|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
Everyone seems to be waiting anxiously to learn the results of election day voting. Proposition 30 is on everyone's mind and there seems to be great uncertainty about how likely it is to be approved.
At the Classified Senate forum last week at Crafton Hills College, I heard great concern about the impact of not having Prop 30. Will there be layoffs? Will we implement furloughs? Will health benefits be reduced? Will the District offer a SERP? These are just a few of the questions I am hearing.
Given that we still have a $4 million structural deficit, even with the usual savings that occurs during the year from staff coming and going, unspent line items and early spending cut-offs, it is not enough to result in a balanced budget.
Frankly, a SERP is a remedy that can potentially be a win-win way to save money. Of course, it requires certain things to occur on both sides. Staff needs to take advantage of a SERP now and not wait for "the next SERP". On the administrative side, we need to be prepared to keep positions vacant, and reorganize resources to get the job done. There are other considerations as well including the 50% law compliance.
All will become more apparent in a few weeks as citizens let their voices be heard during the voting process.
I promise to keep you all informed as we move down this unknown road. As you know, I am committed, as is our Board of Trustees, to not making any hasty decisions during the current fiscal year that may result in budget cuts that impact the salaries or benefits of our staff.
We will work through the spring to develop a balanced budget for the next fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013. We will work together and we will work within the parameters of our collective bargaining agreements.
Stay strong and stay positive.
Sincerely, 
Bruce Baron
Chancellor
|
|
Solar Farm "Dashboard"
| |
I am so proud of our solar farm at CHC. We have a new "dashboard" in place via the web that tracks the energy generated by the solar farm and tells us how much we have helped the environment.
The dashboard can be found live at this web address: http://live.deckmonitoring.com/?id=crafton_hills_college Here is what you will see.  The solar farm has already saved over half a million kilowatt hours of electricity. What I really like about the dashboard is we can see that our CO2 offset equals 10,048 trees and the equivalent of saving 45,218 gallons of gasoline. This gives you bragging rights in the community!
|
|
Presidential Search Update
| The Committees for each of the president positions have met and the process is moving forward. I have been told that first level interviews will take place in early November, with second level interviews and open campus forums planned for November 27th.
The plan is to have two forum opportunities, one during the work day and one in the early evening. The forums will be advertised in the community, in both English and Spanish newspapers, so that we can have a strong turnout.
The plan is to have names to the December Board meeting and the presidents to begin work at their respective campuses soon after the new year. |
|
What Happened with the Resource 25 Implementation?
| |
Staff members across the district have asked me why we never implemented Resource 25 software? I asked Dr. Glen Kuck to prepare a response, which follows.
What is Series/Resource25
Series/Resource25 gives you a complete set of advanced tools for optimizing classroom and event scheduling, space and resource management, web calendar publishing, online ticket and merchandise sales, and inventory management, as well as master planning and reporting.
Challenges with Implementation
Over the past several months, we have struggled to successfully implement Resource25. Despite the value this product will bring to our District, insufficient planning, a lack of general awareness and buy-in, and outdated and inefficient underlying business practices have made implementing R25 exceptionally challenging.
Hence, rather than trying to continue to push a boulder uphill, we believe it would be prudent for us to halt the R25 implementation and regroup. Specifically, we need to:
1) Revisit the product, as a whole. What is it, what can it do, how do we want to make use of it, in what priority order, etc;
2) Conduct business processes analysis and re-engineering (BPA) for all processes we plan to transition to R25;
3) Quantify what level of effort will be required by all parties (both college departments and district offices);
4) Establish priorities and timelines;
Future Direction
Strata Information Group (SIG) will be facilitating the BPA this December 10th and 11th. This is the same company that conducted the BPA for Fiscal Services and HR, both of which were very well done. All impacted departments and their staff will be asked to participate in the process.
|
|
SBVC faculty member has art exhibit at CSUSB
| Congratulations to our own SBVC art professor, David Rosales, for his show at the Fullerton Museum of Art at Cal State San Bernardino. The show, entitled PERSPECTIVES, features the work of five artists including David Rosales. The show is filled with the beauty and imagery of the Latino culture. The show is wonderful and I urge you to visit.
