Dozens of LCCEA and LCCEF faculty and staff attended Wednesday night’s Board Meeting to call for more deliberation and transparency ahead of LCC Administration’s proposed budget cuts of $3.8 million. Local news outlets KVAL and Lane’s own KLCC reported on the story.

KVAL:

Lane Community College faculty to rally against proposed $3.8 million budget cut

KLCC:

LCC Board of Education explores budget cuts as unions demand to be part of the conversation

Photos by Russell H. Shitabata

KEZI 9 news reported on the proposed budget cut vote which is scheduled for tonight, Wednesday, September 27 at Lane Community College.

Watch here.

LCCEA’s attorney, Luke Kazava, identifies serious contractual and legal issues related to the Board of Education vote on budget reductions. Kazava writes,

“The College’s proposed retrenchments include layoffs that would violate the seniority clause (Article 10, Section 10.3) of the parties’ contract. Several faculty have been unlawfully targeted by the College for layoff… “

“Alarmingly, the proposed layoffs target Association officers and other faculty who recently participated in grievances or filed complaints against the College, including three faculty of color who filed racial discrimination complaints against the College. The proposed

layoffs appear to be acts of retaliation against employees for engaging in legally protected activity, in violation of ORS 243.672(1)(a). The College’s targeted layoffs may also violate state and federal laws prohibiting racial discrimination and whistleblower retaliation.”

Read the full letter below.

LCC Faculty Colleagues,

If you have not yet read LCCEA President Adrienne Mitchell’s emails from September 24 and 25 regarding proposed budget cuts, please read these highly important emails for context.

The time to act is now! The Board of Education needs to hear from us. The Board is being pressured to vote on program & service cuts amounting to 3.8 million dollars. Rushing to vote this week is unnecessary and doesn’t make sense. Can you take a few minutes to send a letter to the Board? You can add your own text or send as is:

• Send a letter to the Board and President Bulger.

Let’s stand together in solidarity! Please sign up here to let us know what other actions you can take:

• Come to the LCC Board of Education meeting this Wednesday at 6pm.  The meeting is in the Boardroom, Building 3, Room 216.  Wear red!
• Join us at our rally at 5:00 p.m. before the meeting on the 1st floor of the Center Building. We’ll have some red shirts available, and pizza will be provided by the LCCEA. We’ll then walk to the Board meeting together. Our Classified Professions will join us too.
• Speak during the public comment at the Board meeting. (Up to 3 minutes, we can help you write your statement. Be prepared to provide comments in 2 minutes if the Board reduces the time available.)

Pressuring the board to vote now on program and service cuts amounting to 3.8 million dollars is premature and unnecessary. 

1. In early October we will have two key pieces of information that will clarify our financial picture. LCC’s percentage of the Community College Support Fund will be recalculated, and will likely increase, according to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission and Interim VPFO Sue Fahey. We will also know the tuition revenue by Oct. 3 – that’s just next week! Why vote on cuts now when this information will change the budget picture?
2. Our contract states that for cuts to take place in January, the college needs to have 30 days of good faith discussions with alternatives first. Then the Board could vote 60 days before winter term, by November 8, provided the 30 day discussion happens. If cuts are to happen, the president & board need to follow the contract process. 
3. The Administration’s proposed cuts target faculty who have made complaints of managers’ acts of discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. 
4. The Administration’s proposed cuts also disproportionately impact faculty from historically oppressed groups and target your LCCEA elected officers.

These cuts make no sense, are rushed and needless. Let’s stand together for our students, classified colleagues and our entire community!

In Solidarity,

Paula Thonney and Wendy Simmons, Your LCCEA Action Team Co-Chairs