You can view the latest Chancellor's messages by visiting the "Budget Information" and clicking on "Chancellor's Budget Message".

March 3, 2010

Dear West Valley-Mission Community College District Employees:

The California economic crisis has resulted in a major decrease in tax revenue and the enactment of state legislation forcing the reduction of community colleges services. The ongoing fiscal downturn has resulted in cost cutting measures, including layoffs, at virtually every state and local government agency. West Valley-Mission CCD is no exception.

Until now, the West Valley-Mission CCD has managed to avoid layoffs due to the outstanding cooperation and efforts of faculty and staff at the Colleges and District Services to find other means to afford educational and student services and live within the means established by the state legislature and governor. Unfortunately, layoffs cannot be avoided for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2010.

Since beginning my service with the District on August 1, 2008, I have worked to avoid service cuts and layoffs. We have grown enrollment, restored lost state apportionment revenue, become more efficient in faculty and support staffing levels, cut administration, and rallied to support our students and all employees during this period of great fiscal uncertainty.

At this date, I take Governor Schwarzenegger at his word to stop cutting higher education budgets and begin a time of renewed hope for improved public support for the mission of community colleges. We, as a District, may now have reached the low point of the financial crisis. It is true that we must cautiously plan for the next two fiscal years, as state revenues will lag behind the economic recovery and our income will likely remain stagnant for this period. I am hopeful, however, that additional cuts to necessary services will not be required as we approach the 2011/2012 fiscal year.

Across California, community colleges are feeling the impact of devastating cuts, not only in our normal budget planning, but also dealing with tens of thousands of students who are being pushed to our campuses from the four-year universities.  With insufficient funding for all higher education systems, state policy has redirected enrollment to community colleges, leading to the displacement of our most educationally and economically disadvantaged students, who are finding too few course sections and reduced or eliminated student success services.

The District’s mission is to provide higher education courses and services to area residents. Reducing staffing is abhorrent to this purpose, an action only undertaken when other options are not feasible. I am hopeful that collective bargaining outcomes and the on-going efforts of all employees will resolve current fiscal challenges and that service reductions will no longer be a part of our discussions. Our future is stable. Our colleges are strong. Our commitment to public service is unwavering.

John Hendrickson, Chancellor

- John E. Hendrickson