ON THE ISSUES

* TEACHER SALARIES

Forbath said it is crucial to bring the district’s teacher salaries up

to a competitive level. She cites a California Teachers Assn. study that

reports that “of the 71 community college districts [in the state], Coast

is 60th, which is really bad.”

If Coast Community College District wants to keep the excellent

professors they have and attract more of the same caliber, it will have

to raise salaries, she said.

* KOCE -- SELL OR DIGITIZE?

Forbath said she does not yet have enough information to decide

whether the district should sell the public TV station or invest in

digitizing it. She said, however, that funding for the classrooms should

come first because “classroom instruction is more valuable than distance

learning, although I think distance learning provides a wonderful and

valuable opportunity.”

* HOW CAN YOU KEEP OCC’S TRANSFER RATES UP?

It all comes back to the teachers, Forbath said.

“It can certainly only happen if we have enough good teachers and

enough classes to complete [requirements] in two years.”

These things will also allow students to be kept on track for a

four-year college.

“You can always do more. I’ve spoken to the faculty, and they feel

there can be a greater transfer rate.”

* SHOULD THE DISTRICT CONSIDER THE SALE OR LEASE OF SOME OF ITS

PROPERTY?

“I think they have to be very careful not to sell and leave the

community colleges with nowhere to expand to,” Forbath said.

The colleges will need to expand in the future to accommodate the

increasing number of students who want to start their college careers in

an affordable environment, she said.

* WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING THE DISTRICT?

She said the biggest challenge is “keeping up with the expanding

student population, which we will face in future years.” That includes

not only facilities but “obtaining and maintaining an excellent faculty,”

she said.