Green River College spares parent-child education

One of four Green River College programs on the chopping block for potential elimination has been spared.

The parent-child education program faced elimination because of the cost to run the program, but faculty have come up with a solution that will reduce costs and allow the program to continue to operate, said Derek Brandes, the college’s vice president of instruction.

College officials informed faculty on April 20 that in addition to parent-child education, the auto body technology, carpentry and geographic information systems programs could be eliminated to reduce a budget shortfall of $1.8 million to $5.2 million the college faces next year. Per their contract, faculty have 30 days to present suggestions that could save the programs.

During the 2013-2014 school year, it cost the college $36,615 to offer the parent-child education program. The college spent $88,332 on salaries, including a $6,773 coordinator stipend, while tuition from the program only brought in $51,716.

“Our whole goal was to see if we could find a model where we are operating in the black,” Brandes said.

Last week, Leslie Kessler, head of the parent-child education program, presented the college with a plan that would reduce program costs by offering fewer sections of the course while still serving the same number of participants.

Under the new operating model, six sessions of the course will be offered each quarter. In 2013-2014, an average of 10 sections were offered each quarter, serving a total of 451 students during the school year. Reducing the number of sections will bring the number of instructors needed down to two. At full capacity, six instructors taught the courses, Brandes said. With one retirement and having an instructor teach other courses in early childhood eduction, no instructors will lose their jobs because of the changes in the program structure, Brandes said.

“Due to some creative thinking and flexibility, we were able to make that work,” Brandes said. “I am very proud of (the faculty) for coming up with a solution.”

Parent-child education is a unique program, Brandes said, in that it isn’t a typical degree program, but more of a community service the college provides to help equip parents in caring for and teaching their children.

The parent-child education program works in conjunction with cooperative preschools in the area. When parents enroll their child in one of the preschools, they also sign up for the course through Green River.

The courses teach parenting skills and set parents up to be involved in their child’s education. Kessler said many parents who have taken the class are actively involved in organizations like the PTA when their children get older.

Brandes said the college has received several letters each day from past participants attesting to the program’s value.

“Of all the proposed cuts, this program generated the most concern from the community,” he said. “People did not want to see us let go of the program.”

This is not the first time Kessler has had to modify the program. She said that in 2011 she had to reduce the number of sections offered.

Parent-child education is a tuition-waived program, so parents pay a minimal cost to the college. The college receives state funding to cover some program costs.

Having fewer instructors for the program means that they will devote less time to working with the children in the preschools, Kessler said.

“While I am glad to save the program, I am not glad to have to cut back,” she said.

Other programs

As of Wednesday, no other plans to save additional programs had been presented to college officials. Kessler, who is a member of the college’s Instructional Council, said faculty are working together to try to come up with solutions.

Students, faculty and community members filled the Auburn City Council chambers Monday night in hopes of garnering support from the City to save the programs. More than 15 attendees, including Kessler, addressed the council during the public comments section of the meeting.

Following nearly an hour of public comment, Mayor Nancy Backus thanked the overflow crowd for attending the meeting and speaking on behalf of their programs. She said she was aware of the pending program cuts and has been in contact with college officials.

“We do not have any direct control over Green River Community College,” she said. “That does not mean, however, that we do not engage in conversations.”

She urged those present to take advantage of the 30-day period to come up with solutions to save the programs.

“I am available to help in any way I can with creative thinking,” she said. “I do encourage you all to be doing exactly what you did tonight and come together and work on creating ideas for keeping these programs going.”

Faculty also organized an informational picket and rally on Green River’s main campus on Wednesday.

Last week, students picketed in front of the new trades building, which is being built to house five programs, including auto body technology and carpentry.