|
@de anza Home
Budget Advisory Home
|
|
[back to Child Development Program
Budget Advisory]
Foothill-De Anza Child Development Center
Letter to Community Members
March 6, 2003
Dear Friends,
The Foothill-De Anza Community College District deeply values and respects
its community members, and we believe it is vital to inform our district neighbors
about issues and events that may affect them. We are writing to update you on
the status of the district's Child Development Center (CDC), located at the
De Anza campus and serving the children of both colleges.
As you know, California is facing a $35 billion deficit, and as a result, our
district is planning for budget reductions to address a shortfall of more than
$20 million. In addition, the governor proposes to remove tax bailout and state
contract funds of approximately $850,000 for our Child Development Center. For
the past 25 years, these funds – which account for almost 90 percent of
the CDC's operating budget – have allowed Foothill-De Anza to provide
childcare to our student parents, the majority of whom are below the poverty
line and are moving from welfare to work. The governor's proposal to put these
funds into his "realignment package" and send them to the county will
devastate our program. We would receive funding if, and only if, the county
receives new revenues.
Because of this anticipated loss of funding, we will need to lay off our dedicated
teachers and close the CDC at the end of the spring quarter. This means that
effective July 1, childcare will be suspended, denying access to some of our
most vulnerable students and their children as a result of the state cuts. We
are doing everything possible to make the impact known to our legislators, as
well as to state policy and business leaders.
Childcare is not the only service that will suffer under the governor's proposal.
The district is also emphasizing to legislators that community colleges, as
the most cost-effective and accessible higher education system in California,
should not be asked to bear a disproportionate burden of budget cuts. The governor's
proposed budget provides additional funds to the University of California and
California State University systems – which can also increase and retain
fees – while proposing severe cuts to community colleges and smaller reductions
to K-12 education. Any fee increases for our system are mandated by the state
and return to the state general fund. Foothill-De Anza cannot prepare the workforce
of Silicon Valley for tomorrow with these kinds of reductions today.
Despite these proposed cuts, we will continue to provide – to the best
of our ability – quality instruction and services to more than 40,000
students next year. We look forward to our continued friendship with you during
these difficult times and into the future. Please feel free to share this information
with your neighbors and others who may be interested or affected.
S incerely,
Lois A. Callahan, Ed.D., Interim Chancellor, Foothill-De Anza Community College
District
Bernadine Chuck Fong, Ph.D., President, Foothill College
Martha J. Kanter, Ed.D., President, De Anza College
[back to Child Development Program Budget Advisory]
[top of page]
|
