Glendale College Faces New Fiscal Challenge

Glendale Community College President John A. Davitt has weathered many a financial storm during his 20 years as the campus’ leader. Each time his school pulled through, with its pristine grounds, strong vocational programs and rigorous academic offerings mostly intact.

But landing on a fiscal watch list, as his college district did last week, “is not a good feeling.”

“It isn’t good for morale,” added Davitt, who is also superintendent of the one-college district.

The Glendale district isn’t the worst off of the 13 on the list compiled by the California Community Colleges chancellor’s office. It was listed as a “priority 3,” the least critical category. Three other districts -- Compton, Palo Verde and Santa Monica -- were listed as “priority 1” based on their slim reserves. They will be required to file recovery plans with the state and may be asked to renegotiate labor contracts.

In the case of Glendale and other “priority 3” districts, state officials say they are paying close attention.

“If the problem gets worse, then we could ask them to take specific steps to address it,” said Linda Michalowski, interim vice chancellor for the state community college system.

Just two years ago none of the state’s 108 community colleges were considered financially unstable, and Glendale thrived on its reputation for sending many of its students to four-year institutions.

Now Davitt is worried about the fragile spirits of his staff members and students, who are still complaining about cuts in salaries, classes and faculty during the past year.

Indeed, landing on the watch list has worsened Glendale math professor Pete Witt’s already sour mood.

“I am pessimistic,” said Witt, a 30-year veteran of the school who is frustrated over taking a pay cut and loading his classes with more students.

The whiteboard in his classroom is stained with marker scribbles; it is no longer scrubbed regularly because some janitorial services have been cut. Like many teachers, Witt said he has reached into his own pocket for money for cleaning supplies.

“It all adds up,” he said. “We cut classes, which creates several pressures. More pressure on students to ask for classes, and more students in classes, which means a poorer education. When you’ve taken a pay cut, it’s harder to understand, ‘Why do I take more students when I am getting paid less?’ ”

The pleasant campus atmosphere is slowly unraveling, he said.

Glendale’s reserves slipped to 3.8% this year, well below the 5% that community college officials recommend to ease cash-flow problems and meet unexpected costs. More than 500 faculty members agreed to a 1% pay cut, and 20 people, mostly clerical staff, were laid off.

In the fall, Glendale cut 120 courses, and the college has put off filling several faculty positions left by retirees until the budget situation becomes more clear, Davitt said.

“If we have to face more budget cuts, obviously we have to look at the number of classes we offer, which means restricting enrollment, or more layoffs, or our unions are going to have to agree to a lower salary,” the president said.

Still, he said, the campus continues to offer students a high-quality education. “We’re not being watched for education, but for fiscal problems,” he said.

Ernest Badounts, a 24-year-old Glendale student, said the fiscal situation is stressful because of worries that fees will jump again. Fees rose to $18 a unit this year from $11.

“Community colleges are for a lot of students who can’t make it to UC because it’s expensive,” he said. Students go to Glendale for a two-year degree, Badounts said, because “it’s cheaper.”

He wants to transfer to a UC campus to study biochemistry, but is struggling financially. His father is an editor for an Armenian television station, his mother is unemployed and they are also raising a younger son.

“We’ll make it, I guess,” he said. Referring to the state’s new governor, he said, “Arnold has to do the dirty work.”

Badounts’ friend, student Henry Kasper, 20, is also irritated. He wants to transfer to a university to study electrical engineering, but it was so difficult to enroll in basic classes in the fall -- such as English, political science, biology and philosophy -- that it will take longer to get his degree.

“It already did affect me,” Kasper said. “Now I’m trying to take more classes in the winter and summer sessions. I could have finished in two years. Now all of this stuff happened, and I have to finish in three years.”

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Watch list

The state community colleges chancellor’s office has compiled this list of college districts with financial conditions that require close review. The list is based on the severity of problems faced by each district, with Priority 1 being most critical. The list is a revised version of a draft released last week with some colleges added, some subtracted and some listed in different categories.

Priority 1

Compton

Palo Verde

Santa Monica

Priority 2

Ventura

Priority 3

Coast

Contra Costa

Glendale

Los Angeles

Marin

Peralta

San Francisco

Victor Valley

West Hills

Source: California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office

Los Angeles Times