Roundup

Golden West College officials were among many community college

leaders statewide this week shocked by Gov. Gray Davis’ surprise cut in

funding to their campuses.

Legislators in Sacramento agreed in July on a state spending plan for

the 2001-2002 school year, but Governor Davis vetoed $126 million more from community colleges, including the nearly $100 million for ongoing

scheduled maintenance and instructional equipment funding.

Community colleges in Orange County and throughout the state, needless

to say, were stunned.

The effect on Golden West College is as follows:

-- $1.1 million in infrastructure and building improvements cut out of

state appropriations.

-- Projects involving finalizing an energy management system that

would reduce energy costs by 30%. The current system would increase

utility bills by $400,000 per year.

-- Project to improve and rebuild two major electrical load centers

that are 35 years old and in bad need of repair.

-- Project to replace major heating ventilation and air conditioning

system in two high student traffic buildings.

-- Project to continue to improve the physical environment of the

campus, such as green belt beautification.

Golden West College President Kenneth Yglesias said the school’s cuts

amount to nearly $1.5 million. The college, Yglesias continued, enrolls

12,500 students per semester, and much of the infrastructure dates back

to 1967. During the past 10 years, the college has installed cable and

wiring for broad band service, upgraded all bathrooms to Americans with

Disabilities Act standards, painted buildings and upgraded computers in

student labs.

Equipment and maintenance funds were to be used in the next five years

for major infrastructure improvements, including both the physical

facilities and the campus computing backbone system.

“As a result of Governor Davis’ final budget, the college now finds

itself left with resources for payroll and limited operational expenses,

such as utility services and computing access for student, and virtually

no funds for major infrastructure renovation,” Yglesias said. “Leaders in

higher education and the two-year college community are working right now

with state senators . . . to restore the $98 million. Many elected

leaders are also supportive.”

Art camp filling up fast

The Kids Art Camp, a summer’s worth of the Huntington Beach Art

Center’s “Art at the Beach” program for kids ages 6-12, has become so

popular that the center has registration remaining for only its final

weeklong camp of the summer, scheduled for Aug. 20-24.

The theme for that week is “The Better Mouse Trap.” The focus for the

event will be on “structure and inventions as children build machines and

contraptions,” Huntington Beach Arts Center Director Kate Hoffman said.

“As one of our artist teachers, Carla Hubbart said, one of the great

things about art camp is that the kids can be messy, have fun and build

self-esteem. On the other hand, they also learn practical, conceptual and

creative skills . . . they learn how to think outside of the box.”

For more information on registering for the Aug. 20-24 camp, “The

Better Mouse Trap,” contact the Huntington Beach Art Center at (714)

374-1650.