 5151 Pacific Avenue. Stockton, CA 95207 |
Media Advisory |
For Immediate Release
08/17/11
Delta College Foundation to Manage Flea Market
San Joaquin Delta College superintendent/president, Dr. Jeff Marsee, announced that the district will transition the supervision of its popular flea market from the Associated Student Body Government (ASBG) to the Delta College Foundation. The Delta College Foundation is the college’s nonprofit auxiliary fundraising entity that supports scholarships and special programs such as Passport-to-College. The full management and operation of the flea market will be under the same enterprise structure as the bookstore, food service and parking services.
Dr. Marsee explained that the tremendous success of the student-run flea market became its own undoing. “The difficulty of running a $500,000 annual operation has become too complex for a student group, particularly for students that are only at the college for one or two years.”
Most recently, former flea market coordinator Robbin Gerald Sealey, 28, plead guilty to grand theft. This is the second flea market related embezzlement in recent years. San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney, Stephen Taylor, who prosecutes embezzlement and fraud cases, explains that Delta was forced to take this action because the previous flea market arrangement did not work out. “Many of the problems were the result of student inexperience. Control of money and records is the responsibility of the administration and trustees. The school cannot abdicate that responsibility to students.”
Delta’s 30-year-old flea market earns substantial dollars each year to support ASBG activities. However, less than ten percent of net receipts funds student scholarships. Dr. Marsee anticipates that a substantial increase in student related scholarships will result from a more professional management of the market, including stronger cash handling practices.
Michael Kerns, Delta’s Vice President of Student Services, says, “This action will bring about essential flea market reforms that will stop a history of financial indiscretions.” He noted that, “Our student government will not be left without fundraising capabilities. In addition to student ID cards, the ASBG is exploring additional revenue sources for its activities.”
Deputy District Attorney Taylor points out that the flea market supervisorial change is positive for the school. “Delta’s management and trustees are letting the public know that they will not submit to any questionable operations…and that’s the way it has to be!”
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