Fresno-area colleges expected big COVID budget cuts. Some leaders just got a raise
Know someone who also cares about these important education issues?
Forward this newsletter to a friend or colleague - and they can sign up here.
• • •
Hello! It’s Monday, Oct. 11.
Fresno-area community college presidents and vice chancellors had their contracts renewed last week by the State Center Community College board, and along with it, raises, which seemed unlikely just a year ago when it looked like the pandemic would decimate colleges’ budgets.
Fresno City College President Carole Goldsmith is now earning $248,177 a year, up from $233,505 last year. That’s about a 6.25% increase.
Clovis Community President Lori Bennett now earns $242,124, up from $222,742; Reedley College President Jerry Buckley went from $215,000 to $225,900; and Madera Community President Angel Reyna from $215,000 to $225,900.
All four get a monthly vehicle allowance of $400.
The district also raised its contribution to all employees’ medical insurance to $1,100 a month from $1,029.
For the first time, the four State Center presidents will be on a salary schedule. They were the only employee group who did not have one, said interim Chancellor Doug Houston.
Due to a predicted state budget deficit and declining enrollment that has impacted colleges across the U.S., the district projected big budget losses over the coming years. But those predictions seem to have subsided, as the state earned billions in surplus.
During the summer, faculty and classified employees also got salary bumps in the form of 5.07% cost-of-living adjustments and 2% one-time bonuses.
“This is the biggest (cost-of-living adjustment) increase we’ve seen since 2008,” State Center Federation of Teachers President Keith Ford told The Bee.
The union agreed the previous year not to ask for increases, but as the budget began to look rosier, things changed, Ford said.
“Things looked really bleak budget-wise. We had no idea that the state ... would come through with the kind of of surpluses that they have. It was a big surprise, I think, to everybody.”
Ford said another reason to be optimistic is that the district preserved almost all faculty positions.
“To know going into COVID that we weren’t going to get any kind of raises was rough,” he said, “But we only lost a few adjuncts because of low enrollment.”
JOIN THE ED LAB’S FACEBOOK GROUP
The Ed Lab Newsroom Facebook group is a virtual lab where reporters meet and interact with members of the Fresno-area community. The purpose of this group is to create a hands-on space where we engage on education issues impacting children, parents, and teachers, and where we can learn more about educational needs in the San Joaquin Valley.
We are excited to host live discussions and informative workshops to help inform and discuss education issues in the valley. Join our group!
Have any good news, grants, competitions, or call-outs? Let us know! We would love to highlight your work and exciting projects. You can submit projects, educational contests, or resources at edlab@fresnobee.com.
ASK THE ED LAB
Do you have an education question you’d like us to answer? Let us know! Contact the Ed Lab edlab@fresnobee.com.