Prospector

Fact: The reserves of other similar colleges are NOT that different from our own. For example, Marin is at 5 percent. Merced is at 6 percent. San Luis Obispo is at 6 percent. College of the Sequoias is at 3.5 percent. Shasta is at 5 percent. Solano is at 6.6 percent. Victor Valley is at 5 percent. And Yuba College is at 5.58 percent, really at 7.58 percent with capital enhancements of the current and last academic years.

Fact: Most of these colleges have not even begun to consider reductions or eliminations for next year. For instance, Marin College, with fewer full-time equivalent students, a smaller budget and less in reserves is currently proposing NO CUTS in unrestricted funds at this time.

Fact: Those colleges that have begun to consider reductions for next year are NOT entertaining the massive cuts to unrestricted funds that Yuba College is proposing. For instance, Merced is proposing $1.2 million in cuts to unrestricted funds, less than half of what Yuba College is proposing. And Merced, with only 6 percent in reserves, has committed itself to making the smallest cuts in instruction.

Fact: Yuba College has consistently decreased the number of classes offered to students. During Spring 2001, Yuba College offered 1,077 sections of classes on the Marysville campus. During Spring 2002, Yuba College offered 948 sections of classes on the Marysville campus, a 12 percent reduction. During Spring 2003, Yuba College is offering 827 sections of classes on the Marysville campus, an additional 12.7 reduction. All together, Yuba College has offered at the Marysville campus 250 fewer sections-- almost a 25 percent decrease-- over the last two years.

Since he has been here, Mr. Dencavage's estimates have been consistently over-conservative.  For instance, in the 2001-2002 Yuba College Budget Handbook, we find an estimated reserve at 3.5 percent when in fact it ended at nearly 9 percent.

Do we really want to trust his estimates again for this year?

In a Fall 2002 article of "The Prospector," Leela Rai expressed what I hope is the sentiment of all Board members.  She told me in an interview, "The priority is to put students first.  We need to make sure Yuba College stays abreast of trends in the state and community to stay competitive.  Quality of education should be top notch and stay in the framework of the vision and mission statements, and we must constantly re-evaluate those and prioritize student success. . . . We have a responsibility to keep up."

[At this point the Board interrupted the Editor, and forced her to stop.  The following paragraph would have been part of her presentation.]

These are the words of a Trustee.  If the Board shares her sentiments, you will refuse to make the extreme cuts in instruction and student services being proposed today.  Do you really put students first, as Leela Rai told me?  Do you really want to keep our quality of education top notch?  If so, you will take a closer look at the numbers I have shared with you and seriously reconsider these proposals.

[NOTE: with no discussion, the Board of Trustees approved the resolution to reduce the number of Classified Employees.  With very little discussion, and only one vote opposed, being cast by George Nicholau, the Board approved the resolution to reduce or eliminate particular kinds of Academic Services.]

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