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Some job-training classes to disappear
Regional Occupational Program losing chunk of funding to L.A.
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Photo by Eric Parsons
Moorpark High School senior Justin Sears practices welding pipe during a class at a Ventura County Regional Occupational Program campus in Camarillo.
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Photo by Eric Parsons
Pacifica High School senior Edgar Sosa sands down rough spots on a car door during an automotive paint and refinishing class at the Ventura County Regional Occupational Program campus in Camarillo.
Ventura County students will lose career and technical education courses next year as school officials grapple with the loss of about $292,000 for vocational programs on top of possible steep state budget cuts.
Administrators at the Ventura County Office of Education, which runs the county's Regional Occupational Program, say some courses will have to go to balance their budget — and possibly more if the governor's proposed 10 percent cut to 2008-09 education funding is approved.
But it's the unexpected $292,000 loss, separate from the governor's budget, that has forced local ROP officials into "damage-control" mode to make ends meet.
They said they were told they would get that money to increase programs in 2006-07. They added courses, signed up students and paid teachers.
More than a year later, however, the state changed the plan, giving the money to Los Angeles schools instead, local officials said.
"I was devastated," said Peggy Velarde, director of Ventura County's career technical education. "I was very concerned about the impact on our programs and our students."
She said no fewer than six of the county's programs are on the chopping block for next year. Those six, which include an auto service class at Westlake High School, computer maintenance courses at Santa Susana High School in Simi Valley and the ROP facility in Camarillo are expected to be eliminated next year.
Officials chose courses that either had low enrollment or a teacher who is retiring or resigning at the end of the school year.
"Our goal was to be adding, not subtracting," county Associate Superintendent Cary Dritz said. "We have been surveying all the high schools and talking to high school administration. We have a whole list of projected courses to add."
4,300 students took part last year
All of Ventura County's 80 or so ROP courses are administered by the county Office of Education, including those at schools in every district in the county.
About 4,300 students took courses this year, from graphic design to culinary arts and welding. Each course goes through a review process and a labor market study before being added.
But while Velarde's office gets dozens of new program requests every year from school officials, few can be added because of a lack of state funding.
California's Regional Occupational Programs are mostly funded by the state, based on average daily attendance of students, called ADA. But programs don't necessarily get more money if they sign up more students.
The state pays for only a certain number of students in each ROP program. State law sets that limit, which varies widely among California counties, and the funding formula dates back more than 30 years. It is based on the amount counties once provided for the programs through local taxes.
Ventura County has one of the lowest limits based on that formula. The state provides counties some funding to grow each year, but Ventura County started so low that its demand for ROP classes far exceeds its state funding, local administrators say.
Over the years, local officials have repeatedly advocated changing the way the funding is doled out to allow it to add more local programs, but legislators have not done so.
"There's a constant demand," said Velma Lomax, a trustee of the Ventura Unified School District and an ROP instructor.
Lomax teaches various computer classes, and her students have gone on to work in information technology departments in school districts, local hospitals and private businesses. ROP courses train students for careers right out of high school, she said. Others get inspired to go on to college or professional training programs. Lomax said she has seen students on the verge of dropping out instead get interested in a ROP class and decide to stay in school.
Ventura High School student Kristen Boatner, 17, said she's a good student and got inspired to take an ROP course after seeing her older brother land a high-paying job after finishing an ROP welding program.
"I've always wanted to be a nurse," Boatner said. Now, she's getting training and clinical experience in a ROP nursing assistant training course that will help her when she applies for a registered nurse program after high school.
Oxnard High School senior Jessica Quezada, 17, also is in a nursing assistant program and said students will definitely miss out if programs get cut.
"I think it (ROP) is really important," she said. "It gives you a head start."
Why local funding is headed to L.A.
Several counties did get a big boost of funding last year when millions of dollars allocated to the Los Angeles Unified School District were redistributed because they were not used.
When a district doesn't have enough students in its ROP program to use its entire allocation, the money is given to others that have too many.
In 2005-06, Los Angeles Unified's program dropped far below its allocation, leading to the largest redistribution in recent history, about $12 million.
It allowed other programs to grow more than they had in years, including in San Bernardino County, which got about $3 million. But there was a catch.
Los Angeles Unified, or any program that falls below its allocation, can recoup its losses the following school year if attendance rebounds. That's what Los Angeles schools did in 2006-07, and the state had to find cash to replace what it had taken away.
Ventura County's ROP program was not maxed out enough, so it did not receive any of the initial windfall. Programs that did, like San Bernardino's, will get to keep that money. But state officials had to find the Los Angeles Unified money somewhere, so they targeted other funding that normally goes to districts for ROP program growth — $292,000 in Ventura County's case. The county ROP overall budget is about $6 million annually.
Dennis Guido, state administrator for Regional Occupational Programs and Centers, said the Los Angeles situation was an exception because it was such a large amount of funding.
"This is a unique situation," Guido said. "This has never happened to this degree."
Making matters worse, state funding is not finalized until months after classes begin. So Ventura County added programs in fall 2006 based on the estimated growth money from the state. In February 2007, the state notified Ventura County that money would be provided, and then, a year later, the state re-directed the money to Los Angeles.
On top of that loss, officials also worry that the governor's budget will force them to cut deeper. As many as four other courses might have to go, depending on how deep the cuts are, and some other cost-savings measures are being considered, including restructuring the class schedule.
At Moorpark High School, the computer graphics ROP class is popular, said Assistant Principal Dave Baldwin. It is one of several Ventura County schools that would like to add more ROP classes, including an architecture program, he said.
County officials said students will know what's available before they finalize their class schedules for next school year. And no ROP classes would be cut mid-year, said county schools Superintendent Charles Weis.
