Despite the passage of Prop 30, Long Beach Community College’s budget woes still linger with multiple programs facing uncertainty as they sit on the discontinuance list.
Many, particularly those within the community and students, are miffed by the concept that, rather than being downsized, many programs—most of which are vocational, such as auto and aviation mechanics as well as recording arts—are being entirely cut. According to LBCC, these programs have not just met academic needs, but do not truly support the needs of the local workforce.
Jason Troia, the student trustee of LBCC, was clear about his own uncertainty when he stated at this weeks board meeting, “After hearing many hours of testimony… I am no closer to reaching my conclusions on the program discontinuance process than when it began. At best, the ramifications of these cuts will linger for decades if these programs are ever reconsidered in this community again.”
LBCC—as with all community colleges—has been set to take on the curbing of California’s unemployment fiasco since 2008, which Troia feels the programs being considered for cut have worked towards achieving. However, that work has been “eclipsed” by the Student Success Task Force, the Sacramento initiative that has altered community colleges across the state by introducing a new measure of how programs are “successful.”
“In actuality,” Troia continued, “the students [within programs being considered for discontinuance] define what student success means outside of this board room. There is a failure of imagination with the collective brainpower we have within this institution. We can certainly come up with a more innovative solution to our budget shortfalls.”
LBCC President Eloy Oakley was more forward about the measure of accountabilities required of the school, showing firm support that indeed the college must take these matters gravely.
“I know comments have been about how we measure success,” Oakley said. “What was clearly articulated was the way we are being measured as successful by the state and by the country—this is not anything new, this is the way we are going to be held accountable by the state and tax payers… What is certain is that we are not going back to the ways we conducted business two, three, four years because the environment has completely changed.”
Many community members and students sided with Troia, showcasing a variety of opinions that contradict the accountability measures currently being implemented. Many cited their LBCC education as the only reason they currently work professionally or harbor their creativity.
Myra Aguilara, who ironically operates the media system the board uses to record their meetings, pointed out the applicability beyond direct vocational uses—even citing a conference which LBCC hosted and, due to the failure of the hotel’s audio system, she single-handedly fixed the problem before a speaker even hit the stage.
“Since [these programs] are so hands-on, the skills become instinct… We are the ninjas that make everything look and sound great,” she said to applause.
After almost 100 minutes of public comment, the meeting still ended on a dire note from Trustee Jeffrey Kellogg, who said, “I believe I can speak on behalf of the Board when I say we do want to make any cuts. The reality of what we’re facing, we’re going to do the best we can by working with everyone in the college.”