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BUSINESS EDUCATION & TRAINING: North Bay’s three junior colleges hope for Prop. 92; unions, others split

The North Bay’s three community college districts are lining up behind Proposition 92, an initiative on the Feb. 5 ballot measure that promises to bring them more than $10 million in new annual funding by the 2008-2009 academic year.

The proposition would increase annual spending on the state’s 72 community colleges by $300 million, according to an estimate by the neutral California Legislative Analyst’s Office. It would achieve that increase by creating a new funding formula for community colleges – currently the formula is tied to K-12 budget – that would be linked to population growth in the 17-to-25 age group.

Santa Rosa Junior College, which stands to make the largest gain of the three North Bay colleges, would get an estimated $6.4 million boost in 2009-2010, according to a breakdown provided by Yes on 92, the committee sponsoring the initiative.

“The timing couldn’t be better for Sonoma County and Santa Rosa Junior College,” said Ricardo Navarrette, SRJC’s vice president for student services. “We’ve expanded our campus in Petaluma. We’re in an excellent position to utilize any additional funding for the benefit of economic recovery and work force development.”

The measure would also reduce student course fees from $20 per unit to $15, and limit future fee increases.

“It would allow Santa Rosa Junior college to preserve access to the community college classroom throughout our district,” Mr. Navarrette said.

Opponents – including the University of California, California State University and the California Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers union – argue that the new funding would lead to cuts in other areas of education.

“We think it’s irresponsible because it gives an estimated $300 million annually in guaranteed funding to community colleges and would lead to UC and CSU cuts, and cuts to other agencies who do not have a guaranteed piece of the budget,” said Paul Browning, a CSU system spokesman in Long Beach. “The proposition will leave little discretionary revenue for other purposes including funding both university systems and state financial aid programs.”

Sonoma State University itself is staying neutral, and business groups are divided on the issue. The California Chamber of Commerce is opposed, but a number of local chambers, including Santa Rosa, support the measure because of the role of community colleges in work force development.

“The Community College system is not only a stepping stone into the University of California and California State University systems, it is also the primary provider of job-related training,” the Santa Rosa Chamber wrote in a resolution expressing its support.

But even supporters of the proposition admit that any campaign for increased spending could be dampened by the state’s estimated $14 billion budget deficit for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

Mr. Navarette said he wasn’t sure how the effort would fare “given the economic crisis in the state.”

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The Sonoma County Office of Education and the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce are looking for business volunteers to conduct mock interviews of students.

The interviews are part of SCOE’s Work-Ready Certification program, which certifies students who demonstrate reading, math, customer service and technology skills, in addition to a professional attitude. Volunteer interviewers are not required to hire students and are given a standard list of questions.

“A lot of times you hear businesses complain that they can’t find younger people with the skills required for an entry-level job,” Kelly Bass, marketing manger for the chamber, said of the program.

Interviews begin in February. For information, call 707-524-2780 or e-mail dblake@scoe.org.

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Submit items for this column to William Jason at 707-579-2900 ext. 225, wjason@busjrnl.com or fax 707-579-8475.

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