I hope your summer is going well and you've been able to spend some time away from work to enjoy the beautiful weather.
My summer has been interesting. On June 20 I broke my wrist while at home doing chores (my first mistake)! This is my first broken bone ever and it's been a challenge to get the broken bones set correctly. I am very grateful it's not my right hand. However, I am on the mend finally and and should be without cast when I see you at in-service day, August 12th.
We've been busy with the new fiscal year start-up, budget preparation, District Program Review, and many other projects. I've been appointed as the regional representative to the state Chancellor's Economic Development Policy Advisory Council (EDPAC). I look forward to serving SBCCD and the other District's in our region.
Meet Whitney Fields, District Environmental Health and Safety Administrator
Whitney Fields is the District's new full-time, in-house Environmental Health & Safety Administrator. Whitney will work closely with the District and campus administration to maintain compliance with local, state and federal regulations.
Whitney holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration and brings a wealth of knowledge to the District. He has worked in the Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) field for fifteen years. He has served as the EH&S Officer for the University of Redlands, the Los Angles Unified School District and City of Los Angeles Housing Authority, which owns and operates over 7,000 low income property units.
Chancellor to speak at combined staff in-service day session
I am looking forward to seeing you at the opening session of in-service day, August 12th. (Where did the summer go?)
Both colleges and District Office staff are invited to San Bernardino Valley College for continental breakfast (8:00 a.m.) and Chancellor's comments (8:30 a.m.). I will give you an update on my vision for the year, the budget, and other topics of interest. We'll have time for questions, and (hopefully) some answers. Your campus administration will be sending out further information soon.
Student bus pass program is official
The Omnitrans Board of Directors gave final approval to the free bus pass pilot program, which will allow all SBVC and CHC students to ride an unlimited number of routes an unlimited number of times during the school year.
Students will use their ID cards to board the bus and the scanned card will allow Omnitrans to analyze usage during the pilot program year.
If the program is successful, students will be asked to consider implementing a nominal transportation fee of about $7 per semester to support the program.
The pilot program is largely being funded through city governments who have committed funding from their allocations of South Coast Air Quality Management District project funds to help improve air quality. The District will contribute up to $55,000, from non-unrestricted general fund sources.
This program can also alleviate some of the parking congestion on campus. The program will officially begin on August 15th.
Budget Update
First of all, I want to thank you for your courage and patience during the most difficult fiscal time in California Community College history. Our sacrifice and strong financial stewardship is helping us to weather the storm.
I am very proud of the fact that SBCCD has had no layoffs of full-time contract staff; no furloughs; and no salary reductions or step and column freezes.
I am also very pleased that we were able to maintain our health insurance plans at prior year's cost. Further, all contractual increases were honored. New budgetary costs of contract increases and maintenance of the health plans topped $2 million.
The state budget continues to place education under great strain with no relief in sight as legislators continue to count on revenues that are not there and suggest unrealistic reductions in pensions plans and other areas.
The 2011-2012 state budget places the community college system under a perilous double edged sword. The first swing of the sword cut $400 million state-wide and about $4 million for SBCCD. The second swing will come after December 15, 2011, when the state assesses its revenues and determines if they fall short of the additional $4 billion in revenues projected (on top of the $6.6 billion projected in the Governor's May Revised budget). Further cuts will be triggered based on the following schedule:
Tier 0 - There will be NO midyear cuts if at least $3 billion of the $4 billion of the additional revenues materialize.
Tier 1 - If only $2 - $3 billion of the revenues materialize, up to $601 million in midyear cuts could be enacted. This would mean a $30 million general fund reduction to the California Community College system offset by a fee increase to $46 per unit.
Tier 2 - If less than $2 billion in additional revenue is received, cuts of $1.8 billion could be implemented midyear. This would mean the fee increase plus a statewide reduction of $72 million.
Of course, we have once again reduced course offerings for the fall. The Board of Trustees has asked us to look at a plan to restore classes for the spring semester and we are working on that now. There is little question that our state is in deep financial trouble.
No one can convince me that the place to reduce the budget is in education at any level of the spectrum. Education is the best hope this state has to stay competitive, encourage innovation and introduce skilled employees to the workforce.
Please let me know how I can help you in the performance of your important work on behalf of our great District.
work closely with the District and campus administration to maintain compliance with local, state and federal regulations.