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.
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