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.
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. Toward 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