David Rosales is a great artist and you must see his work. Go to http://raffma.csusb.edu/ for more information. or call 909-537-7373.
|
|
Big Improvements Seen in Staff Injury Claims
| |
There has been significant improvement with respect to the District's injury claims. We've dropped from 16 injuries for the first quarter 2 years ago, to 11 injuries for the first quarter last year, to 4 injuries for the first quarter for this year.
The average cost for the first quarter for the last two years was approximately $69,000. For the first quarter this year, the cost was $7,200. This is, on average, an improvement of over $60,000 for this quarter alone.
I appreciate everyone's efforts to stay safe on the job. Thank you!
|
|
KVCR Produces Documentary on Braille Production at Ironwood State Prison - SBCCD Grant Program.
| |
KVCR has produced an hour-long documentary examining a unique partnership designed to change lives.
The Alternative Text Production Center (ATPC) located in Camarillo and affiliated with the San Bernardino Community College District produces textbooks for disabled students.
In their own voices, students and faculty on various community college campuses talk about the difference it makes to have textbooks for the visually impaired at the same time their sighted students have them.
The KVCR program looks at the process --- from the training of inmates at Ironwood State Prison to their certification by the Library of Congress to the transcribing and production process at the ATPC.
Please take a look at how this program transforms lives.
Wednesday October 24 at 9PM
Wednesday November 7 at 7PM on KVCR
|
|
Brief Updates
| |
SBCCD Sustainability Plan on State Chancellor's Sustainability Website
SBCCD is one of only two districts that has a completed sustainability plan that is being presented on the State Chancellor's Office website. This link takes you to the site. Our plan is part of a Board directive to develop a sustainability plan to reduce our impact on the environment and make a concerted effort to bring the concepts of sustainability and alternative energy to our district.
Streamlining Purchasing Approvals
I've heard from Ben Gamboa that we've made significant progress in cutting out layers of approval in the purchasing process.
According to Ben, for "80% all of purchases, we have eliminated at least one full layer of approval at each site. For 57% of all purchases, we have eliminated two full layers of approval.
We are still analyzing the average changes in processing time that have resulted, but the population is still rather small to pull a statistically significant sample as we are just shy of the first quarter of the year. Anecdotally, though, departments are praising the apparent increase in speed at which their purchases are being processed".
Our goal is to move toward a paperless process and that project is in the planning stages.
Award of Excellence
The Community College Facility Coalition has bestowed the Crafton Hills College Learning Resource Center project with an Award of Excellence. The award will be officially made at the annual CCFC Conference next month. The criteria for the awarad include a number of areas including building design and functionality, energy efficiency, and other categories. Congratulations to everyone involved. |
|
SBCCD in the News
| |
The link for this week's news can be found HERE. This week's stories are:
- Angels 3B Coach Dino Ebel inducted into SBVC Hall of Fame
- CHC to show Michael Bedoya Paintings
- EDCT to Host Technology Expo and Job Fair
- SBCCD Retirees receive Legacy of Service Awards
- SBVC Sports Round-up
- Up, Up and Away with SBVC Jimmy Webb
|
|
My Vision
| |
We will
- be considered the "best" community college in the State.
- build a culture of trust with open and respectful communication.
- increase all partnerships with business and industry, other academic institutions, non-profit agencies so that we can be stronger through combining resources and working together.
- improve student success as measured by the State Chancellor's Office and any additional indicators that we determine are appropriate.
- increase our resource development and bring new grants and fundraising dollars to the colleges.
- continue to develop and implement new academic programs that meet the needs of our community.
- use technology to work smarter and to improve opportunities for student success.
- provide service to students that reflects quality and excellence.
- enhance our safety programs and be responsive to staff concerns about environmental health and safety.
- hold professional development, including wellness, to be an integral part of our commitment to faculty and staff.
- be good stewards of the environment and continue to develop and implement the SBCCD Sustainability Plan and alternative energy programs.
|
Please let me know how I can help you in the performance of your important work on behalf of our great District.
Sincerely,
Bruce
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
