The rally will feature community members, students, staff, and faculty members concerned about the Board’s recent approval of layoffs and cuts across the district while advocating a pay raise for the district chancellor.
“The current board has demonstrated little concern for students, cutting student services and classes across the district while shamelessly offering a hefty pay increase using taxpayer money for just the top administrator. It’s evident the board has lost touch with the reality of our financial situation and we need to send them the message that we will not tolerate this,” said Lisa Jensen-Martin, president of the Yuba College Faculty Association.
The board voted in closed session on Jan. 20 to approve a $29,282 raise for Chancellor Nicki Harrington, bringing her salary to $249,282 per year.
After a much-publicized community protest at Yuba College in Marysville on Feb. 2 and to avoid potential violations of state open meeting laws under the Brown Act, the board called an emergency closed session on Feb. 3 and rescinded the previously approved raise.
However, following the rally on Feb. 10 at Woodland Community College, the board will hold a meeting open to the public to consider the appointment of a representative from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to negotiate a new compensation package for Harrington.
The board had previously approved a 3 percent pay cut for college district classified staff and the elimination of 30 staff positions across the district, including secretaries, library and tutoring assistants, and custodians, resulting in a reduction or elimination of essential student services.
In addition, the board is considering layoffs for an undisclosed number of faculty members and the cancellation of entire academic programs.
The Yuba Community College District has colleges in Marysville and Woodland, an educational center in Clearlake, and will be adding outreach facilities in Sutter and Colusa counties.
For more information, visit www.ycfa.org/newslinks .