But officials will have to cut some ROP classes next school year. "We're looking at cuts in a lot of places," Weis said. "This is an added cut."
Posted by newshound on April 27, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is really a shame. We are losing the skilled labor we need to compete with foreign workers. We are going to need welders and carpenters to rebuild our industry. Thank of this, a few tanks blown up by IED's in Iraq, a rediculous foolish waste of lives and money, could have been used to fund this program. We need to say goodbye to the Republican party for launching a foolish war, squandering Bill Clinton's surplus, spending this country into oblivion, pumping up China by allowing a trade policy that keeps us flooded with cheap goods while jobs flow overseas, and just standing on the sideline while America goes into the toilet.
Posted by ssakoian on April 27, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I totally agree with Newshound. Pity that the America we grew up with, flawed as it was, was a far better place economically. I really do not understand how anyone can vote Republican with the mess that has been made by Bush & Co over the past 8 years. McCain is no better. Old, a believer in No Child Left Behind, and who knows how well he can hold up to the pressures of the presidency?
The reason why ROP technical education programs, and technical programs are getting axed is a simple one: it COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO RUN! It is far cheaper to teach reading and math than it is to run a machine shop, to buy computer programs, to furnish a medical technology classroom. So, we produce burger flippers for free at fast food joints, and give the student credit for culinary arts. This is what it means to be a "service nation" - a nation that may have good "services" in a lot of high-flying areas, but the big picture is unskilled labor, inability to be self-supporting, unhealthy families and declining life spans.
Go America! Yeah Republicans! Go Iraq! Go War! Sell the factory to the highest overseas bidder! Bring in foreign talent rather than invest in local people! Tear down "blue collar job" progams! Disband vocational education! Don't provide healthcare! Cut social programs! HOORAY!
Posted by rebel123 on April 27, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We should be focusing more on technical education so that we turn kids out with marketable skills, not cutting these programs. Not everyone will go to college,even under the best of conditions much less now when tuition is rising and funding is hard to find. Non-college bound students need a trade that will provide them with a living wage. Without that, they become part of the rapidly growing poor and underemployed. It is time for the community and businesses to team up with the schools and offer up apprenticeship programs. Way to go, Governator. Yank money from schools and then throw your hands up in the air and wonder "what is wrong with young people today." I'd bet money that Arnold's kids are not in public schools.
Posted by Face on April 27, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is this the change we get for putting the democrats in control of both houses of the legislature? Why haven't democrats done anything they promised they would do? Not even an attempt to fulfill any of their promises. Nothing on the war, no help to the people with their budgets, nothing. They talk a big game until they get their seat.. then business as usual. Our state is under control my a veto proof majority of Democrats.. same business here.. nothing but economic sorrow. How can I vote Democrat again? They lie and never do what they say once in position to do so. Now we are going to destroy Education in this state... by the hands of the Democrat Legislature which will sign our economic and educational death warrant. Call your local democrat legislature and ask them to walk the walk... cause we sure have had enough of talking the talk.
Posted by tom on April 27, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like LA County brings home the bacon and throws the scraps to Ventura County. How could this be with the Democrats in control in Sacramento? The Democrats are known as the the party of equal justice and fairness. Perhaps we should just all vote Republican for a "change", as Barak preaches...
Posted by Face on April 27, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We are beginning the 3rd year of the Pelosian Shift and I see Status Quo. I have never seen 100 hours take so damned long. Where's the bills? Where are the changes? Turn those machines back on!!
Posted by Tom_Johnston on April 27, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I seems to me to be foolish to cut back on the ROP program, whatever the reason
We read recently in the Star about both the Nursing shortage, and the lack of slots available for students.
I seems the role of the Community College is at issue.
Is it here to prepare youth for advance learning at four year schools at lower cost...yes, I do think so.
Is it here to provide a "training ground" for future College/University and later NBA/NFL athletes?? I don't think so....that is a HUGE waste of money... How much money was spent on the Venture College stadium? How much impact would that have had on the ROP program if the money was shifted there?
Is it here to provide specialized technical training in crafts, industrial and information technology, and medical professions? Yah, it darn well should be...but it seems these programs are on the chopping block every time.
I think the priorities are mixed up.
Posted by ridgewalker101 on April 28, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OK jw1000 all of the worlds problems are caused by Bush. Give it a rest, will ya ? Can you ever discuss anything without becoming deranged about Republicans and the Bush administration ?
If it were up to Democrats this country would be more socialist than the european countries. Everyone wants the government to give them everything for nothing.
If you are a true Democrat you should love Bush. He has increased funding for social programs to a level way higher than the Clinton administration.
That being said, I think the well run ROP programs are great for a lot of people.
Problem is a lot of them are run poorly using outdated material and tenured instructors that are still living in the 70s. A lot of education money is wasted.
There are plenty of things out there for those willing to look.
Posted by Face on April 28, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jw1000, Wow, Bush must be a vetoing fool... let me go see. DOH Bush has vetoes only 8 bills in 8 years, with one being overridden. The last president to veto so little was Warren G. Harding. Clinton vetoed 36 bills while G.H. Bush vetoed 29. Thanks for getting me Educated jw.
Posted by Face on April 28, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You can say it Jw1000, "DOH My propaganda failed because people can look up facts on the Internet!" Don't me shy, man up.
Posted by del on April 28, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes Mr. Johnston. It is a shame that over-bloated sacred cows such as the sports department draw more money and (recent scandal) than the ROP programs. The future economic strength of this country is not going to come from the antics of a bunch of over-paid-primadonna sports stars, but from the sweat of a welder, machinist, draftsperson and the like. The local manufacturing company I work for has jobs waiting to be filled in these areas, but we cannot find qualified folk. There is always the fear corporate will move the facility to Texas where there are more vocationally trained people. Or worse, send all the jobs to China.
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