4 minute read
President plans for 10% cuts
Michaia Hernandez/ Roundup
In her first town hall meeting held Thursday afternoon, Pierce College President Kathleen Burke-Kelly addressed concerns surrounding the state budget crisis and the ramifications it has on the college.
The meeting, which was prepared following Burke-Kelly’s return to Pierce Monday, May 2, began with an open discussion on relevant issues. It was followed by a question-and-answer portion where audience members were encouraged to voice their concerns and inquiries.
Though the audience was predominantly comprised of Pierce administrators and faculty members, there were many students in attendance.
“I honestly don’t even know who the president is,” said Pierce student Veronica Liberato prior to the event. “I really want to hear what she has to say about the budget crisis and how it affects the classes being cut.”
Some faculty members attended the meeting on behalf of the students they instruct.
“I wanted to see the direction we’re heading and how it’s going to affect the students,” said Shilo Nelson, instructor of physical education. “That’s why we’re here, for the students.”
For most of the meeting, Burke-Kelly spoke of the budget reductions proposed by the district.
The best-case scenario is a five percent cut to the school’s budget, according to Burke-Kelly.
“The five percent [reduction] at this point is a done deal,” she said as she pointed to her visual aid: a projection of a document that broke down the scenarios for each budget reduction proposal.
The two other scenarios are 10 percent and 15 percent reductions, the latter being labeled as the “worst case.” The ten percent cut is the most likely scenario, according to Burke-Kelly.
Burke-Kelly connected the current budget crisis in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) to the state budget in her presentation by discussing Governor Jerry Brown’s efforts last March to “extend existing taxes.”
Brown failed to gain the necessary Republican support for his proposal, so there is no possibility for it to be included in the June ballot.
At this point, the earliest that the issue can be brought to the voters will be in November, according to Burke-Kelly.
If the proposal for an additional budget reduction to the LACCD passes in November, it will prove “devastating [to] the spring semester,” she said.
“We can get through next year,” she said. “What we can’t go through is [201213].”
Burke-Kelly also addressed the issue of the hiring freeze currently imposed on community college administrative positions.
“The hiring freeze is the worst way to plan,” she said.
Burke-Kelly also informed the audience that she has no intention of replacing two administrators who have recently retired. Instead, she plans to reassign existing faculty members to cover all the responsibilities of the retirees.
Many of the students who attended the meeting left feeling disheartened.
“This is all disappointing,” said Trixcee Comia, 19, nursing major. “It seems like we’re not moving forward at all.”
The feeling of disappointment was shared by the faculty officers who attended.
“This is really upsetting,” said Ellie Kligman, adjunct Computer Assisted Office Technologies (CAOT) instructor. “California has always been known for its community colleges and the services that they provide.”
Samantha Ferrante, 19, history major, expressed her appreciation for the effort the college administration is putting forth with regards to the budget crisis.
“Students need to be more understanding,” said Ferrante. “They’re doing what they can.”
The majority of the audience members were aware, prior to the meeting, of the situation the budget crisis is leaving the district in.
“I had known things were getting tougher,” said Steve McHargue, instructor of history and humanities. “It would have been nice to have planned for this in advance.”
Phyllis Braxton, dean of Student Services, encouraged students to be vocal in expressing their concerns on the issue. She suggests that they attempt to go speak directly with the state legislature.
“[The administration] doesn’t want these cuts for the students,” she said. “This is all happening at the state level, and we can’t do anything about it.”
