City College of San Francisco’s main campus is pictured in 2023. Turmoil in the chancellor’s office and a looming budget deficit make the November election for City College’s Board of Trustees critical for its future.

When Kimberlee Messina was named chancellor of City College of San Francisco in 2025, it raised hope that the revolving door of the school's leaders might stop.

At the time of her hiring, Messina was the 13th chancellor in 11 years at the college, which has endured decades of management problems that imperiled its finances and threatened its accreditation. Any prospects for stability are now up in the air, however, as Messina was recently put on paid leave over accusations that she received unapproved stipends, cash and vacation days, and committed other improper accounting of college district funds. 

The turmoil makes the November election for City College’s Board of Trustees even more critical for its future and for its 43,000 students. While the college is running a “modest surplus” for 2026-27, with “expenditures growing faster than revenues,” it faces a projected structural deficit of $24 million in 2029-30.

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City College’s enrollment drop has been so steep that it had to close its downtown campus due to declining state funding. Trustees will have to figure out what to do with the building. And a big accreditation checkpoint is coming up in January, when the school must present a final report showing how it has addressed concerns raised by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

Eight candidates are running for three open seats. All we spoke with were earnest in their promise to put students first and grow enrollment to help the college increase revenue.

But good intentions aren’t enough to run this fragile system.

If Messina is forced to leave her position, it will be up........

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