SANTA ANA : College District May Cut Jobs, Classes

Already battered by plummeting state funding, the Rancho Santiago Community College District now faces up to $10 million in new cuts, raising the specter of higher fees, reduced course offerings and layoffs, according to district officials.

Chancellor Vivian Blevins said this week that although the actual shortfall for the upcoming year probably will be closer to $6 million, uncertain state funding will force the district “to prepare for the worst.”

As a result, hundreds of part-time employees--including teachers aides, clerks and technicians--are expected to lose their jobs. Also, dozens of classes must be cut from summer school and weekend courses for the fall semester will have to be eliminated, Blevins said.

Because of the state budget crisis, the district slashed $7.1 million from its last budget, bringing it to $66.7 million. Since last year, fee increases and fewer courses have contributed to a 13.4% drop in overall enrollment and a 41.6% drop in the number of new students.

Those figures alarm college officials who say that continuing budget constraints are making community colleges incapable of achieving their stated goal of providing universal access to higher education.

Blevins said “we’re grieving” over the impending loss of classes, employees and students. “It’s devastating.”

District staff will suggest potential cuts by Feb. 18, and a public budget workshop on those suggestions will be held before the month’s end, Blevins said.