Some of the key highlights are as follows:

• $50M is added to the Economic and Workforce Development Program (EWD) on a one-time basis "to improve student success in career technical education."  The funds are intended to develop, enhance, and expand CTE programs that build upon existing regional capacity to better meet regional market demands.
• $42.4M is added to offset decreases in local property tax and fee revenue estimates for the 14-15 year.
• $6M for increased technology infrastructure ($1.4M one-time, $4.6M ongoing) to upgrade bandwidth and replace technology equipment at local campuses

This is the part that hurts us:

Adjustments to Access Funding and COLA  

• A decrease of $14.8M to reflect a change from 3 percent to 2.75 percent in funds for new access for the 2014-15 fiscal year.  Additionally, the Governor will push back the implementation of a revised growth formula until the 2015-16 fiscal year.
• A decrease of $1.2M to reflect a drop in the COLA from 0.86 percent to 0.85 percent

Adjustment to the January maintenance and instructional equipment proposal -

• A decrease from $175M to $148M
• All funds will go toward deferred maintenance in the revised proposal, rather than a 50/50 split with instructional equipment.
• A local match will not be required in 2014-15·        
• A decrease of $1.5M for Proposition 39 projects/workforce development, due to reduced revenues attributable to the California Clean Energy Jobs Act

• Deferral pay down adjustments -
• A decrease of $55.5M in the prior year
• An increase of $133.6M in the current year
• A decrease of $78.1M in the budget year

While there are adjustment of payments among the three fiscal years, the net result is still a complete pay down of system deferrals as of the 14-15 fiscal year.

 

 

The Governor will emphasize the need for fiscal restraint in spite of the many calls for greater spending and restoration of general fund programs that were negatively impacted during the Great Recession.   

 

To this end, the Governor will be pushing passage within the Legislature of a ballot initiative to be placed before voters this fall that will modify a proposed Rainy Day Fund that will smooth out the state's boom and bust budget cycles (fueled primarily by capital gains returns) and require the state to pay down liabilities.  Further, it is anticipated that the Governor will work on a solution regarding CalSTRS obligations, though it is not clear at this time what he will propose.

 

Next steps will include a response by the Legislative Analyst's Office, review by the budget committees of each house, and a legislative conference committee to iron out differences between the two houses.  It is expected that the budget will be approved and signed by the Governor prior to July 1, 2014.

I am disappointed to report that no finalists are being interviewed for the Vice Chancellor for Fiscal Services position.  I have asked the Human Resources department to go back out immediately for a new recruitment.  We will increase the salary by the 8.16% which is the compounded 4% + 4% approved by the Board at the last Board meeting for managers.  We will increase our personal networking activities and try new recruitment vehicles with the hope of building a pool.

I will ask the screening committee to continue its work into the month of June and July so we can hopefully find a candidate. 

Tim Oliver, the current Interim Vice Chancellor is set to return to retirement on June 30, 2014.  That has not changed as of yet although we are talking about options to get up through this second recruitment process.

As you may know, SBCCD is the fiscal agent for the AB86 planning grant funds.  This process will result in a regional analysis and plan for the role of the adult school in our communities and how we can build improved partnerships, transitions, and educational experiences. 

We have moved the coordination of this project to SBVC Dean of Mathematics, Business and Technology, Henry Hua, and Emma Diaz, who was hired with grant funding to assist with coordination, scheduling, documentation and other duties.

We are known as the Inland Regional consortium and the members are:

• San Bernardino District Office 
• San Bernardino Valley College
• Crafton Hills College
• Colton Joint USD
• Redlands USD
• Rialto USD
• San Bernardino City USD
• Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint USD

Invitations to be members were sent to Rim of the World USD and Bear Valley USD but neither have indicted their interest.

 

Our regional consortium plans are to:

1. Evaluate existing Adult Education programs.
2. Evaluate adult education needs.
3. Plan to integrate programs.
4. Plan to address gaps.
5. Plan to accelerate student progress.
6. Plan to collaborate on professional development activities.
7. Plan to leverage existing regional resources and structures.

AB 86 focuses on five program areas:

• Adult Basic Education (K-12, Basic Skills  and GED)
• Classes for immigrants (citizenship, ESL, and workforce preparation)
• Short term technical education  
• Programs for adults with disabilities
• Programs for apprenticeships

The first deadline is July 31, 2014.  This requires a document outlining items 1, 2 and 4 from above. Dr. Hua is scheduling meetings with each superintendent in the consortium to initiate relationship building and to gather information.   

 

I will continue to share information with you as the process move forward. 

Through the District's Economic Development and Corporate Training (EDCT) Division, we are partners on two major Trade Adjustment Assistance grants. 

One is a Southern California effort that is seeking funding for healthcare initiatives led by Rio Hondo with more than ten other colleges including CHC and SBVC. 

We are also partnering with Chaffey College to seek funding for Advanced Manufacturing under the same grant program. 

These are very competitive grant programs and it will be a few months before we learn about the status of our applications.  I will keep you posted.

EDCT has won a grant for almost $300,000 to develop training opportunities, leading to employment in the area of advanced manufacturing.  With partners, Chaffey and Barstow CCDs, the result in program alliance with industry certification under the National Center for Construction Education and Research curriculum guide. This will ensure that participants can receive nationally recognized, stackable and portable certificates.

As of April 23, 2014, SBVC is number five state-wide in the number of Associate Degrees for transfer approved by the state Chancellor's Office. With a target of 12 programs to be certified by fall 2014, SBVC already has 14 active programs with one additional in development.  That is 117% of its target goal.

The programs approved and offered are Administration of Justice, Anthropology, Business Administration, Communication Studies, Early Childhood Education, English, Geology, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. Computer Science is in development.