Students and teachers from the College of San Mateo are pleading on behalf of individual programs slated to be impacted by projected cuts required for next year’s budget, a conversation school officials have already began.

“This is probably the worst financial times this college has been in and the public education has ever had. It’s a hard time for all of us and all of you,” said Karen Schwarz, president of the San Mateo County Community College District Board, after hearing pleas from students, teachers and community members at the Wednesday night meeting. “We can only get through this by working together.”

The district anticipated receiving $5.5 million from federal stimulus funds, which never materialized. The loss to this year’s budget was taken as deficit spending as to not make more mid-year cuts. With an estimated 10 percent to 15 percent in cuts needed for next year in addition to the loss of these one-time funds, each of the three colleges is beginning to discuss what those cuts will look like, said district CFO Kathy Blackwood.

The district’s 2009-10 budget is $367 million and the College of San Mateo’s budget needs to be reduced from $28.3 million to $22.1 million by 2010-11.

Although cuts will not go into effect until July, those at the College of San Mateo are beginning to voice concerns over the loss of programs.

With a list of potential cuts already out for the College of San Mateo, many are concerned who take or teach courses among those suggested for elimination — including aeronautics, American Sign Language, anthropology, architecture, building inspection, counselor arts and science, education, French, geography, German, human services, humanities, Italian, Japanese, meteorology, military science, paleontology, perioperative nursing, real estate and the alcohol and other drugs program.

Jesus Moya, a part-time ethnic studies teacher for 15 years, presented a petition with hundreds of signatures and some personal stories about the importance of recognizing the variety of backgrounds people in this area represent.

“We don’t want to go back to the time of the ’60s,” he said. “We’re asking for equality, for our fair share. Cutting us will send us back to the little we had before.”

One person signed the petition anonymously writing, “Without this class, I would be on the streets drug dealing.”

The College of San Mateo is looking at a 22 percent reduction over a two-year period with cuts going into effect in July. Information distributed to staff by President Michael Claire said the $6.2 million hit will impact staff and classes.

“Approximately 95 percent of our budget is spent on personnel,” he wrote. “Unfortunately there is no way that we can achieve a budget cut of $6.2 million without impacting people.”

School officials hoped to approach making the list of cuts using various strategies such as eliminating low-enrolled sections, reducing or eliminating community partnership programs, utilizing community education where applicable and consolidating programs with other colleges. The list is noted as a beginning of a conversation, but anything taken from it will need to be replaced in some other way.

Cuts to many programs are in addition to student services, which will be cut due to the state reducing funding earmarked for those reasons, said Blackwood. Veterans and students who need financial aid or further academic support will be directly impacted by such losses.

Ethnic studies is just one area that faces possible cuts. Elimination of the alcohol and other drugs program, for example, drew a few concerned speakers.

Professor and Department Chair Angela Stocker helped start the program 17 years ago. She said the program fulfills the college’s mission of offering work-force training.

Debra Camarillo, a former student and current executive director of the Latino Commission, noted the alcohol and other drugs program allowed her the opportunity to succeed and offers opportunities for many to turn their lives around.

The board next meets Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.