OCC’s outlook may be better than expected

Christine Carrillo

College officials have responded to promising signs of a better

financial future by working on plans to reinstate class sections for

the fall, but haven’t shaken that lingering notion that the college’s

grim fiscal future will stick around for the 2003-04 academic year.

Orange Coast College officials continue to project $3-million cuts

for the upcoming year and prepare for the loss of 1,000 course

sections, but they may have stumbled across a turn for the better.

“The news right now is that the trend is not as bad as it was,”

said Gene Farrell, OCC president. “Our budget issues we can manage.

... But no matter what, it’s not going to get back to what it was.”

Farrell asked each of the division deans to put together three

contingency plans that would allow them to add more classes as

quickly as possible.

“At this point, it’s fairly easy because we’ve had to cut back so

far,” said Kevin Ballinger, dean of consumer and health sciences and

technology divisions. “It’s difficult because you’re trying to decide

which career programs, which classes, are more important.”

The division deans have begun working on three scenarios in which

they would restore about $500,000, $1 million and $1.5 million to the

schedule and thus add class sections.

Since Gov. Gray Davis isn’t expected to release his budget revise

until May 14, officials need to be ready for anything, Farrell said.

The idea is to prepare for whatever the revise may include and be

able to start the college’s chosen plan before many of the professors

take off for the summer break, sometimes as early as May 30.

College officials have started on this positive path in part

because the lobbying efforts by students, faculty and staff

throughout California and on behalf of the 108 community colleges has

forced state officials to take a closer look at how their proposals

would stint the educational exploration of so many students.

“The state is now discussing our situation at some depth,” said

Jim Carnett, director of community relations for OCC. Lobbyers “have

pointed out the disparity of all systems of higher education.”

OCC has also received positive feedback about its early retirement

incentive program.

“Our target was to capture $2 million in savings and, as we speak,

we’re a little over that now,” Farrell said.

Although funds have funneled in from the school’s retirement

program, college officials are hopeful, but not holding their breath,

when it comes to the state lending a hand to help their financial

future.

* CHRISTINE CARRILLO covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at christine.carrillo@latimes.com.