By Clyde Noel

The Foothill-De Anza Community College District provided details of the 2003-04 budget cuts, which include the elimination of a large contingent of classified employees. With the possibility of bumping rights, last Monday’s meeting turned into an emotional event.

“We are not happy with these cuts. You (district board) have to consider the budget crisis, but we must work together,” said Javier Rveda, chapter chairman for Foothill-De Anza SIEU Local 715. “Don’t forget the contribution we have made to this district. This is no fault of our own, so don’t forget who we are.”

All seats in the district boardroom were taken, and the hallways were full of employees and students wishing to speak.

“Students were not allowed to take part in the budget process, and that is why we are here,” said one student who was asked to wait his turn. “I’m pained, and it’s hopeless, and I don’t know what will happen to me after June 1. I’m helpless right now.” Speaker after speaker made essentially the same point.

The classified employees were subject to layoffs by June 30, because of lack of funding.

“Everyone in the district is working for a common goal — to provide students with quality educational programs. This is the key element used for budget reductions,” remarked Lois Callahan, interim chancellor. “This goal will continue to guide us in making decisions on cuts, which currently total $10 million of the projected $20.7 million required.”

Earlier in the evening, the board reaffirmed the cultural diversity/equal opportunity policy the district has committed to since 1998. As the district faces downsizing, the potential impact on diversity has became a grave concern.

This month the Diversity Advisory Committee will survey all employees, once the bumping rights are final, and review the diversity climate in the district.

Staff worker Les Leonardo commented on the diversity reaffirmation, saying the staff is 60 percent to 70 percent people of color and he doesn’t see that in management. Now, when they are giving dismissal slips, most of the recipients are people of color.

In a last effort to forestall any layoffs, Rveda took the podium and said, “I beg of you to exhaust every single way to keep people on the job. Your actions will affect many employees who contributed to the district. You should know in your mind what you are doing is right and feel comfortable with it.”

Trustee Andrea Leiderman said this is not fun for any of them, but the economy is the reason and directions come to them from the state level.

Without any deliberation, the trustees voted 5-0 to proceed with the elimination of the scheduled classified positions.

The proposed toll on full-time faculty positions totals 43, and administrators lose seven positions out of 86.

The district will achieve the bulk of its budget savings through layoffs and a hiring freeze.

In addition, the district is reaping temporary savings by not replacing the equivalent of about seven faculty positions created by temporary leaves.

Callahan stated that this is a difficult and stressful period for the college and central services. Callahan said at times it is difficult to see the larger picture, but they will serve more than 40,000 students next year; and 90 percent of what and who they are will remain intact.