Baron to step down as chancellor

Bruce R. Baron, chancellor of the San Bernardino County Community College District for the past eight years, is retiring.

Jose Torres, the district’s executive vice chancellor and chief financial officer, will serve as interim chancellor while the board begins a nationwide search for Baron’s successor, according to a statement.

“It has been an honor and privilege of a lifetime to serve as chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District,” Baron said in the statement. 

“The work being done across the district and our two campuses through teaching, learning, career training programs, community engagement, and partnerships is unprecedented in our nearly 100‐year history.”

During Baron’s time in office, the district helped pass Measure CC, a $470 million bond measure CC that voters approved last year to help pay for classrooms and laboratories. 

Also during Baron’s tenure, the district was one of the first in California to offer free classes for two years under the Free College Promise Program, and it received a workforce retraining grant from the California Employment Training Panel that helped train 3,200 people.

“San Bernardino Community College District has never been stronger, and there couldn’t be a better time to position a new leader for success,’’ board president John Longville said in the statement.

Baron is scheduled to step down Dec. 31.