Copied from the Riverside Press-Enterprise

[Steve Kline]

Community college leaders oppose measure

10:00 PM PDT on Saturday, June 6, 2009

By SEAN NEALON
The Press-Enterprise

Community college leaders statewide and in the Inland area believe a
cost-cutting measure proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger could
devastate community college physical education departments and
athletic programs.

To help close a $24 billion budget gap, Schwarzenegger has proposed
funding community college physical education classes as noncredit,
meaning the state would pay schools 40 percent less for those classes.
The state would save $120 million.

The Riverside, Mt. San Jacinto and San Bernardino community college
districts would lose nearly $5.5 million, according to the Community
College League of California, an advocacy group for the state's
community colleges.

Athletic directors at Inland community colleges haven't made any cuts
related to the proposal, but said it would likely mean fewer physical
education classes and the loss of some coaches.

Physical education classes and athletics are closely linked, with many
coaches being paid by teaching classes.

"It's kind of scary," said Barry Meier, athletic director/dean of
physical education and athletics at Riverside City College, which has
19 teams and about 65 coaches.

Scott Lay, president/CEO of the Community College League of
California, called the proposed cut "wrong-headed" because of its
potential impact on athletic programs.

Carlyle Carter, president/CEO of the California Community College
Athletic Association, which represents 103 athletic programs, said the
proposed cut is unfair because it targets one specific department.

"It would be like going in and saying, 'we don't think psychology is
necessary. We well eliminate that. We can save $200 million,'" Carter
said.

He added: "This could alter the face of athletics at the community
college level or, in some cases, eliminate it."

Reach Sean Nealon at 951-368-9458 or sne...@PE.com