SANTA ANA : College Board Votes $2.1 Million in Cuts

The Rancho Santiago College Board of Trustees this week tentatively approved a $95.4-million budget that calls for $2.1 million in cuts.

The cuts do not include any faculty layoffs or a reduction in course offerings, but the college’s Professional Actors’ Conservatory may be eliminated after next year, district officials said.

Two weeks ago, district staff members proposed eliminating the program immediately, but board members agreed to allow it to continue for at least another year so 22 students can complete the two-year program.

“We can’t guarantee it forever, but for the next year I think we could probably afford it,” Trustee Michael Ortell said.

But despite impassioned pleas this week from more than 40 students and graduates of the conservatory to continue the program indefinitely, a majority of the board would not commit beyond next year.

“This is a good program, and we could afford to do it in better times,” Trustee Carol Enos said. “You have to cut from somewhere. It doesn’t just happen by magic.”

Trustees Brian Conley and Charles W. (Pete) Maddox spoke out in favor of saving the conservatory.

Conley, an art instructor at Golden West College, said: “If we do have cutbacks, I personally feel we should look at cutting one English, one math, one history and so on, rather than devastating an entire program.”

“The reason we’re here is to make positive change in people’s lives,” Maddox added. “I don’t see how we can do it better than this program.”

District staff members said the program is being eliminated because it serves a small number of students at high cost. The college would have had to cut 100 course offerings to save the $155,000 annual cost of the program, said Carter Doran, vice chancellor of academic affairs.

Trustees will adopt a final budget for fiscal 1991-92 on Aug. 26.