State Center Community College students will not be in Sacramento when other students from community colleges across the state converge on March 14 to protest cuts in education funding.

Instead, students from Fresno City College, Reedley College, and the North Centers will march from Fresno City College to the Courthouse Park in Downtown, Fresno, to take a stand in support of their educational future.

They are not able to participate in the “March in March” event at the State Capitol because of budget constraints, said Teresa Patterson, Executive Director of Legislative & Public Relations for the district.  Patterson said the decision was made when she met with student leaders representing the five local campuses of SCCCD on Feb. 22. She was impressed with their commitment to ensuring the future.

“I have never seen such a broad spectrum of constituency groups come together throughout the district in support of one common goal,” she says. “And that is, to broadcast to the entire state what their local community colleges are doing to improve the quality of life in our valley. And that is the most extraordinary part.”

While student leadership expressed disappointment, they were not deterred from proceeding with their own event, now labeled ‘March for Community Unity.’ Campus leaders agreed that they wanted to unite as one voice to advocate for community colleges.

Dr. Patterson said the students deserve all the credit. “They are the real stars; even though I am serving as the coordinating chair for the students, it was truly their idea and their vision for bringing the community together.”

The original arrangement had SCCCD students marching  to Fresno City Hall and speaking to Mayor Ashley Swearengin and other dignitaries, but  the Mayor has decided not to participate in the event. A permit could not be expedited for this event.  Later, the district was able to secure the Courthouse Park location on Monday evening.                

Budget Workshop

Meanwhile, in a special SCCCD Board of Trustees Budget Study Session at the Clovis Center on Feb. 22, Dr. Willard Wright, interim Vice Chancellor for State Center Community College District and Ed Eng, Director of Finance presented their overview of the District’s current budget and possible scenarios based on actions the California legislature may or may not take. The crisis is unprecedented, yet uncertainty is the biggest frustration of all.

Many concerned participants of the public workshop included residents, students and educators. They were curious as to the avenue the proceedings.  Students questioned the use of the mysterious rainy day or reserve fund held by the district.  According to the board, this fund contains nearly $36 million but will only be used as a last option, when all else fails.

The chancellor’s office reported that students, faculty and staff of the district have submitted more than 38 cost cutting ideas in response to their plea, published in the Feb. 16 issue of the Rampage.  They still welcome suggestions at [email protected]; select suggestions will be published in the next issue of State Center Connections .

Of the projected scenarios for the 2011-2012 fiscal year here in the district, the failure of the

proposed tax package initiative would erode the SCCCD’s  unrestricted general fund. Should the initiative fail, the district would face a projected $21.5 million drop in state apportionment and a $2.6 million increase in student fees.  

State legislators are still debating whether or not to place the tax initiative on the June 2011 ballot, to allow voters to choose the path. Denying voters the opportunity to choose, says Governor Brown, would be ‘un-American.’

Elected local officials are not unanimous in the stand on the subject.  Local State Assembly member Henry T. Perea is supportive of the Governor’s plan, but Assembly Member Linda Halderman has joined other Republicans in a pledge not to support putting the extension on the ballot.  Sen. Mike Rubio is in favor of the extensions, while Sen. Tom Berryhill and Assembly member Connie Conway among others are still undecided.

What Can Students Do?

Twelve State Republican legislators have not yet made up their minds on the tax extensions; that’s where SCCCD students can help by writing or calling undecided elected officials to support that the tax extensions be placed on the ballot.

For this referendum to appear on the June ballot, two-thirds of the members in both houses majority need to support it.