Dr. Sandra Serrano, Bakersfield College president, urged students and employees to take action against a proposed $6 million budget cut that will eliminate classes and some jobs.
“This is a call to action. It is time to become vocal, it is time to get angry, it is time to write, call and fax your legislators and all of the legislators on the budget committee,” she told those at an all-college meeting Jan. 31 in the Indoor Theater.
Serrano explained proposed state budget reductions, their potential impact on BC, students and employees and encouraged the campus community to lobby against the cuts.
She explained two types of reductions that will occur. The first is a midyear reduction, which will cut $1.2 million in scheduled maintenance money and instructional equipment money from BC this year. Because the district already has made cuts, she said she hopes the midyear reduction won’t affect the college.
The second is a $6 million reduction, a devastating 10 percent.
“That is far greater than we’ve ever had to do in the 14 years I’ve been here,” said Serrano. Every program on campus will be evaluating its budget and the students it serves within the next few weeks. A budget committee then will recommend cuts for next year.
Serrano described this as “redefining” what BC does.
The process is necessary “so we can look carefully, look how we will redefine what we will do day in and day out,” she said. “And when you’re looking at a $6 million reduction, we will have o redefine what we do.”
She estimated that if approved the governor’s proposal for community colleges would keep more than 200,000 students from attending throughout the state.
“Two hundred thousand students in California attending community colleges is greater that the entire undergraduate enrollment of the University of California,” she said.
In Kern County, the college district would be unable to enroll 3,000 students.
“It’s going to impact every one of us, all of the ‘me’s in this room, all of the ‘me’s that didn’t come here today, including our students.”
While BC does not expect to issue layoff notices on a large scale in March, some employees, especially those in specially funded programs, can expect notices, she explained.
“I expect there will be March 15th notices and that there will be some of those in management/administration, some in the classified branches that will receive these notices.
“Within the faculty branches, I believe those that are contingent on funding will definitely receive notice. Those that are temporary will probably receive a notice. I want to be open and honest with you. I do expect March 15th notices.”
She also explained that even with fees going up from $11 a unit to $24 a unit as proposed by the governor, that money will not stay with community colleges. Instead, it will be used to bail out the state deficit.
“If our students are going to pay more, we should be able to provide more.”
However, community college students will be paying more and receiving less, since programs and classes will be cut.
Allied health instructor Chris Romanowich is a member of the committee that developed a questionnaire being used to evaluate programs, classes and their costs.
“We have an opportunity to take a really comprehensive look at what we’re doing,” she said.