YCCD Welcomes Newly and Re-Elected Trustees

The Yuba Community College District welcomes newly elected Trustees to the Governing Board.   Newly elected Trustees were sworn into office and new officers were elected for the Governing Board at the December 17, 2020 Annual Organizational Meeting.

Ms. Dennise Burbank, who represents Trustee Area 2 which includes a portion of Yuba County (Marysville Joint Unified School District) and elected as Vice President of the Board, is a long-time resident of the Yuba-Sutter area.  A graduate of Gridley High School, Ms. Burbank earned an accounting certificate from Yuba College.  Ms. Burbank is a local business owner and currently serves as an elected director of the Olivehurst Public Utility District and is the president and founder of SoYouCan, a local non-profit organization.

1. Juan Delgado, who represents Trustee Area 4 which includes a portion of Sutter County (Yuba City Unified School District) is a long-time resident of the Yuba -Sutter communities. Mr. Delgado received his Associates of Arts Degree from Butte College, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from California State University, Chico. Mr. Delgado has worked and volunteered in various capacities around the Yuba-Sutter area including as a Family Counselor, organizer of the Yuba-Sutter Stand Down, a radio announcer, school counselor, and a teacher of English as a Second Language.
   2021. Mr. Bill Roderick, who represents Trustee Area 7 which includes Lake, Colusa and Glenn Counties, graduated from Lindhurst High School and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from California State University, Chico and a master’s degree in Cross Cultural Education from National University.  Mr. Roderick has served in public education at the high school level in various capacities such as teacher, athletic director, assistant principal and principal, for over twenty years.  Currently, Mr. Roderick serves as a Senior Director with the Educational Services team at the Lake County Office of Education.Ms. Susan Alves, re-elected to serve as YCCD Trustee Area 6 which includes a portion of Yolo County (Woodland Joint Unified School Districts) and a portion of Colusa County (Colusa, Pierce Joint, and Esparto Unified School Districts), was elected as the President of the Board for 2021. Ms. Alves is a long-time resident of Yolo County, attended Woodland Community College, transferred to California State University, Chico where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Sciences. Ms. Alves also earned a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and an Administrative Services Credential from California University, Sacramento.  Ms. Alves has served in the Woodland Joint Unified School District for 22 years, 13 years as a teacher, and 9 years as an elementary school principal.Other members of the Board of Trustees include Mr. Richard Teagarden, Mr. David Wheeler, and Dr. Jesse Ortiz who was elected Clerk of the Board for 2021.

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   Governor’s Office Releases Proposed Budget

The Governor’s Office released their January budget proposal on Friday, January 8^th.  The proposal includes a significant increase in funding for community colleges under Proposition 98.  The proposed budget includes significant one-time funding and sufficient funds to make deposits into the reserve accounts, including the Prop 98 reserve account.  The budget reflects a record high of $22 billion in reserves.

The Department of Finance stated the reasons for this dramatic change in the budget conditions from last year were for three primary factors: 1. The Administration incorrectly estimated how deep the recession would be; 2. More inequality in the pandemic – with high income earners impacted less; and 3. Continued stock market increases.  With much of the revenue coming from capital gains, the current budget proposal reflects additional revenues that are primarily one-time.  The budget continues to reflect a long-term structural deficit beginning in fiscal year 2022-23.

Community College Budget Proposal
As previously stated, there is significant one-time funding that is proposed for community colleges, most of which will be used to provide financial aid to students.  When taken in total, there is actually very little ongoing funding and little operational dollars for community college districts included in the proposed budget.  Additionally, while K-12 is credited for their lost COLA from the current year, community colleges would not receive the same treatment under the Administration’s proposal.  The following funding is provided in the Administrations proposal for community colleges:

• Deferrals
  • Approximately two-thirds of the overall Student Centered Funding Formula (SCFF) deferral which equates to approximately $1.1 billion. This would leave a deferral of approximately $326.5 million for the 2021-22 fiscal year.
• Apportionments
  • $111.1 million for a 1.5% COLA to the SCFF
  • $23.1 million for .5% growth funding
• Ongoing Funding
  • $6.1 million for COLA for certain categorical programs (CalWORKS, Childcare, DSPS, EOPS, Apprenticeships, Mandated Costs Block Grant Items – does not include Part-Time Faculty items)2
  • $30 million for Online Technology and Mental Health Services
  • $15 million to expand California Apprenticeship Initiative
  • $10.6 million to invest in online education ecosystem and infrastructure
  • $8 million for CENIC
  • $8.1 million COLA for Adult Education Block Grant
• One-Time Funding
  • $150 million for emergency financial assistance for students
  • $100 million for emergency grants for food and housing security
  • $20 million for faculty professional development
  • $15 million for Zero-Degree Textbook programs
  • $2.5 million for Dual Enrollment instructional materials
    $600,000 for implementation of CSU Ethnic Studies requirement (AB 1460)

