Feedback

Thanks very much for taking note of the controversy in the Coast

Community College District regarding an excessive raise for the

chancellor (“Raises tainted by controversy,” June 27).

However, your article misses the key point: The background of teacher and

staff salaries makes the raise seem excessive. Without that information,

the complaint seems merely personal, and it isn’t. We aren’t the South

Orange County Community College District, and chancellor William M. Vega

isn’t trustee Steven J. Frogue.

The key point for me is that--while Orange Coast College is the No. 1

transfer institution in Southern California--our teachers are the worst

paid among Orange County community colleges. Rancho Santiago and

Saddleback colleges have been near the top of the pay scale, often first

and second, while Coast ranks around 50th, along with such community

colleges as Fresno.

Yet we have to deal with the same cost of living as other Orange County

teachers.

Therefore, your opening statement that “most district employees” are

satisfied with the 3.5% raise (6.5% with last year’s adjustment) is

seriously flawed.

We’re still woefully behind other county community college teachers and

staff, though we do the best job, statistically speaking. Why should top

management get nearly twice the raise that we do, when we’re the ones

taking more students into classes to pull the load?

Since there is a board election this fall, I urge you to take a

substantive look at educational salaries in the county’s community

colleges and to let the public know the information.

Since this impacts our ability to recruit and retain top people, our

students are the ultimate beneficiaries, or victims, especially since the

state faces a record high in teacher retirements.

MICHAEL LEIGH

Academic Senate president

Orange Coast College

Costa Mesa