Pierce College Cuts Speech, Debate Teams

Budget troubles have prompted elimination of the Pierce College debate and speech teams in the fall, school officials said Thursday.

Campus officials have decided not to replace outgoing forensics team coach Jeff Cooper, saving an estimated $50,000, said Jim Lagerstrom, head of the Pierce Speech Department. None of the department’s four full-time teachers are willing to take over coaching duties, Lagerstrom said.

Last week, school officials announced cancellation of the agriculture department’s dairy classes as part of a budget-cutting effort among campuses in the Los Angeles Community College District.