Government impasse forces funding cuts By Polly Filanc "Terrible!" was the immediate reaction of Palomar president/superinten-dent Dr. Omar Scheidt to Governor George Deukmejian's and state legislators' failure last week to reach an agreement on community college funding. "It's very unfortunate that the legislators and the Governor couldn't reach an agreement to support the community college system, which is a very valuable educational program." Dr. Scheidt has recently made trips to Sacramento urging legislators to pass bills that would restore $108.5 million in state aid to community colleges. But to no avail. Palomar is now short $1.5 million from last year's budget. The Governor vetoed the state aid bill because the state assembly voted against the tuition fees. Whether or not the college can cope with the loss, Dr. Scheidt stresses that the "quality of education will be affected." Presently Palomar's Board of Trustees is in the process of identifying areas to be cut further. "The Board will look at each line of the budget and make recommendations," Dr. Scheidt adds. "Unless the Governor calls a special session to deal with community college finance, nothing will happen until January (when the state legislature reconvenes). My projection is that if the attitudes don't change by then nothing will happen to restore the funding for community colleges." Nearly $800,000 has been cut from Palomar's $23 million budget. Some of the cuts include over 90 class sections, library books, non-salary
costs, certificated and classified hours, telephone service, equipment replacement, remodeling of facilities, replacement of personnel, contract reductions, and travel expenses. College officials have also reduced the undistributed reserve fund in order to avoid cutting the staffs fringe benefits. Unless community college funds are restored Dr. Scheidt says, "We will have to cut deeper in the spring since the college will be short $650,000." Further cuts might include faculty salaries, additional class sections, staff, programs, fringe benefits, certificate programs, plus certificated and classified hours. Dr. Scheidt emphasizes that "This is not something that was predetermined by the Board or the administration. This was an action taken by the Governor when he bluepenciled the state community
college system's budget by $232 million. "Tea chers 'a re very displeased and staff morale is low." To further complicate finances, college officials planned to save $25,000 this semester by enrolling students to the CAP, which is the limit of enrollment in which the state will pay. " Anything over the CAP," says Dr. Scheidt, "we don't get paid for. "To lower enrollment, we reduced the number of sections to approach the enrollment CAP, because we over-enrolled last spring." Unfortunately, Dr. Scheidt estimates Palomar is six percent below the enrollment CAP, so that the school receives $25,000 less than anticipated. Enrollment, currently at 16,740, is down 14.7 percent WSCHS (Weekly Student Contact Hours) from last fall.
Among the reasons for the lower enrollment at Palomar and other community colleges, according to Dr. Scheidt, are, "People are working more and can't carry as heavy a class load. Also, the economy has changed and with more people in the workforce, people have set aside educational plans. As there is an increase in employment opportunity, there is a decrease in enrollment." Whether or not the confusion over tuition fees is a cause for the lower enrollment, Dr. Scheidt indicates, "We have no evidence if that is a factor. " But if a tuition fee does go into effect, Dr. Scheidt anticipates losing 1,800 students. Because of the budget crisis facing community colleges, Dr. Scheidt's opinion towards imposing tuition fees has changed.
GiD TilE TElEscopE Palomar College
Volume 37 No. 1
A Publication for the Asaoclated
Students
Friday, September 30, 1983
Sen Marcos, CA
Registration . l,i.JM
" p.
Film series begins "Incomparable New Zealand" opens the Palomar travel film series Sunday. For more information please call the Community Education Office at Palomar College, 744-1150 or 7277529.
"I have always been opposed to tuition fees in community colleges. However, because of the present financial condition of the state and community colleges, I support the Governor's recommendation of the fee. "But I have recommended that it (tuition) ben on a five dollar per unit basis for anything below six units, and a flat $50 fee for six units and above. "The Governor has agreed to this, but the assembly hasn't agreed to fees." Compared to other community colleges, Palomar was "penalized when Proposition 13 passed, because we did not have a large reserve and had a low tax base. "This was then incorporated into the state distribution formula. So Palomar has not received the same amount of revenue per student as other districts. We are below the state average of revenue per student. "MiraCosta has a better reserve and they are slightly more comfortable than Palomar. "San Diego City College has a greater reserve and they have a larger student body in non-credit adult education which has lower cost programs."
