Schools
Trustees Approve Cabrillo Budget
Major program cuts were avoided, but deficits are projected through 2014.
The Cabrillo College Board Of Trustees approved President Brian King's plan to use almost 80 percent of the school's $5.063 million operating reserves as well as cut costs by $828,153 in 2011-12.
They are trying to fill a $5.2 million hole left by Governor Jerry Brown's budget pen, which slashed $400 million from community colleges statewide.
“We think there is high likelihood of another million in cuts midway through the year,” said Vice President of Business Administration Victoria Lewis.
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Board members approved the budget plan, but cautioned that serious changes will be needed at the school over the next two years with even higher deficits projected and reserve funds depleted.
The key moments at Monday's meeting in Cabrillo's Watsonville Center were:
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Funding for the bookstore was cut to $252,623, with the elimination of the purchasing director. The store will be closed on Fridays beginning in September.
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The board approved a plan to increase the preparedness of high school students before they enter college by partnering with the 12 districts in the county called the Santa Cruz County College Commitment.
Trustees accepted $467,976 from the California Department of Education to subsidize child care programs for low-income students.
The board passed guidelines for accepting private donations to save courses facing elimination in the future. Private donations will only be accepted for courses currently or previously offered, and rules for hiring faculty will be the same as for courses funded by the school. Also, the donations must be enough to cover the entire costs of the targeted section.
A lease allowing the administrators to use the usually-empty 350 building at the Aptos Campus was approved.
The College Planning Council will begin forming a strategy for the 2012-13 budget at their next meeting on Aug. 17 at the Student Activities Center at the main Aptos campus. The meetings are open to the public and attendance is encouraged.
