Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is navigating an escalating governance crisis in which both its suspended board president and its chancellor are simultaneously subject to separate personnel investigations. As of mid-September 2026, no investigation findings have been made public, and the district has characterized all matters as confidential personnel actions.

Trustees voted 4-3 on August 13, 2026 to temporarily remove Philip Yarbrough as board president and as chair of both the Fiscal/Audit and Policy committees, pending independent investigations into complaints filed by Chancellor Marvin Martinez — alleging discrimination, harassment, and due-process violations — and by a vice chancellor. Trustee Vice President Tina Arias Miller assumed the role of acting board president. Yarbrough retains his elected seat, which the board has no authority to revoke. Yarbrough publicly characterized the action as being "railroaded." According to the OC Register, this was the second attempt in roughly a month to strip him of his leadership roles.

At a special meeting that began the evening of September 1 and concluded after midnight on September 2, trustees voted 5-1 to place Chancellor Marvin Martinez on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into recently disclosed allegations. Voting in favor: Hanna, Hernandez, Crockett, Tong, and Arias Miller. Trustee Cecilia Iglesias cast the sole dissenting vote. According to Voice of OC, Yarbrough — already stripped of his officer posts — was not present and told reporters he was excluded from the closed session and does not know the nature of the allegations. Vice Chancellor Iris Ingram is serving as acting chancellor. The district characterized the matter as a confidential personnel action and did not disclose the scope or timeline of the investigation.

A September 12, 2026 Voice of OC opinion column by Ryan Resnick reported that at the same September 1 special meeting, trustees Crockett, Hanna, Hernandez, Arias Miller, and Tong voted to renew employee health insurance with ASCIP even though a competing vendor's proposal was reportedly about $1.7 million cheaper with lower deductibles. The column ties the vote to approximately $8 million in previously undisclosed ASCIP-held district funds accumulated during Martinez's tenure — funds that Yarbrough had demanded be returned. The vote tally and dollar figures are as reported by the author; the piece is opinion.

The broader background involves a forensic audit of a $7–8 million off-books insurance-rebate fund dating to 1997. The board stated in August that it has not found evidence of fraud related to that fund.

The situation is confined to the governance and administration of RSCCD, which serves approximately 60,000 students in central Orange County. No disruption to academic operations or student services has been reported.

Key developments to monitor: appointment or public identification of independent investigators for both tracks; any formal findings; scheduled board meetings at which the suspension or related matters may be revisited; and whether any party files legal or administrative actions.