Editorial: District in debt, cuts to be met

Fullerton College will be facing massive faculty and pay reductions in the coming semesters.

Already, the state is near $11 billion in debt, leaving the North Orange County Community College District $12 - 14 million in debt. If Propositions 1A and 1B, in the upcoming election, do not pass, an additional $7 million will be tacked onto the NOCCCD's deficit, meaning the district could be close to $20 million in debt.

According to the NOCCCD budget plan, community colleges are the only growing system and as such are possible targets for money cuts. Since they have not experienced cutbacks from the economic downturn, they are not under consideration to receive any of the stimulus funds the government has given California.

Community colleges have themselves to blame, having never asked for stimulus funds in the first place, but which can this country do without: American built cars or public schools?

It is common knowledge that General Motors is close to going under, no matter how much money is shoved into their pockets, how many cuts they make or the many 'original ideas' they come up with.

The same cannot be said about public education, which still can and must be saved.

Public schools are a vital part of the United States economy, in terms of training future workers, especially those who are unable to afford full-time colleges. A high school graduate who plans to get into concrete counter tops doesn't need a four-year education at an Ivy League school.

No matter what happens, FC will be forced to make major cuts due to the state's failing budget.

Full time faculty will be forced to take on a heavier class load, while non-faculty members will be forced to take Furlough, days in which they will be told not to come into work.

The biggest reduction would come from Departmental Cuts, which have yet to be identified, but will save the NOCCCD approximately $3 million in funds.

At the moment, the NOCCCD is not planning on raising class fees unless it is supported by the entire states community college system.

For now, FC must make sure that the cuts made are the right ones. Too often do schools lay off the wrong employees or cut programs, which could be of help in the future.

FC has some major decisions to make over the summer, depending on how much money the NOCCCD is in debt. Hopefully they make the correct ones and can end up saving the school and its best employees.