The decline of education in California and across the United States has become an even more critical issue as addressed by Dr. Linda Lacy in her State of the College Address at the City of Cerritos Chamber Meeting on Thursday.
Over the course of the past two years, the issue has gradually been exposed to the consciousness of the nation and gathering steam as a cause for distress.
Dr. Lacy, president and superintendent of Cerritos College, is one of the many people who is concerned with the quality of California’s educational system.
“The United States is losing ground as far as being the world leader in educated society, that should alarm everybody. In California, we used to lead the nation in education and we are far down to the bottom now.
“It’s time that citizens step up and say, ‘If they want a quality life for themselves, their children and everyday in their community, we need an educated workforce.’ We need to have educated citizens and the key to do that is to invest in people,” she said.
Dr. Lacy, along with the Cerritos Community College District Board of Trustees, met with the Cerritos Chamber of Commerce for a yearly State of Higher Education luncheon.
At the luncheon, she delivered a presentation speech on the academic issues currently affecting Cerritos College and the accomplishments that although have been achieved by the campus, can potentially be impaired if the issues at hand are not addressed.
As of today, Cerritos College has been instrumental in assisting the California Community College system in providing over 80 percent of the certifications in Law Enforcement, Public Safety and Paramedics; training over 70 percent of California nurses and transferring over 48 percent of UC Bachelor graduates holding a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math major.
More than 136 associate degrees and 75 certifications are also available at Cerritos College, spanning Liberal Arts, Behavioral Sciences, Business Administration, Child Development, Culinary Arts, Cosmetology and Pharmaceutical Training.
While these programs continue to be available on campus, they are currently at risk of facing deeper cuts due to a possible drastic drop in state financial support as it has been steadily declining.
“The fact that we are losing 17 percent of our budget in the last three years is a major issue. What’s really happened since 2008 (is) we’ve lost 19,592 (class) seats because of lack of funding. (The state bureaucracy) continues to withdraw the revenue to the tune of 91 million dollars in 2008 to a possible 76 (million) if November fails,” Dr. Lacy explained.
Graphic Design major Raul Montejano said in regard to the budget cuts, “How do they (schools) expect students to come to school if they keep raising their prices (on classes)?”
In regard to November, Dr. Lacy referred to the upcoming California ballot elections where Proposition 30 is going to be voted on.
If passed, the proposition would generate between 6.8 and 9 billion dollars in revenue from increased sales taxes, over the course of seven years. 11 percent of which would be invested into the California community college system.
“Well, we (Cerritos) hope that they (the members of Cerritos Chamber of Commerce) understand and would support the general state on the bond issue that’s calling for Prop 30 and we would also hope that they would support our local measure G.
Measure G is also one of the recovery measures that Cerritos College is hoping will be approved in the upcoming electoral season.
“It is a facilities bond that will complete the facilities master plan that was adopted last year.”
She continued, “If you invest in education, you are invested in the economy, you are investing in the rebound.”
Prop 30 will go on the ballot on Nov. 6 of this year. Currently, it’s backed by over 26 million dollars in collective contributions from supporters Governor Jerry Brown, the California Federation of Teachers, the League of Women Voters of California and the California Democratic Party.
