Although congressional historians dispute whether former Senator Everett Dirksen (R. -IL) ever actually uttered the immortal words, "a billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money,"no one takes issue with the concept.
California is now in the midst of a $22 billion shortfall, with politicians of both parties scrambling for solutions. Predictably, Democrats don’t want to cut spending, with Republicans holding the line on taxes. The public wants good schools, immaculate parks, safe streets, clean air and water, upgraded highways and an eradication of all communicable diseases. They just don’t want to pay for it.
Community colleges are one microcosm of the budget. Governor Schwarzenegger’s January budget proposal would have shut the door to community colleges for 50,000 students, while eliminating a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for the districts and reducing programs across-the-board. While the Governor’s May budget proposes restoration of some of the cuts, overall funding levels remain problematic.
When we consider the stories of those students who will be turned away — not because they won’t be admitted (community colleges remain open access), but because the districts cannot afford to operate a sufficient number of courses to meet the demand — the budget crisis becomes very real and painful.
During periods of economic decline, community colleges become the gateway through which the unemployed, many of whom already have a college degree, pass to learn a new skill and quickly reenter the workforce. Yesterday’s jobs in the mortgage industry become tomorrow's opportunity in health care and green technology — but only with the assistance of the community colleges.
Policy makers are faced with a fiscal emergency, and need short-term solutions which do not disrupt long-term progress. Community colleges are one of the few programs in the budget where Democrats and Republicans, Assemblymembers and Senators, legislators and the Governor, have converged. They see the relatively minor spending in the overall programs, and the specific investments in career technical education and basic skills, as being among the best to place the public's money during this crisis.
One of the key questions posed by state lawmakers is what private industry can do to assist the colleges in their operations. As one of the longest serving community college organizations, FACCC reminds legislators that private businesses are not prone to supplant public investment. When the state or local district chooses to end funding for a program, private industry will not pick up the slack and keep it running.
Nonetheless, private industry can assist districts to function in both good and bad economic times. Strategic planning, risk management, and regulatory compliance are three key areas which private industry can help shape and strengthen the operational effectiveness of our vital institutions. Industry partnerships in emerging technologies, moreover, position community colleges as the focal point of local, regional economic development.
Relationships between community college districts and key industry partners need to be cultivated and fostered. These connections transcend politics and help provide the impetus for even greater funding.
Although community colleges are doing their part to kick start the state's economic engine,they are painfully aware that the state's budget is more than likely to be delayed by weeks or even months. A delay is certainly harmful, but not as bad as the consequence of a bad budget. As such, all efforts are geared toward advocacy, reminding the policy makers about how important it is to fund the world's largest publicly funded segment of higher education.
A billion here, a billion there -these are just numbers. When we hang the lives of 50,000 students in the balance, we all have an obligation to speak out.
Jonathan Lightman became executive director of the 9,400 member Faculty Association of California Community Colleges (FACCC) in 1999. In this capacity, he serves as senior staff to the following entities: Legislative Committee, Political Action Committee, Executive Committee, Policy Committee, Education Institute Advisory Committee and Board of Governors. In addition to managing the association,Jonathan uses his skill as a registered lobbyist to advocate on behalf of community college faculty members statewide.
Jonathan received his Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Brandeis University in 1983, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and received departmental honors in Politics. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California School of Law in 1986, where he served on the Hale Moot Court Honors Program and received the Shattuck Award for excellence in legal service. |
