Community College Cuts Should Be Restored
As the new student trustee on the Coast Community College District board, I was stunned and disappointed that before signing the state budget, the governor cut $98 million for critically needed community college equipment and maintenance.
The Coast Community College District colleges--Coastline Community College, Golden West College and Orange Coast College--provide access to higher education for over 55,000 Orange County students each semester and already are funded at around $2,000 less per student than the national average.
The governor’s action halts a 20-year commitment by the state to provide funding for high-priority, scheduled-maintenance projects, such as fire alarms, emergency telephones and energy-efficiency projects. Yet the governor expects the community colleges to educate 30,000 more students in California this year.
I chose to attend Orange Coast College because of its quality instructors and facilities. But how long can our community colleges continue to provide a high-quality education without maintaining these facilities and providing the most up-to-date instructional equipment?
The legislature should vote to restore this needed funding.
Amy C. Angelo
Student Trustee
Coast Community College District
Costa Mesa
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