Foothill College and De Anza College provide affordable local access to higher education.
For over 50 years, Foothill College and De Anza College have provided students of all ages with affordable access to a college education. Today, more than 45,000 students attend Foothill and De Anza each year to complete the courses needed to transfer to four-year universities and for job training to meet the Silicon Valley’s demand for a highly skilled workforce.
Foothill College and De Anza College rank among the best community colleges in the nation.
Foothill College and De Anza College offer nationally recognized programs in math, science and engineering to provide local students with the skills needed to succeed in the local economy. Foothill and De Anza colleges train more local health care professionals – including nurses and paramedics – than any other Silicon Valley community colleges. Many students from Foothill and De Anza transfer to top universities.
Community colleges like Foothill and De Anza are more critical than ever.
Due to state budget cuts, University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) campuses are turning away more and more high school graduates. In addition, UC and CSU tuition has increased substantially in recent years, making a four-year university education too expensive for many students and their families in this tough economy. As a result, Foothill and De Anza are the only affordable and accessible options for many local students seeking quality higher education, job training and academic courses.
Demand for community college courses is increasing while Foothill and De Anza colleges are facing deep state budget cuts.
Due to state funding reductions, Foothill College and De Anza College have seen more than $20 million cut from the budget over the past two years, causing reductions in course offerings and elimination of hundreds of full- and part-time faculty and staff positions. Administration has been reduced to an absolute minimum and operates as efficiently as possible. At the same time, student demand for local community college courses is increasing. With recent state budget cuts there are simply not enough classes to provide local students the job training and transfer credits they are seeking. This year, thousands of students were unable to get into a class they needed. With ongoing state budget cuts expected, this problem stands to only get worse.
Foothill-De Anza is evaluating options for securing stable funding that the state cannot take away.
The Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees is considering placing a parcel tax measure on the November 2010 ballot that would provide stable local funding that the state cannot take away. Funds from this measure would not prevent all cuts, but would protect essential instructional courses and educational programs and services, including:
• Maintaining core academic classes such as math, science and writing that students need to transfer to four-year universities in a timely manner
• Protecting math, science and engineering programs that prepare students for careers in computers and emerging technologies that are in demand in the Silicon Valley
• Restoring funding to meet rising demand for community college courses by offering adequate numbers of classes and labs
• Maintaining programs that provide equal access for students with disabilities to college classes and programs
• Preserving programs that train students for healthcare careers such as nursing and paramedics to staff local hospitals, fire departments, clinics and medical offices
• Providing job re-training programs to help unemployed residents develop the skills to find jobs in this tough economy and get back in the workforce
• Keeping community college libraries open and maintaining critical library resources to provide students with the access to the information and computers they need to succeed
• Providing essential support and services to students to ensure that they can get the most out of their college experience
Funds would remain local and strict taxpayer protections are mandatory.
To provide stable funding through the current challenging budget period, the Board of Trustees is considering a $69 parcel tax that would expire in six years. The funding could only be extended with approval of two-thirds of local voters. By law, every penny from this measure would stay locally to benefit Foothill College and De Anza College. No funds could be taken away by the state or used for administrator salaries. A citizens’ oversight committee and mandatory annual audits of the funding from this measure would be required to ensure that funds are spent as promised.
Decision to place educational funding measure on the November ballot
On August 2, the Board of Trustees finalized the measure for the November 2, 2010 ballot, designated as Measure E by the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. Parcel tax measures require approval from 66.7 percent of voters. An independent campaign committee, Citizens for Foothill-De Anza, has been formed to lead the campaign for Measure E.
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Posted July 13, 2010
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