Shoreline Community College planned budget cuts shared at all campus meeting April 6

Shoreline Community College has a plan to cut nearly $3.1 million from the 2011-12 budget. Now, college staff, faculty and students are waiting for the state Legislature to say if that’s enough.

Faces are grim as staff and faculty hear about budget cuts
from President Lee Lambert at a campus meeting on April 6. Photo courtesy SCC.

At an all-campus meeting on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, Shoreline President Lee Lambert labeled the plan a “final draft plan” that includes some impacts to 36 positions. Of that number, 11 faculty members are identified for reduction-in-force proceedings along with two retirements and two contract non-renewals. Three administrators would be laid off, two positions are being downgraded, one vacant position eliminated, one reduced time and one shifted to non-state funds. For classified employees, there were no layoffs, but seven vacant positions are slated for elimination, four reduced time and one retirement.

Lambert said the details of the plan could still be influenced by the political process in Olympia, statewide and local labor negotiations and other factors. Despite the label, the college must begin to move forward on the plan if identified saving are to be realized by the July 1 start to the fiscal year.

“These decisions are not taken lightly,” Lambert said. “We all share the same vision here, to transform and changes lives. However, that has to be seen against a backdrop of very difficult realities.”

Vice President for Administrative Services Daryl Campbell presented the numbers behind the plan and how the college got to them.

“We started in January with the Governor’s budget indicating a cut level between $2 million and $2.5 million,” Campbell said, adding that soon after, news from Olympia pushed the speculative number to $2.77 million for Shoreline’s share. On Feb. 22, the college shared a “preliminary recommendation” plan with the campus, for the purpose of a campus-wide feedback period.

“Things changed very soon after Feb.22,” Campbell said, referring to advice from the State Board of Community and the March 17 state revenue forecast that pushed the reduction target to $3.57 million. “The latest news is the House budget,” Campbell said of the plan released April 4. “We’re somewhat surprised; it seems to be similar to the Governor’s. We’re hopeful, but cautiously so.”

From the SCC Campus Blog