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Faculty and staff voice frustrations at budget hearing
The Advocate
The MHCC budget committee meeting Wednesday was turned into a labor negotiations sounding post as the district board, residing as the budget committee, was addressed by frustrated and concerned students, community members and faculty.
The meeting was scheduled as a public input session to give people a chance to ask questions and make suggestions regarding the 2011-12 proposed budget presented by college president John Sygielski on April 20.
Acting as board committee for the first half of the meeting were MHCC district board members Brian Freeman, Beverly Russell, Dave Shields and Ralph Yates. Also sitting on the administration side were Sygielski, interim vice president Heidi Franklin, interim college president elect Michael Hay, and assistant to the president for strategic initiatives and board relations June Jacobs.
Franklin kicked off the meeting with a Powerpoint presentation with the goal of clarity in mind.
"The difference between the general fund and other restricted funds is the board has discretion over how the funds are spent," said Franklin.
Franklin said that although the general fund appears to be growing according to budget analysis documents that have been distributed, "we don't have any more money than we had."
According to Franklin state support was cut by $3.5 million after the 2010-11 budget was approved and the board decided to use $3.5 million of the reserve fund.
After the presentation, 25 members of the audience stood up before the board and made suggestions and voiced their concern for the future of MHCC.
Mike Brayson, district tax payer and community business owner suggested the college invest $1 of a proposed $6 tuition increase be placed in a fund to invest in promoting programs and night/weekend instruction. Brayson added he calculated savings in the amount of $300,000 to be used strictly for promotion to increase the college revenue.
Kari Rothe, full-time math instructor, said she found a few things that were puzzling about the budget. "The cost of instruction includes dean an support staff. Administration is not itemized and difficult to track. Why not? I can only guess it is either intended to be hidden from the public and staff or it's an oversight."
Chris Maier, full-time instructor for 23 years said implored the board to provide more transparency. "I need figures. I need to know the cost of the campaign against faculty. It is appropriate to have full accounts," and she listed various expenditures, including the cost of hiring Randy Stedman to negotiate the full-time faculty contract, the hiring of additional security personnel and the advertising costs to seek replacement teachers.
Full-time sociology instructor Naomi Abrahams asked the board if they were listening as U.S. President Barack Obama addressed the Gresham employer Intel communicating how important community college education is.
"I have watched students running from here. I was told today that a student wasn't coming back to a college that treats students so poorly," said Abrahams. "Your actions are unforgiveable. A logo is not going to help, Try respect and a new focus on education."
Fifth term honor student Angela DeCorte, who had been interrupted at April 20's budget meeting due to time constraints, was again stopped by the board. "I have a petition with 900 signatures so my voice isn't just for once person," she said. "Can I get one minute for all those other hundreds of voices."
After adjourning for a ten minute break the committee, minus Yates, allowed a student who had not signed up to speak prior to the meeting a chance to talk. She questioned the proposed parking fee. "We have 2,500 parking spaces on campus and it's my understanding that the administration is expecting 9,600 students next fall to pay the parking fee."
"I'm not going to pay to drive around for a half an hour trying to find a parking space," she said. "I get that you don't understand what I'm talking about because you have your own spaces."
Board chair Freeman allowed committee members to address any questions or concerns that had been brought up by the public. Shields and Russell agreed with not implementing a parking fee.
Shields said, "Maybe it comes from being a faculty member for 31 years, but I don't like it."
While acknowledging the faculty, Russell said, "We really believe that our faculty is the greatest," she was interrupted by the audience shouting "get back to the table."
Freeman ended the meeting by clarifying if there was no parking fee implemented the proposed tuition increase would be an additional $2. He said the economic concessions made in the proposal submitted in mediation with the full-time faculty association Monday would create and additional $2 in tuition increases as well.
A budget meeting will be held May 11 for the board to adopt the proposed budget and will be reviewed by the Multnomah County Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission June 8.
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