Our district is in crisis and we desperately need change.
Our classes are routinely being cut, making it more difficult for students to earn degrees and balance their work/school schedules. The district continuously pushes for large classes but fails to provide adequate support services or resources. Laney College's facilities are falling apart. As the general funds are being slashed for Laney, Merritt, Berkeley City, and the College of Alameda, the district has hired TEN Vice Chancellors. The district's lack of transparency regarding the budget, lack of responsiveness to student needs, misguided priorities and mismanagement deeply impact and horrify us!
Peralta students are well aware that the colleges have many dedicated faculty and offer great educational opportunities, but the district office and administration are terribly managed. Despite great programs at the colleges, many of us students have had extremely frustrating experiences at the district and administrative level. We fear for the future of our colleges. Oakland and the East Bay need a great public community college system that reflects our vitality and addresses our needs. The Peralta Colleges could be the right system with enough support!
We support Candidate Cindi Reiss, who is running this fall in Area 5 for the Peralta Board of Trustees. In addition to her experience as a college professor and working on the ACCJC, Cindi has met with students and asked about our needs and experiences. We believe she brings the ethical vision and experience that would greatly benefit the Peralta Board of Trustees and help our district get back on track, and truly serve our community.
We plan to actively & broadly support Candidate Reiss and to bring the Peralta District's issues into the public eye this Fall.
