the WCC Board of Trustees begins Jan. 1, 2025.
Who is Eileen Peck?
Peck has lived in Washtenaw County for 35 years and holds degrees from WCC and the University of Michigan. She worked in digital technology at colleges and Merit Network for over 10 years. In 2007, she left to create her own business as a freelance business and technology writer.
Peck runs the blog WCC Watch, where she has been critical of the Board of Trustees. She explains that the blog aims to “make sure people know what’s happening at the college.”
While Peck said she uses the Freedom of Information Act to gain access to documents, most of her blog posts contain her own opinions and analysis of the documents she acquires, as well as information shared at board meetings.
When asked if she had ever asked a board member for a comment regarding decisions or policy, she said, “No.”
In 2019, WCC outsourced its information technology department in a 5-2 vote. This outsourcing came after a contract with Ellucian, a Virginia-based IT service provider, that was proposed to manage the college’s technology. Peck’s husband was among the 31 full-time employees who were, as she described, “basically fired.”
However, according to the proposal passed by the board, all full-time employees were offered employment from Ellucian. Those who turned down the job would be offered a severance package based on tenure.
Full-time employees of 10 years or more would receive: one year’s salary and a year of health coverage for themselves and dependents. Employees of five to ten years would receive: six months’ salary and health coverage for themselves and dependents. Employees of less than five years would receive: three months’ salary and health coverage for themselves and dependents.
Under the proposal, Ellucian became responsible for the college’s current and future technology needs, including that of the on-site support staff.
In a 2020 article by the Ann Arbor Observer, Peck was quoted saying she wouldn’t vote to restore and renew the tax that supports a 1.00 mill operating cost for WCC.
The tax is one of two property taxes that together fund 48% of WCC’s operating costs, a previous Voice article reports. The next highest source of funding for the college would’ve been tuition and fees at 30%.
“In 2020, the board lost my trust,” she said. “As a person who is speaking out, I can hopefully convince the board to behave in ways that build trust instead of tearing them down.”
Photo courtesy of Eileen Peck
Peck’s term
Peck highlights concerns about students’ cost of attendance, the board’s use of funds, a lack of focus on associate’s degrees and addressing economic disparities.
She wants WCC to focus on creating programs for more high paying and high demand jobs. Peck believes that people who live and work in Washtenaw County need employment opportunities to pay their bills.
“WCC should focus on the county’s economic development opportunities,” she said. “I would like to focus on creating and giving people the tools they need to take high wage, high demand jobs and create a life in a household for themselves here in Washtenaw County.”
As a “watchdog” in the community, Peck said she wants to bring that element to board discussions so that the board focuses on the college’s mission first.
“I view my role as being the voice for people who don’t necessarily have a seat at the table but who have a stake in the community,” she said.
When she sits on the board, Peck says there’s room for civil discourse and disagreement during a meeting.
“If I’m critical of someone, hopefully, I’m being explicit about why I’m being critical of them directly or the board in general,” she said. “I’m not the kind of person to give somebody a pass if they’re not acting in the best interest of the institution.”
On WCC Watch, Peck criticizes the board for lacking transparency during meetings. In the article “Transparency in WCC Board Communications,” she compares Jackson Community College’s board to WCC’s.
Peck uses an analogy to address her concerns about the lack of transparency: ” There’s no greater disinfectant than sunshine.” She adds, “When you pull back the curtains and make a conscientious effort to make people aware of what is going on and to allow them to see what is going on, things change.”
“I don’t see myself backing down from that [transparency concerns]. If that brings greater transparency to the institution, I’m all for it,” she said.
Peck said she isn’t critical of the college itself but its administration. She views WCC as a resource to the community. “I don’t have a problem criticizing the administration,” she said. “I don’t view myself as being critical of the college. I view myself as critical of the college administration.”
“I am who the people chose to sit on the board at WCC,” Peck said. “This is who I am, and I don’t think I will be different.”
