Candidate for
Member, Board of Trustees; Long Beach Community College District; District 3

Recently, Long Beach Community College has discontinued vocational programs and raised tuition prices (AB955) much to the disappointment of students, faculty, and community members. A community college should be affordable and accessible to all, especially for individuals that are trying to quickly build skills/knowledge that will lead to either a living wage job or to gain access to a degree at a four-year college.

I believe that Long Beach Community College can and must do more to ensure that every student, from the high school graduate, to the single-mother or veteran returning to school, is provided the opportunity to attain the skills our economy demands, at affordable tuition rates, and in a timely manner.

As your Board Trustee, I will ensure that we:

1. Reinvest in vocational/technical training programs that are instrumental in the success of both our students and our local communities. Scarce education dollars have been cut from programs that could mean the difference between a minimum wage job versus securing a job that pays a living wage, with career advancement and union environment opportunities.

2. Develop innovative partnerships between governmental agencies, local businesses and civic organizations to ensure funding and resources for workforce development programs are available to help our students and faculty members succeed.

3. Ensure that our diverse Long Beach communities have a seat at the table. Participation, communication and transparency are key; especially when tough decisions are being made about cutting classes/programs and faculty.