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Board, president see hope amid contract disagreement
The Advocate
With full-time faculty contract negotiations at impasse and a budget shortfall looming over the college, MHCC board members and the MHCC president were contacted in the last week to comment on the myriad of issues facing MHCC.
"This is probably the most challenging time as it relates to my time on the board," said board member Dave Shields Feb. 10. "However, in all my years associated with MHCC, many of the same challenges existing today have been dealt with in the past."
Brian Freeman, board chairman, said last week, "As to the faculty negotiations, I think it will take some patience. Contract negotiations are never easy but we have gotten through them in the past and we will again."
MHCC President John Sygielski said Feb. 11, "I remain hopeful we can settle these negotiations because the full-time faculty have a tradition of helping the college when it is most in need and the college has never been in greater need.
"One of the many positive aspects of this institution, I believe, is that every constituent group is willing to sacrifice for our students so they don't have to shoulder unrealistic financial burdens. Thus, when all is said and done, I don't think this time will be any different," Sygielski said.
MHCC board member Duke Shepard voiced a less optimistic outlook. In a response to an email sent by an MHCC student, and later posted on a public facebook page, Shepard said, "Please note that two years ago I, then board chair, signed off on an agreement with the faculty that — as I recall — provided a 3 percent raise. I was viciously criticized by faculty throughout those negotiations as well, and when, in the end, I met many of their demands I was (and remain) still hated.
"I only mention it to illustrate that it is part of the culture at MHCC, whether it's a 3 percent raise or a rollback," Shepard said in his Wednesday email message.
Regarding the budget deficit, Shields said declining state support is at the heart of the matter.
"The major problem with the budget is that much of the available revenue is contingent on the state level funding. Currently, the projected state-wide budget for community colleges will be $410 million. This is significantly less that the $500 million received in 07/09 and the $413 million in 09/11."
Shields said, "When there is a loss of state funding, the only other alternative to replace the loss is by increasing tuition," said Shields.
But Shepard said that option is unacceptable. " I am personally done raising tuition. I won't vote for more tuition increases and price people out of education and their hopes for economic opportunity," he said Wednesday.
Freeman said reluctantly that when college expenses go up and revenues from the state go down, raising tuition is a consideration. "But keeping our tuition affordable has always been a priority of the board. That is why we are doing our best to control all of our expenses," he said.
Sygielski said, "The budget deficit is a challenge that is directly related to the dwindling resources we receive from the state of Oregon. As you know, we have sought ideas on how to cut costs and have implemented many of those ideas. In addition, we are focusing on other funding sources, such as private fundraising and grant writing, to bridge the financial gap.
"The challenges we are addressing today were the very ones pointed out by employees almost three years ago. Those challenges were then echoed by other stakeholders, including board members, community colleges, business leaders and donors. I am simply doing what was asked and expected of me when I was hired as president, and that is my responsibility," said Sygielski. "The key elements to these situations are transparency, clear expectations, open and honest communication, sacrifice and unity."
As for the search for either an interim or permanent president, the college is accepting applications from current MHCC employees. Deadline is Thursday, Feb. 24.
Sygielski announced last month that he has accepted a job to become president of Harrisburg (Pa.) Area Community College and will leave MHCC June 30.
Freeman said, "I am confident that we can attract well-qualified candidates. The board has begun its search and is dedicated to finding someone who can build on Ski's success."
The Advocate reserves the right to not publish comments based on their appropriateness.