Teach-in' topic: Tough cuts

For months, local San Mateo County Community College District officials have anticipated the need to cut nearly $7.3 million from the three school site allocations. Discussions on such cuts are ongoing with district officials. Students and faculty began meeting yesterday through teach-ins to discuss the issues the district is facing and how people can unite against such issues.

"We don’t have any of the answers,” said Cañada College social science teacher Robert Ovetz during an on-campus panel discussion yesterday. "The answers have to come from all of us.”

Ovetz has yet to be asked to return next fall. He said speaking up may mean not getting a class offering, a job he needs. But not standing up could mean the class won’t be there anyway, he said to over 100 people gathered in a large classroom.

Wednesday was the first of a two-day teach-in at all three local campuses. The event is a precursor to the planned statewide strike March 4. Discussions at the Redwood City community college focused on getting involved, learning about the financial challenges ahead and creating demonstrations that will not negatively affect those under contract.

The county’s three community colleges — the College of San Mateo, Cañada and Skyline College in San Bruno — are facing losses for a combination of reasons,  including the anticipation of $5.5 million of federal stimulus money that never materialized for the San Mateo County Community College District. That money was budgeted as deficit spending rather than making mid-year cuts. This reduction will be in addition to an estimated 10 percent in cuts needed for the coming school year, said district CFO Kathy Blackwood. Although the state budget does not have many cuts currently proposed to community colleges, Blackwood believes the proposal will not be what ends up adopted and therefore the conversation about cuts continues. A board study session is scheduled for Feb. 10.

Cuts outside of the community college system are affecting local students.

Cañada counselor Gloria Darafshi explained many state schools are no longer accepting spring transfers. In addition, schools that previously gave preference to San Mateo County transfer students are no longer doing so. State students, unable to get classes, are enrolling at local community colleges all while sections are being cut, Darafshi said, making enrolling more challenging.

Planning for education is also more difficult as cuts were already made to counseling services. Cañada offers 70 hours of counseling less per week, 140 half hour sessions, than it did last spring, she said. Those wanting to schedule classes are hard pressed to get the counseling help.

Those at yesterday’s teach-in declared the time for change was now, and it needed to happen together.

Miguel Anguiano Jr., a second semester Cañada student who spent 10 years in the Army, explained working together needed to stretch beyond college students. Families with younger children need to fight, or their education will not be worth much in years to come, he said.

Felicia Matthews recently restarted going to school, five years after first starting, only to find that cuts were looming and access was in jeopardy.

Katy Rose, a member of Cañada Strikes Back, explained those concerned should not get depressed over the situation, and should instead focus on fighting the cuts.

Meetings to discuss budget impacts requested by community college students are always taken, explained a spokesperson from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office.

"Even in this tough economy, the governor is fighting to protect community colleges — and that is exactly why his proposed budget increases overall funding for them,” the spokeswoman said.

Proposed cuts will alter the offerings of local colleges which affects community opportunities. Those proposals are to be discussed during a study session by the San Mateo County Community College Board of Trustees Wednesday, Feb. 10.

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