Students registering for Fall 2012 classes will have a smaller amount of classes to choose from due to more budget cuts throughout the district.

The Board of Trustees voted to cut several classes and programs at all three colleges in the Ventura County Community College District at its meeting in Jan. 2012.

Over the course of several hours several people addressed the Board of Trustees before they voted on the proposed cuts. The monthly board meeting had been relocated to the auditorium at Ventura High School in anticipation of a large audience and the move proved to be prudent. Several people protested the proposed program cuts and pled for another solution.

Students, faculty, and parents pleaded to the board requesting for them to think twice before voting. Many students who took the stand during public comment addressed to the Board that without these programs, their college dreams would diminish.

 Speakers from the Oxnard College film/ television program requested the Board to forgo any cuts concerning not only their programs but the programs throughout the district. Many of these considerations came from students within this division along with faculty member Andres Orozco.

“The process was faulty from the get go,” said Orozco. “Our classes are full.”

Protestors in the audience came prepared with signs saying “yay” or “boo” and held them up to make their voices heard.

These cuts were suggested in the hopes of erasing a $6 million deficit the district will face in the next fiscal year. If the District assumes passage of the tax initiative that looks to take place this coming November, then they will be looking at a $6 million shortfall which in turn will need to be balanced. However, if the district assumes passage and the passage does not occur, then the District will have used $6.2 million in reserves.                               

The cuts that were suggested reflect a range of programs and classes that have, in recent years, had either low enrollment or low graduation rates. Many of the supporters present at the meeting voiced their concerns through public comment. One speaker and former architecture student from Ventura College, Bruce Borin, took the stand.

“You’re eliminating what I thought was the real mandate of community college,” Borin said. “I’m at a loss to understand why you’re cutting these things.”

One audience member was former Oxnard College student Eugenia Granados. Because of the cuts two years ago which affected her studies within the Art Program at OC, she now has to attend Ventura College.  While the drive to Ventura College is further in distance for Granados, she must make the trip in order to obtain the classes she needs to finish and achieve her AA degree.

Another person who spoke was Ventura County Supervisor John Zaragosa.

“It’s not my intent to recommend a policy for your board,” he said. “But we can find other solutions to save these programs.”

After public comment, the president of each campus and other staff spoke. Moorpark College Vice Chancellor Sue Johnson also addressed the board members.

“We will need to decide what to risk in reserves…And what shortfall to budget,” said Johnson.

 The Board of Trustees voted before the audience to cut most proposed classes and programs.

For Moorpark College, the cuts consisted of the following programs: Computer Information Systems, Computer Science, Interior Design, Emergency Medical Technician, Baseball, Men’s Track and Cross-Country. For Ventura College, program cuts included the Agriculture and Architecture programs, among many more. Although Oxnard College also faced several program cuts, their Film/ Television program was strongly represented and survived the vote.

 While the cuts will affect students and faculty alike, Granados said he will not give up his educational goals.

“I don’t care if it takes 40 years,” said Granados. ” I will do whatever it takes to accomplish my dreams.”