As a long time SBCC faculty member, I find it disheartening to see such negative and untrue statements used in this campaign for our trustee election. So many positives have occurred in the last two years, in spite of the budget crises, it is hard to believe anyone would not be supportive of our administration and board.
It’s been said that our exemplary accreditation is nothing new. However, since the new accreditation standards were implemented in June 2002, over a third of community colleges were sanctioned. This is a new era in accreditation. Our accreditation is due to effective leadership and hard work by the administration, faculty, staff, and board, truly a team effort. That we received nine commendations is a major accomplishment.
Yes, difficult budget decisions were made, but the highest priority was to maintain programs to enhance student success. These decisions were made through participatory governance that has been totally open and transparent.
Alleged issues with our Continuing Education have been blown out of proportion. The vice chancellor from the State Chancellor’s Office wrote on 10/22/10 to reiterate his “support for the work of the SBCC administration over the past year to bring noncredit courses in compliance with the California Code of Regulations, Title 5.”
Why change outstanding leadership that has proven itself in tough financial times? Join me in voting for incumbents Kay Alexander, Joe Dobbs, Des O’Neill, and Sally Green.—Judith Meyer, S.B.
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There are two candidates seeking to represent Carpinteria in the SBCC Board of Trustees. Only one has the experience and knowledge to truly represent Carpinteria: Sally Green. She is education minded and fiscally responsible. Sally was an elementary school principal at Canalino for nine years. She helped improve Canalino’s state standard scores and maintained educational excellence while managing the school’s budget with ever-decreasing state funds. She helped implement and run Canalino’s new preschool. She sits on the boards of Girl’s Inc. of Carpinteria, Carpinteria Beautiful, Carpinteria Education Foundation, Seal Watch, and the Women’s Club. Since retiring last year, Sally Green continues to volunteer in Carpinteria schools. Her life in Carpinteria has been devoted to serving the educational needs of all of Carpinteria’s students, young and old. Sally is the person Carpinteria deserves to have representing its interests on the SBCC Board of Trustees as she has faithfully done for the past four years. Putting students first is Sally’s mission. Electing Sally to the SBCC Board of Trustees should be the voters’ mission.—Paul Pettine, Carpinteria
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Before November 2, I urge you to really get to know the facts behind the seeming blood bath between the incumbents and challengers for seats on the Santa Barbara City College Board. For the last several weeks I have been researching and reading reports, letters, and hearsay about the current board’s actions.
I believe in rocking boats. I believe in questioning. I believe in our democratic system. With that you should ask yourselves, prior to voting: Why would I, in this economy, kick out a group of people that have been conserving and making rational decisions based on the best interest of the school and have come out on top? Why rock that boat based on hearsay?
There is a standard in family law that says when there is a child involved, the court looks at the best interest of the child. Shall we say Santa Barbara City College is the child, and the current board and slate of challengers are the feuding parents? What is really in the best interest of the child in this case?
When you are legally noncompliant as a government funded facility you can be sanctioned, fined, lose funding, etc. The current board has had the tough job over this past year of having to dissect and reapportion items not in compliance in accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 5. The board is being unjustly and unfairly accused of not involving the community with their “rash decisions” [to reduce college funding for particular programs, such the Parent/Child Workshops] and or acting in haste due to biases.
Obviously this board has learned a lot through bathing in blood in this battle brought on by sound-bites, hearsay, and lack of knowledge of the real issues; and through this learning experience I am sure they will of course incorporate community involvement, where they are allowed to, in accordance with the bylaws and ways they are mandated to run their meetings, etc.
I will urge you again to identify whether this boat needs rocking; whether what you have been listening to and witnessed said is hearsay; and really ask yourselves before marking that absentee ballot or visiting your designated polling place, what is in the best interest of Santa Barbara City College? I for one applaud the current board for working effortlessly in attempting to clean up a noncompliant portion of the college so as not to lose funding or be sanctioned monetarily or otherwise, whilst working tirelessly to appease the unhappy and not-accountable creators of the hearsay!Elizabeth A.G. Cox, Carpinteria (former SBCC student)