DEAR EDITOR:
The Gavilan College school newspaper recently reported that
another custodian has been laid off due to the budget deficit.
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DEAR EDITOR:
Several years ago, the Gavilan College Board of Trustees made a
commitment to improving athletic programs by changing to a
full-time athletic director, as opposed to having a faculty member
direct the department part-time (the last faculty-member-director
was allocated only 20 percent of time to the role.)
DEAR EDITOR:
The Gavilan College school newspaper recently reported that another custodian has been laid off due to the budget deficit. It disappoints me that such action had to be taken since I have such a deep appreciation for what Gavilan has done for me and my family.
My wife, son, and daughter graduated from Gavilan and so did I. We were very impressed with the quality of instruction that we received from the faculty and the help given to us by the support staff. Consequently, I was initially in support of the bond measure requested by the Board of Trustees of Gavilan.
However, the more I investigate the fiscal irresponsibility, of the new board members, the more I hesitate to support such an increase in my taxes.
Specifically, I am talking about the recent transformation of the position of athletic director. The responsibilities of the athletic director (i.e. schedule games and verify the eligibility of students/athletes) has always been added to the work load of a PE instructor – the cost to the district was a stipend of about $2,000 a semester. Incredibly, the Board of Trustees voted to transform that position into an administrative one with the title of vice president of athletics. Cost to the taxpayer for such a cockamamie idea, more than $100,000 a year!
This salary is for a person who “oversees” about 100 student/athletes. I fear that the proverbial tail (sports) is waging the dog (instruction).
Apparently the faculty has continually complained about such a waste of money to the board, but to no avail. I’m told that the creation of the position, and the support of such, is purely “political.” That means that the administration, in struggling to balance the projected $300,000-plus budget deficit cannot “touch” the “sacred cow”, the position of “Vice President of Athletics,” created by the board.
The new athletic director, I mean vice president of athletics, has promised to bring money into the athletic department. Towards that end, he proposed the idea, which apparently has been accepted by the board, to install up to 40 more vending machines onto the Gilroy campus.
My guess is that they assume that with 40 more machines in front of the 5,000 students who attend Gavilan College, those students will significantly increase their intake of soda and candy and that will significantly increase the funds available to the PE department. They are going to have to sell an awful lot of coke and candy to make up for a $100,000-a-year salary.
Please remember this example of fiscal stupidity when considering the bond for Gavilan College.
Manly Willis, Gilroy
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DEAR EDITOR:
Several years ago, the Gavilan College Board of Trustees made a commitment to improving athletic programs by changing to a full-time athletic director, as opposed to having a faculty member direct the department part-time (the last faculty-member-director was allocated only 20 percent of time to the role.) A prior lack of focus on athletics had led to declining participation and success, and issues with Title IX compliance.
In 2001, through a majority vote of the Board , Gavilan hired a full time athletic director. The difference in cost between the two options considered at that time – assigning a full-time faculty member additional time as athletic director and hiring one individual specifically for that job – was approximately $26,000 per year. The athletic director has an organizational role equal to that of a “dean” (not a vice president.) The athletic director is responsible for administrative oversight of athletics programs (including fundraising) and physical education instruction.
The Board hired the athletic director to rebuild the athletics program and raise funds to support that program. Since, the athletics program has been turned around. There are active women’s teams, increased participation at sporting events, and a general campus excitement around athletics.
In the past year athletics fundraising activities have generated $54,000 for athletics. These fundraising activities are just beginning and will likely grow over time (and will in the future include additional revenue generated by vending machine sales.)
Students come to Gavilan with many interests. Some come planning to transfer to a four-year university. Other students seek workforce and vocational skill training to prepare them for careers in nursing and law enforcement. A number of students, while pursuing academic goals, also participate in competitive sports programs. Many of our student athletes played for their local high school teams – we are proud that they can continue to compete while pursuing their studies.
Physical education is a requirement for transfer to the California State University system. Athletics covers the broader area of competitive sports and also satisfies the transfer requirement.
Gavilan College is now working to eliminate a deficit, due to the state budget crisis, of $300,000 for the current fiscal year. Among other things we are considering a proposal to reduce administrative costs by $115,000 per year by eliminating one of the three vice president positions. This is in addition to the $1.2 million reduction that we made last year.
Gavilan now has a contingency reserve of more than $1 million, (in additional to another $3 million that has been set aside for benefits obligations.) Gavilan remains one of the most, if not the most fiscally sound community college in the state. Unlike many community colleges, Gavilan has not had to lay off a single employee since the fiscal crisis stated over a year ago.
In my opinion the Board of Trustees acted appropriately to ensure that Gavilan College is financially stable and meets the comprehensive needs of local residents, including local athletes, as intended by the state of California.
Steve Kinsella, President, Gavilan College