• Facilities
  • The budget proposes one new start project and funding for 17 projects to move to the construction phase. Department of Finance intends to propose further projects in the Spring as those projects move to the construction phase.
  • Along with 16 other projects, the Yuba Community College District – Woodland Community College Performing Arts Facility project is included on the construction phase for proposed funding.
• Student Aid
  • The Governor’s budget also makes several proposed changes around financial aid and the Student Aid Commission. As relates to community colleges, there are two major proposed changes:
    • Require all high school seniors to fill out a FASFA or California Dream Act Application;
    • Increase of 9,000 Competitive Cal Grants to a total of 50,000.
  • CalSTRS/CalPERS
    • The Administration also proposed to continue to “buy down” employer contributions for CalSTRS and CalPERS. Under the proposed budget, the state would continue to put non-Proposition 98 funding toward a reduction of spending that districts would have to put toward their employer contributions to the retirement system.
    • CalSTRS would drop from 18.1% to 15.92%
    • CalPERS would drop from 24.9% to 23%
  • Other Initiatives
    • Districts would be required, under the proposed budget, to maintain a number of online courses in 2021-2022 that is 10% higher than the number offered in 2018-2019.
• $250 million one-time general fund to support forthcoming proposals that are focused on workforce development, segment alignment, and improving linkages between higher education and the workforce.The Administration is also requesting that the Legislature take immediate action on a package of proposals to help address issues related to COVID-19, including opening schools safely.  These issues include:
• $2 billion to reopen schools safely;
• $575 million in grants for small businesses and small nonprofit cultural institutions disproportionately impacted by the pandemic;
• $71 million for fee waivers for small businesses;
• $2.4 billion for the “Golden State Stimulus” – $600 payments to low-income workers;
• Eviction moratorium and upcoming federal funds.In addition to Immediate Action Items, the Administration has proposed items they would like to see addressed in the Spring, after immediate action items, but before actions are traditionally completed in late June.  “Early Action” includes two items for community colleges:

• $100 million for immediate emergency financial assistance for community college students;
• $20 million to boost retention and enrollment rates for community colleges.

Other “Early Action” items include monies for K-12 extended learning time, High Roads apprenticeship program, and the Project Homekey Housing initiative.

The Legislature will consider the “Immediate” and “Early” packages in the coming weeks, but the Administration will still release a May Revise in early May that will address the budget as a whole.

Legislative Update

Bills of Interest

SB 100 (Hurtado) – This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to convene a working group to examine the extended foster care program, make recommendations for improvements to the program within six months.  The bill would require that working group include representatives from specified state agencies and stakeholders.  The bill would require the working group to evaluate on and provide recommendations to the overall functioning of the extended foster care system, higher education opportunities, and supports for nonminor dependents, job training and employment opportunities and supports for nonminor dependents, housing access, and transition support for nonminor dependents exiting care.

SB 108 (Hurtado) – This bill would declare that it is the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient healthy food.  The bill would require all relevant state agencies, including the State Department of Social Services, the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the State Department of Public Health, to consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and grant criteria are pertinent to the distribution of food and nutrition assistance.

Articles of Interest

What Are You Grateful For in 2020?

(Daily Democrat – Published January 5, 2021)

Coaches, Players, School Officials Reflect on 2020

(Appeal Democrat – Published January 6, 2021)

Paying the Price for Being Wealthy

(Inside Higher Ed -Published January 6, 2021)

Distance Learning Experience

(Appeal Democrat – Published December 16, 2020)

Yuba College opts out of Fall Sports Season

(Appeal Democrat – Published December 17, 2020)

“Losing a Generation”: Fall College Enrollment Plummets for 1^st-Year Students

(NPR – Published December 17, 2020)

Chancellor’s Calendar
January 2021

4 – Bi-weekly Meeting with Board President
5 – Chancellor’s Cabinet
5 – Meeting with Trustee Ortiz
6 – Meetings of the Facilities/Audit, Finance, Policy/Student Access & Success Committees
7 – Weekly Advocacy Call
7 – ACCCA Executive Board Meeting
8 – CCLC CEO Strategic Leadership Program planning meeting
11 – Meeting with Trustee Delgado
11 – Meeting with Trustee Burbank
12 – Chancellor’s Cabinet
12 – District Services Spring Convocation
12 – Monthly Meeting with Student Trustees
12 – Monthly Meeting with Academic Senates’ leadership
12 – District Management Council (DMC)
14 – Board Planning and Development Session
14 – Regular Meeting of the Governing Board
15 – Student Centered Funding Formula Task Force meeting
18 & 19 – Board of Governors Meeting
18 –Bi-Weekly Meeting with Board President
19 – Chancellor’s Cabinet
19 – ACCCA Board Meeting
20 – ACCCA/ACBO Budget Workshop
20 – 22 – CCLC Effective Trustee Workshop & Board Chair Workshop
21 – CCCCO Consultation Council Meeting
21 – YCCD Strategic Planning meeting
22 – Strategic Planning YC Flex Workshop
22 – Strategic Planning WCC Flex Workshop
25 & 26 – CCLC Legislative Conference
25 – Semi-Annual CSU Sacramento Ed.D. Advisory Committee meeting
25 – Monthly North/Far-North EWD Coordinating Council meeting
26 – Chancellor’s Cabinet
28 – Strategic Planning Community Forum – YC Sutter Campus
28 – Meeting with YC President
29 – Strategic Planning Community Forum – YC Main Campus

Follow Douglas Houston @Yubadistrict