Trustees Work to Better Serve the Community

A majority of trustees of the South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD) are working to end decades of wasteful programs, structures and expenditures. As one would expect, those who have benefited the most from the past spoils system now complain the loudest about reform measures.

An obstacle to reform is the rampant misinformation dispensed by a small group of deans, teachers and an ex-trustee who fight to regain their “most-favored” status. Their orchestrated campaign aims to replace trustees each elected by more than 114,000 votes.

Reform is essential to initiate administrative accountability since the district was placed on a fiscal watch list last fall after two years of deficit spending and a low cash reserve. To effect institutional change, the board will begin a nationwide search for a new chancellor, a chief financial officer and a college president to control costs, downsize management and maximize resources.

In the past, board policy was shaped by administrators and faculty leaders promoting bureaucratic growth and disproportionate expenditures for favored instructors and programs. In spite of resistance from these vested interests, last year the board allocated to instruction more than $800,000 previously spent on administration. The board reduced by 23% the $2.3 million paid faculty for release from teaching duties for committee work and program coordination.

Using those savings, in the fall of 1997 the SOCCCD offered 10% more classes than the year before at the Saddleback and Irvine Valley campuses. To halt deficit spending, last summer a board majority of John Williams, Teddi Lorch, Steven Frogue and I directed the administration to research an additional $700,000 cut in management and staff costs. The past chancellor, the chief financial officer, both college presidents and Academic Senate leaders responded that such cuts were not feasible. Three board members--David Lang, Marcia Milchiker and Joan Hueter--opposed any such reductions.

Now the current fiscal situation obligates the board to undertake the measures considered “impossible” six months ago. Dissident faculty leaders oppose cuts in “release time”--a release in the number of courses an instructor is contracted to teach. It is so abused as to reach 100% reassignment from teaching for some. A large number of professors had 80% release time, or release from four of the five contracted courses. The most strident board opponents previously enjoyed a considerable amount of release time, which has been sharply reduced.

Also, district Academic Senate presidents traditionally have moved up to become administrators. For example, the current acting chancellor, both college presidents and several deans all were once Academic Senate presidents. But when management posts shrink, advancement opportunities decline. Thus, most of the small band of employees going to the community with extreme allegations about the board are motivated by career self-interest.

Board trustees, on the other hand, receive $400 a month. None of the board majority endorsing reform has any vested interest in district finances.

The recall campaign revolves around a non-credit, weekend seminar Steven Frogue proposed to offer last year, and then voluntarily canceled, which would have included theories by one of four speakers of possible Israeli Mossad involvement in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The recall activists are undeterred by Frogue’s repeated insistence that he respects the Jewish faith and people, and by his acknowledgment that the Holocaust was one of the great atrocities of all times. His defense of academic freedom to examine divergent views in the seminar is rejected by his opponents.

The recall drive leaders know the election will cost the SOCCCD up to $750,000, according to the registrar of voters’ estimate. Nevertheless, motivated by personal gain, and supported by Anti-Defamation League and Jewish Defense League officers, most from Los Angeles County, the recall leaders’ impetus to break the board majority outweighs the detrimental effect of the election cost on students and taxpayers.

As a diversionary tactic, some critics attack board reform by demanding cuts in teachers rather than administrators. Misinformation is circulated about faculty salaries, inflating figures with benefit costs, overload pay or extra summer school work. Experienced SOCCCD professors earn approximately $60,000 annually.

The latest SOCCCD Annual State Fiscal Report states that only 52% of the unrestricted budget is allocated for teachers’ and instructional aides’ salaries and benefits. In addition, each student in a classroom generates revenue as compensation from the state, while deans do not produce income.

At the South Orange County College District, four elected officials strive to serve the public rather than special interest groups. Under the guidance of a tough new chancellor and chief financial officer, the district will provide better service to the community than ever before.