2008 Woodie Awards
Board of Trustees Opposes Consolidation Plan
Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposal to eliminate the Board of Governors is rejected by BOT
Nancy Sanchez
Issue date: 10/13/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The trustees of Citrus College have unanimously passed a resolution opposing a recent proposal by the California Performance Review committee.
The five-member board went on record Sept. 14 with their opposition to the proposed elimination of the California Community College Board of Governors as part of Gov. Arnold Schwarznegger's plan to save California money.
The proposal states that the California Community Chancellor's Office and other branches of the postsecondary education should be unified into a single Higher Education Division.
To head the division, a deputy secretary of higher education would be appointed by the governor.
The CPR argues that the community college system will be more efficiently run if a single state-level division rather than a series of separate state entities regulates the colleges.
The Citrus College BOT has come up with counter arguments as to why the consolidation plan will not benefit community colleges.
Their resolution states that the proposal will not save money, it will fail to put people first and undermine public interest.
BOT President Sue Keith said that there are too many community colleges in California for one state division to handle.
Keith also said that local trustees and the chancellor have a bilateral agreement that has been very beneficial to the colleges.
"Local trustees have their roles and responsibilities, and the chancellor has his role and his responsibilities," Keith said. "This agreement between local trustees and the chancellor has been very effective in how we run the college."
Dr. Edward Ortell, who has served on the Citrus board for 35 years, said that one of the ramifications of the proposal is that local control will be done away with and that the education division will become a highly centralized bureaucratic system in Sacramento.
Dr. Michael J. Viera, superintendent/president of Citrus College, also opposes the consolidation plan.
"It takes away the voice of the community college constituents and the local control from the community," Viera said.
Viera also said those who are opposed to the consolidation are those who will have to live with it.
Most people associated with the community colleges seem to feel that the proposal has not been properly researched to see if it would really benefit community colleges.
"We are opposed to the recommendation," said David Viar, chief executive officer of Community College League of California.
"It is short-sighted and fails to reflect the important role community colleges play in their local community and in higher education."
The five-member board went on record Sept. 14 with their opposition to the proposed elimination of the California Community College Board of Governors as part of Gov. Arnold Schwarznegger's plan to save California money.
The proposal states that the California Community Chancellor's Office and other branches of the postsecondary education should be unified into a single Higher Education Division.
To head the division, a deputy secretary of higher education would be appointed by the governor.
The CPR argues that the community college system will be more efficiently run if a single state-level division rather than a series of separate state entities regulates the colleges.
The Citrus College BOT has come up with counter arguments as to why the consolidation plan will not benefit community colleges.
Their resolution states that the proposal will not save money, it will fail to put people first and undermine public interest.
BOT President Sue Keith said that there are too many community colleges in California for one state division to handle.
Keith also said that local trustees and the chancellor have a bilateral agreement that has been very beneficial to the colleges.
"Local trustees have their roles and responsibilities, and the chancellor has his role and his responsibilities," Keith said. "This agreement between local trustees and the chancellor has been very effective in how we run the college."
Dr. Edward Ortell, who has served on the Citrus board for 35 years, said that one of the ramifications of the proposal is that local control will be done away with and that the education division will become a highly centralized bureaucratic system in Sacramento.
Dr. Michael J. Viera, superintendent/president of Citrus College, also opposes the consolidation plan.
"It takes away the voice of the community college constituents and the local control from the community," Viera said.
Viera also said those who are opposed to the consolidation are those who will have to live with it.
Most people associated with the community colleges seem to feel that the proposal has not been properly researched to see if it would really benefit community colleges.
"We are opposed to the recommendation," said David Viar, chief executive officer of Community College League of California.
"It is short-sighted and fails to reflect the important role community colleges play in their local community and in higher education."