EMOTIONAL COLLEGE BOARD VOTES TO KEEP 17 CENTRAL CLERICAL JOBS.Byline: Sharline Chiang Daily News Staff Writer In an emotionally charged vote that caused three Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. community college board members to bolt out Verb 1. bolt out - leave suddenly and as if in a hurry; "The listeners bolted when he discussed his strange ideas"; "When she started to tell silly stories, I ran out" beetle off, run off, run out, bolt of their meeting in frustration, the trustees Wednesday voted against cutting 17 central office clerical jobs to help close a projected $13 million deficit. Responding to employee outrage, board members voted 5-1 against layoffs and transfers, despite plans to use the cuts to downsize Downsize Reducing the size of a company by eliminating workers and/or divisions within the company. Notes: When a company downsizes, it is attempting to find ways to improve efficiency and increase profitability. It is sometimes referred to as trimming the fat. the district's Educational Services Division. After hearing other board members vote no, trustee Elizabeth Garfield, a supporter of decentralization de·cen·tral·ize v. de·cen·tral·ized, de·cen·tral·iz·ing, de·cen·tral·iz·es v.tr. 1. To distribute the administrative functions or powers of (a central authority) among several local authorities. , reluctantly added her no vote before storming out of the room. Trustee Kelly Candaele, after voting, raced out after her. ``You can see the angst,'' the board president, Althea Baker, told the crowd. Board member Gloria Romero Gloria J. Romero is currently the Democratic majority leader of the California State Senate and the first woman to ever hold this leadership position. Romero grew up in Barstow, and earned her associate's degree from Barstow Community College. She went on to a B.A. cast the only favoring vote. She later stormed out of the meeting as well. When Baker tried to explain her vote, Romero blurted: ``You chickened out.'' With two members missing, and one absent, the meeting did not have a quorum and no further action could be taken. The board has until the end of June to close the estimated shortfall, which already has prompted layoffs of student workers and spending freezes on supplies and all other nonsalary costs. At Wednesday's meeting, Chancellor Jim Heinselman encouraged all employees to take voluntary days off without pay. The proposed layoffs were meant to give curriculum control back to campuses. The district's Educational Services Division is in charge of deciding on curriculum, teaching methods, programs, textbooks and other instructional materials for all nine campuses, including Pierce, Valley and Mission colleges. The issue prompted emotional pleas from those employees who would be affected by the layoffs. ``This is supposed to be a student-centered system,'' said James A. McCullough, a recruiter in the Educational Services Division and former Los Angeles City College Los Angeles City College, known as LACC, is a public community college in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. A part of the Los Angeles Community College District, it is located on Vermont Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard. student. ``But you're cutting student workers and (the) Educational Services (Division), which directly serves the students. To me it's putting students last.'' On Wednesday, the board also considered a proposal to dole out Verb 1. dole out - administer or bestow, as in small portions; "administer critical remarks to everyone present"; "dole out some money"; "shell out pocket money for the children"; "deal a blow to someone"; "the machine dispenses soft drinks" $127,000 to campuses to increase noncredit non·cred·it adj. Of, relating to, or constituting an educational course that does not offer credit toward an academic degree. courses in the summer in areas such as English proficiency for those who speak it as a second language and classes for public-aid recipients trying to get off welfare. The issue was tabled. |
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