SCENE THE
Summer Issue 2
July 14, 2017
www.thescenefp.com
Likely excuse See page 2
July 4 fun See page 3
St. Louis Community College at Forest Park
Students worry about Trump
Photo by Kalia White
Janet Woodworth, secretary for the Humanities and Social Sciences department, will retire Dec. 31 after 51 years at Forest Park.
117 employees take buyout By Brian Ruth The Scene staff When Janet Woodworth came to Forest Park in 1966, Lyndon Johnson was president, the Apollo space program had yet to reach the moon and the Beatles were touring the United States. Woodworth, 74, now secretary for the Humanities and Social Sciences department, will leave Dec. 31 as part of a districtwide early retirement program or “buyout.” She has worked for the college 51 years. Zinck “I was going to stay on another year because I’m a vice chair for the Missouri Community College Association,” she said. “But since they’re giving us the incentive … That’s why I’m taking it.” St. Louis Community College offered a “vol- Johnson untary separation incentive package” to 529 employees who are 55 or older with five years of service or 54 and under with 20 years of service. That is about 40 percent of the workforce. Some 117 employees accepted the offer by the June 22 deadline. That includes five faculty and 26 staff members at Forest Park. “It was really a first step to address our whole budget situation,” said district Vice Chancellor of Finance and
Administration Paul Zinck. Employees who took the buyout could choose to stop working July 31 or Dec. 31. They had two incentive options. The first was continuing coverage under the college’s health insurance plan for two years. The second option was receiving a onetime cash payment equal to 1 percent of annual base salary multiplied by years of continuous, full-time service, not to exceed $20,000. Bonnie Meyer, secretary for the Business, Math and Technology department, accepted the offer and plans to leave July 31. She already had been considering retirement. “I was learning towards it,” said Meyer, who has been working full-time at Forest Park for 17 years. “The incentive is just a drop in the bucket. But it is better than what they may have to do (with layoffs).”
State budget cuts
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens’ state budget for the fiscal year that started July 1 cuts $159 million from higher education. STLCC officials have been trying to figure out how to save money. They came up with the idea of selling the Cosand Center administration building and offering a buyout to employees. “If we can lower our salary and benefit expense through a method such as this, then we don’t have to go to more drastic means (such as) cutting salaries or positions, or layoffs,” Zinck said. The college is going through an assessment to determine how to best spend the money it has available in light of state fund-
See Buyout page 2
the MoSTEM program, has economic By Timothy Bold issues on his mind. The Scene staff “I don’t see (Trump) doing anything Many Forest Park students don’t want for the economy, especially for the midto talk about how President Donald dle and lower class,” he said. “The Trump is doing six months into his term. wages seem to stay the same, leaving no Those who do are worried. progress for living.” “My grandma is thinking about her Sudanese student Gamal Rahmatlla, benefits being taking away,” said Darnell 48, is worried about Ray, 28, a general immigration policy. transfer student. “It’s He and his friends really stressing her have been negatively out, man.” affected by Trump’s Ray was refertemporary ban on ring to the proposed travel by people from Affordable Care Act six predominantly replacement, which Muslim countries. is being debated in “It’s not fair,” Congress and pushed said Rahmatlla, who Rahmatlla Piontek by Trump. came to the United Health-care experts States to study civil estimate that more engineering. “Native than 20 million peopeople aren’t allowed ple will lose their to visit this country. insurance because of They’re very peaceMedicaid cuts and ful and won’t do any that premiums will harm.” rise for others if either Photography the House or Senate major Grace Piontek, version of the law is 25, talked mostly James Tshakatumba enacted. about environmental The health-care issues. debate and other She objects to the problems since loosening of reguTrump took office lations, which helps are no surprise to corporations make Ray and his grandmoney but fails to mother. protect Americans “I can remember from pollution or (her) crying after the address climate election, being upset change. Peoples Ray thinking about the “(Trump’s) neglifuture of our country,” gence towards the environment and he said. “We’re going to be in trouble science proven factually is so disrebecause lower-class people are going to spectful,” she said. “Our public lands be left helpless.” and national parks are under threat. Ray was one of a half-dozen students American heriwilling to talk tage needs to about Trump “I can remember my grandma be preserved.” as part of a English as random survey crying after the election, being upset a second lanconducted by guage stuThe Scene. thinking about the future of our dent Thererse Like Ray, Tshakatumba, general trans- country. We’re going to be in trouble 40, is more optifer student because lower-class people are going mistic about the Tommy Jones, Trump admin21, is most to be left helpless.” istration than concerned other students – Student Darnell Ray about health interviewed. care. “He’s mak“I think the ing mistakes, not being a politician (replacement) plan is going to be hard prior,” she said. “You have to give him for the less fortunate and kill a lot of a chance from being a businessman. people in poverty,” he said, calling it “a The economy can become better or it form of genocide.” could be worse. He needs time.” Linden Peoples, 23, a student in