Community Colleges

“Loosen Reins on Colleges” (editorial, June 12) correctly pinpoints two major problems confronting California’s community colleges: money and tight reins. California community colleges’ per-student funding does lag $2,000 behind the national average. The current allocation of dollars in our four-tier public education system is a tragic impediment to the success of the total system: K-12 ($5,762); community colleges ($3,883); Cal State ($8,902); UC ($17,725). Loosen reins? California’s community colleges are struggling under some 2,000 regulations, twice the number of the “regs” for Illinois, Oregon, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Arizona, New York, Massachusetts and Ohio combined.

Major reforms are needed. Reallocate state funding in the four-tier system, correcting the inequitable distribution of dollars. Reduce the staggering burden of “regs”; consider applying the “charter school” concept to the community colleges; give the 107 beehives and their “worker bees” a fair chance to exceed even their present worth.

DEXTER D. MacBRIDE

Member, Mt. San Antonio College

Board of Trustees, Walnut

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I must take issue with your characterization of Chancellor Tom Nussbaum’s role. He is not responsible for the formula now being used to allocate funds among the various community colleges; the Legislature has dictated that formula. Nussbaum is doing all that is in his power to convince the governor and the Legislature to increase funding overall. The Partnership for Excellence program is just one of his initiatives toward this end.

I want to thank you for acknowledging the important way the community colleges are able to respond to local needs. In Long Beach, my campus provides welding, airframe and power plant mechanics and carpentry, as well as training for other skills and trades needed in our community. We and our community partners have long valued this contribution to our community’s economic development.

PAULINE E. MERRY

Administrative Dean

Pacific Coast Campus

Long Beach City College