Board of Trustees to Cut Classes

Over the course of several hours, in the auditorium of Ventura High School, supporters of the Ventura County Community Colleges protested and pleaded to members of the Board of Trustees regarding the programs due to be cut from each college within the district. After much deliberation, the Board of Trustees announced their final decision this past Tuesday, announcing they voted and agreed to cut most proposed classes and programs. Those who attended the meeting were supporters of the idea to forgo any cuts. Among those supporters was Ventura County Supervisor John Zaragosa.

"It's not my intent to recommend a policy for your board," said Zaragosa. "But we can find other solutions to save these programs."

For Moorpark College, the cuts consisted of the following programs: Computer Information Systems, Computer Science, Interior Design, Emergency Medical Technician, Baseball, Men's Track and Cross-Country. For Ventura College, program cuts included the Agriculture and Architecture programs, among many more. Although Oxnard College also faced several program cuts, their Film/ Television program was strongly represented and survived the vote.

The President of each campus proposed which classes and programs to obliterate.

The cuts that were made reflect a range of programs and classes that have, in recent years, had either low enrollment or low graduation rates. Many of the supporters present at the meeting voiced their concerns through public comment. One speaker and former architecture student from Ventura College, Bruce Borin, took the stand.

"You're eliminating what I thought was the real mandate of community college," Borin said. "I'm at a loss to understand why you're cutting these things."

Vice Chancellor Sue Johnson addressed the board members about the matter concerning the District's budget.

These cuts were suggested and made with the hopes of erasing a $6 million deficit the District will face in the next fiscal year. If the District assumes passage of the tax initiative that looks to take place this coming November, then they will be looking at a $6 million shortfall which in turn will need to be balanced. However, if the District assumes passage and the passage does not occur, then the District will have used $6.2 million in reserves

"We will need to decide what to risk in reserves," said Johnson. "And what shortfall to budget."

Students, faculty, and parents pleaded to the Board requesting them to think twice before voting. Many students who took the stand during public comment addressed to the Board that without these programs, their college dreams will diminish.

Speakers  from the Oxnard College film/ television program requested the Board to forgo any cuts concerning not only their programs but the programs throughout the District. Many of these considerations came from students within this division along with faculty member  Andres Orozco.

"The process was faulty from the get go," said Orozco. "Our classes are full."

Protestors in the audience came prepared with signs saying "yay" or "boo" and held them up at the appropriate time. Among the audience was former Oxnard College student Eugenia Granados voicing her discourse to the Board.  Granados will now attend Ventura College because of the cuts two years ago which directly affected her studies within the Art Program at OC.  Even though Ventura College is further in distance for Granados, she still feels it is necessary to make the drive in order to obtain the classes she needs to finish and achieve her AA degree.

"I don't care if it takes 40 years," Granados addressed to the board of trustees. " I will do what ever it takes to accomplish my dreams."