Three for College Trustees
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The single biggest step that would improve the precarious financial status of Los Angeles community colleges--indeed, community colleges throughout California--would be a change in the formula under which they receive state money. The current members of the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees have the political clout, locally and in Sacramento, to help lobby such a change through the state Legislature. It is principally for that reason that we are endorsing the three incumbents who are running--Arthur Bronson for Office 2, Lindsay Conner for Office 4 and Wallace Albertson for Office 6.
These three trustees have each served well on the board under difficult financial circumstances. The state cut the funds for the colleges, then imposed a $50 fee, leaving trustees, administrations and local faculties to deal with the fallout. The trustees have wrestled with the problems, but they need to work even harder. If they had strong opposition, they would be in some trouble because of the dissatisfaction on many campuses.
Students are encountering their own financial problems because the centralization of the student-aid office has delayed money needed for books or other bills. The number of classes offered has been reduced. Evening classes have especially been affected. Maintenance is poor at some campuses. Facilities are inadequate at some campuses.
The trustees have the expertise, and indeed the political connections, to persuade the Legislature to take a key step that would provide the money to eliminate some of these problems. The state now divides money among community colleges on the basis of daily attendance. That formula encourages colleges to offer low-cost introductory lecture courses to draw many students, and discourages the providing of other more expensive but necessary courses. Public elementary and high schools are financed on the basis of attendance, but community colleges have long since ceased being extensions of public schools. They are colleges, and should be financed according to the cost of their programs--as are the University of California and California State University systems.
We support the reelection of Arthur Bronson, Lindsay Conner and Wallace Albertson, and we urge greater public support for the problems that the community college trustees must solve.
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