Pasadena City College Earmarks $6.7 Million to Restore Hundreds of Classes

The Pasadena City College Board of Trustees has earmarked some $6.7 million from Proposition 30 monies to restore hundreds of classes it cancelled earlier this year. Business Services Director Joe Simoneschi said the money will come from proceeds from the state tax created by Proposition 30.

Newly-installed Board President John Martin commented, “To me, that’s what people were voting for when they approved this proposition.”

Martin replaced Geoffrey Baum whose term ended this week.

In a unanimous vote Wednesday, the board allocated $4.4 million to restore 600 and 700 classes in the spring and summer sessions of 2013. The board also earmarking $620,000 in to hire additional full-time faculty, $400,000 to cover proposed employee raises, $400,000 for grants to establish new courses and $150,000 to expand assistance for military veterans. A separate fund was earmarked for libraries and academic counseling.

In September, the PCC board cut at least 578 classes and terminated the school’s winter session because of large budget cuts from the state.

PCC President Mark Rocha said administrators are still finalizing details of a plan which classes to open, but added the school would focus on classes that are high in demand from students seeking university transfers or associates degrees.

Already, Dean of Counseling Cynthia Olivo reported that 96 courses have been labeled as priority by school counselors. These courses are important for students that need to transfer or graduate, she said.