It's Time for Action, Not Reaction

By Evelyn Javier Centeno

When the state eliminates funding for education, the College Board only seems to look to corresponding cuts to deal with their own financial shortfall. Where are the plans to find new revenue instead of slashing programs?

What surprised me were not the struggles our community colleges face. I know about those from raising three children who recently attended college and struggled to pay for it. I've also become familiar with our colleges' issue by working as a math and science teacher.

I know the cost keeps going up while the quality declines. The fees to attend community college have almost doubled in the last ten years. Yet, classes offered to freshman have been cut, class sizes have grown as our colleges layoff teachers and try to hold the faculty together with part-time workers and graduation rates continue to decline.

What shocked me when I read this article was the approach that the College Board has taken to solve these problems. What I see is a lot of reaction instead of aggressive action to solve the problem.

When the state eliminates funding for education, the College Board only seems to look to corresponding cuts to deal with their own financial shortfall.

Where are the plans to find new revenue instead of slashing programs?

I know from experience that this is not how it works in the private sector. I have a business degree and worked as an engineer at Nextel and EJC Global Links. When our budget was short, we would hustle to find more business, and find creative means to meet business objectives without sacrificing quality and major workforce cuts.

If elected to the College Board, I'll take a different approach. For example, I'll aggressively seek public- private partnerships to make up for lost revenue. Contra Costa County's businesses know that their companies are only as strong as their workers. They have a financial interest in educating students in surrounding areas because those young people are their employees of tomorrow. I think these partnerships would be a huge success and are sorely needed for our community colleges.

If elected to the College Board, I'll make sure that our community comes first. I will watch where the monies go, especially during these tough economic times, to insure that our students' academic interests are well served. For example, instead of building grandiose infrastructure, go for modestly designed buildings and direct more funding to the academic and moral support of students.

Lastly, I am running because Chancellor Dr. Helen Benjamin needs a good board that is not only supportive but also forward thinking with leadership skills. A chancellor is only as good as the people serving under and with her.

It's time for a change on the Community College Board. Stop reacting and start taking aggressive action. Our students must come first--we must serve our community.