Book Fair sells classics
Mission Road • construction date on target Mission Road traffic snarls will soon be a thing of the past. Roadwork is "on target" and is scheduled for completion this December, according to San Marcos City Planner Darrell Gentry. When completed, Mission Road will have four automobile lanes and one bicycle lane. The $4.2 million contract was awarded to Thibodo Construction Company. Thibodo crews have been working on the project since groundbreaking ceremonies April19. Also on the drawing board is Palomar's Lot 12 entry and exit access on Los Posas Road, which is scheduled to begin next spring if funds are available. Gentry expects to receive a "significant percentage" of the funds from the Community Development Block Grant, which is a federally funded program under the Department of Housing and Urban Development. According to Palomar president/ superintendent Dr. Omar Scheidt, the college's share in the two-mile Mission Road project is $269,000. $219,000 is from the college's captal outlay allocated by the state, and $50,000 is from the student parking fund. Dr. Scheidt says that Palomar's request for the Los Posas connection will help eliminate congestion on campus and will enable traffic to enter and exit through the college's "back door." During the final months of construction, Dr. Scheidt recommends students drive carefully and allow more time to get to class.
In order to protect community colleges from a loss of enrollment revenue if tuition fees go into effect, according to Dr. Scheidt, a clause is placed in the bill, indicating that the community colleges will be "held harmless forever over the loss of enrollment, so that the 1982-83 revenue base would remain the same."
Over 6,000 books, including 1,500 classics, will be sold at "bargain prices" during the fourth annual Book Fair October 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the San Marcos Elementary School. Highlighting the Book Fair, sponsored by the Friends of the Library of San Marcos, will be more than 1,500 "classics" donated by the estate of a former UCLA English professor. "The college student should find a treasure in these classics," according to Dorothy Hay, publicity chairman for the Friends of the Library of San Marcos. "We hope to make $2,000 from the Book Fair. Every penny will go toPERPLEXED?- Registration is often a confusing process, but signs posted to aid students don't see •n wards funding a new library in San Marcos." to be helping number 70 at all. (Photo by Susa n Green ) All the books, including "tons of paperbacks," will be easier to find this year, according to Hay, because they will be categorized by subject matter, such as gardening, sciences, fishing and cooking. By Sarah Grimes tion) but we did not decide torate. Slivkoffs statement that he Also featured will be refreshAngry members of the faculty and beforehand," said Krichman. 'We really didn't have time (to review the ments, homemade pastry, arts and community may begin circulating did not follow through to the bottom resumes as thoroughly as he would crafts, plants, and produce. petitions in an effort to force the line and make the decision." have liked) was deplorable. There recall of the controversial appointKrichman justified the private was no urgency (in the appointment of Dr. Robert L. Dougherty to discussion saying that it is a "gut ment)." the Palomar Board of Trustees. wrenching experience to have to The board had 30 days to appoint Dr. Dougherty replaced a vacancy interview these people and discuss a trustee to serve until the November left when former Trustee William their pubhc and private lives at a election. Boyce resigned September 15 to take public meeting. If we erred in any Candidate Bob Bowman said, "It a position in a missionary hospital way it was in trying to protect the wasn't a very democratic process. It in Pago Pago. feelings of 17 people who were all was obvious to me that the decision Student subscriptions will sell h.. Bill Salomone, faculty president, good candidates. " was made before the meeting one-half the price of regular concert charged that the appointment He added, "In view of the large because of the way the meeting was tickets when the San Diego procedure "seems highly arbitrary number of applicants and the fact conducted. Symphony holds an on-campus and smacks of backroom politics." that they were asked to submit subscription drive here October 4 "The manner of this appointment Trustees Alan Krichman, Charles applications, it was proper to curtail escalates the gap between the board and 5. Salter and James Slivkoff made the process." All price sections of all subscripand the faculty and the administratheir selections based on written The Escondido Times-Advocate tion," said Bowman . tion series are offered, and the cost is applications and resumes submitted reported Krichman as saying, "If I the lowest being offered this season. "The faculty has always by the 17 candidates. were king, we would do this (appoint Students can attend nine concerts Contrary to original plans, no a trustee) outside a public meeting." suspected that the president made for as little as $38, or share a interviews were held and no public The response from the candidates these decisions with the board subscription and pay even less for behind closed doors ,"said several memorable musical events. comment was permitted. ranged from acceptance to anger. Although the Oceanside BladeCandidate Walter F. L. Brown told Salomone. This offer is only being made during Tribune previously reported that the the Blade Tribune that he saw Although he realizes that a special the on-campus subscription drive at three board members had agreed to nothing wrong with the process used election would have a dramatic the Symphony booth at the Student choose Dougherty even before the by the board. financial impact on the college, Union from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. public meeting began, Krichman But Mary Trotta another canContact Susan Rands in the Music Salomone said that "The blame for denied this. didate, said that the selection that would fall on the Governing Department, Ext. 2317, D-15 for "We discussed (Dougherty's selec- process "was an insult to the elecmore information. Board."
Appointment process sparks furor
Symphonytickets sell for half price