College cuts up for vote

Officials at the three schools within the San Mateo County Community College District — Skyline College, College of San Mateo and Cañada College — and the district office submitted cut proposals. Making the cuts will mean less course offerings, layoffs and possibly the loss of the district’s television station, KCSM-TV.

Each school worked together to put together a proposed list of cuts.

The College of San Mateo is looking at reducing its budget from $2.53 million with a reduction to administrative positions, cutting back summer school by 15 percent, limiting concurrent enrollment offerings, operating cost savings and savings from retirements. In addition, the bulk of the savings, $925,000, will come from reducing or putting programs on hiatus —specifically French, German, aeronautics and cooperative education, among others.

The second biggest savings could come from reducing $897,000 for the district television station, KCSM-TV. General Manager Marilyn Lawrence has until Wednesday to develop a plan to fund the $1 million gap. Earlier this month, she was halfway there.  

Skyline College is looking at cutting $1.7 million from its $21 million budget. Cuts will include reducing summer school offerings by 30 percent, reducing classes in the fall and spring semesters, faculty retirements, savings from post retirement contracts, reducing hourly counseling and unfunding an administrative position, according to a proposal by President Victoria Morrow.

Cañada College is proposing $886,720 in cuts, with the bulk, $645,000, coming from a reduction in classes offered. The list of classes to be offered has yet to be finalized. In addition, there will be fewer courses offered over the summer; the adaptive physical education classes will be eliminated; the real estate program will be put on hiatus; telecourses will be discontinued; program coordination duties will be eliminated; and men’s varsity golf will be put on hiatus.

At the district office level, 21 full-time equivalent positions will be reduced or eliminated, a $1.4 million savings to the district.

Nearly $7.3 million in cuts is needed from the three school sites for a number of reasons including receiving less in federal stimulus funds than anticipated. District CFO Kathy Blackwood estimated 10 percent to 15 percent in cuts is needed.

The board meets 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 at the District Office, 3401 CSM Drive in San Mateo.