Don’t Let Community College Students Down

While the media attention is focused on political party battles in Sacramento, the real winners or losers in the state budget battle are 237,700 students right here in Orange County.

As a resident of the Rancho Santiago Community College District, I’m urging the governor and state Legislature to honor their commitment to 2.9 million students in California’s community college system. They need to pass a budget that keeps the doors open and the fees low.

Delivering an on-time budget is of paramount importance. I have heard that the college district may not be able to operate beyond Aug. 31 without a state budget for the community college system. It is essential that legislators compromise now rather than force the closing of colleges for lack of funding. That would be highly disruptive for students, their families and our state economy.

With more than three times the combined enrollment of the California State University or University of California systems, the state’s community colleges are busy educating California’s workforce. The economic vitality of the state depends upon these institutions.

The 2.9 million students, along with the thousands of staff, faculty, administrators (not too mention millions of alumni) do matter--and many of them do vote. It’s time for policymakers to invest in California’s future by delivering a fair-share budget for the community colleges.

J. Robert Fluor II

Aliso Viejo