dmail September 2005

At the September board meeting, Administrative Director of Fiscal Affairs, Kim Allen, presented the 2005-2006 budget. While the full report is below and available on our Web site, I wanted to take this rare opportunity to highlight some exciting budget realities!

The Coast District remains financially sound again this year and I would like to commend the Fiscal Affairs team, led by Vice Chancellor CM Brahmbhatt and Administrative Director Kim Allen for their hard work. You may have noticed the 6% increase in your paycheck thanks to the COLA allocations. I am also happy to report that CCCD has been able to set aside a 6% reserve for contingency - a full percent higher than the State Chancellor’s office recommends, leaving the Coast District in a great position for the upcoming year. While we continue to monitor the happenings in Sacramento and remain consistent in our effort to lobby our elected officials with regard to funding, it is heartening to know that some of our legislators are beginning to support our efforts in providing accessible education to all students.

REVENUE ESTIMATES
Estimated State revenue has been adjusted to reflect 4.23% COLA, $1,018,571 Partnership for Excellence folded into the base, $114 per FTE Unrestricted Lottery Revenue and Equalization Funds of $1,114,616 for 2005-2006. Local revenue reflects enrollment fees of $26 per unit and interest earnings of $840,000. All other revenues are budgeted based on the allocation in the state budget act.

APPROPRIATION CHANGES
Appropriation changes reflect up-to-date projections for expenditures in contract salaries including a 6% salary increase for all staff. Staff health benefits for 2005-2006 are projected at no increase over the 2004-2005 budget and remain at $12,000 per employee. The PERS rate has been adjusted down to 9.116%. A new benefit cost to pre-fund retiree health benefits is included at 2% of salary for contract employees. All PFE funds have been allocated to the colleges for schedule enhancement. Also, $1,000,000 in Equalization funds have been provided for additional class sections.

RESERVES
The district has set aside a 6% reserve for contingency. The reserve is based on prior year's actual unrestricted general fund expenses. The State Chancellor's Office recommends a minimum reserve of 5%. The Retirees Liability Fund has an $8.2 million balance for future liabilities.

Overall, this is the fifth year for the Coast Community College District to balance the budget without depending on its year-end balances.

A summary of estimated revenue sources and appropriations is presented below. It is noted that 82.36% of all appropriations are staff related, i.e., salaries and benefits.

The Capital Outlay Fund, GO Bond Fund, Child Development Fund, Self-Insurance Fund, and the Non-Restricted Reimbursable Operations Fund are presented for consideration. All revenues in these funds are appropriated for specific purposes. The official budget includes special budgets for all auxiliary operations (bookstores, associated student body operations, and co-curricular funds).
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Board Approves ERP Software
At the August meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the selection of SCT (Banner) as the Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) software solution. "This is a major step forward," said Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services C.M. Brahmbhatt. "While the details of the contract are being negotiated, the team can now begin the extensive development and implementation process."

In addition to ironing out the contract details and budget information, the ERP team is now in the process of determining hardware needs and third-party add-on features that will enable features such as student education plans and degree audits. A portal feature will be included for both students and employees. The team itself is extensive, with representatives from Counseling, Instruction, Admissions & Records, Information Services, Research & Planning, Financial Aid, District Marketing Committee and Administrative Services.

Project Manager and DIS director Jeff Arthur says, "This team is amazing. We are dedicated to the implementation of a system that will place Coast at the forefront of service to students and employees while continuing to maintain and support current PNI Human Resources and Finance functions as well as the DSK Student system."

The first step, after negotiating the contract, is to purchase and configure the necessary hardware. ERP team members are working with SCT Banner and HP to determine the major pieces of production hardware needed. As SCT Banner is Web-based, users need only Internet access to log in to the new system.

The Coast Community College District recently implemented an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) program and an internal response plan in the event a cardiac arrest situation should occur. An AED is a small device used to administer an electrical shock through the chest wall to the heart. The defibrillator de termines whether or not defibrillation is needed based on the current rhythm of the heart. The AEDs are designed only to shock the person if the heart is in a dangerous rhythm. They have a voice prompt feature which helps guide the user through the process and are designed to be used by non- medical personnel who have received proper training.

The AEDs are placed at various locations throughout the District. At both Orange Coast College and Golden West College, there is an AED in the two primary public safety response vehicles, one each with the female and male athletic trainers, as well as one in the Student Health Center . Coastline College has one AED at each of the four major sites including the Fountain Valley College Center, Garden Grove Center, Costa Mesa Center, and Huntington/Westminster Center. They are located at the front reception area at each of these facilities. At the District site, the AED is located in building A at the reception area.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) when responding to a potential heart-related em ergency, the most important action is to call 9-1-1 immediately. Anyone who contacts 9-1-1 from their cell phone must be sure to specify the location of the emergency. After 9-1-1 is called, the p ublic safety department or designated reception area should be contacted to deliver an AED. All reception area personnel have been provided with a list of employees that are trained in AED response. They will contact a trained responder to respond to the emergency scene.

Chancellor Ken Yglesias said, "having AEDs throughout the district is an important and necessary life-saving tool when used in combination with calling 9-1-1 right away."

There have been 98 people throughout the district trained in AED response. American Heart Association CPR/AED certifications are valid for two years, however the District plans to exercise response drills every six months for all of the trained AED responders. Mike Collins, with the assistance of the District AED Committee, developed the AED program and oversaw the training and implementation plan.

Mike said, "It is critical that responders get their hands on the equipment and practice their skills regularly so that they are confident and comfortable when a real life situation occurs."

Joe Wild, lead mechanic for the Coast Community College District's transportation department, has been named the District-site 2004-05 employee of the year.

Wild, a resident of Santa Ana, received the award from the District Chancellor, Ken Yglesias, at the annual DAM employee picnic. He was one among seven employees nominated for the award. The six other nominees include: Carolene Backley, Nancy Hatley, Cathy Mesenbrink, Shannon O'Connor, Jan Olufson, and Karen Plaia.

Wild began working at the District in 1974, over 31 years ago, and is responsible for the service, maintenance, and repairs done to all the service and fleet vehicles.

Wild was surprised, yet honored to receive this year's employee honor. This is the second time Wild has been named Employee of the Year. The first time was in 1996.

"I am honored, grateful, and even a little embarrassed because there are so many wonderful people at the District who also deserve this award," he said. "I am truly shocked to have received this award from my colleagues."

"Joe's dedication, dependability, and reliability have been an extremely valuable asset to this District for over 30 years," said EHS/Transportation Supervisor Jerry Marchbank, "he is always willing to do whatever it takes to get a job accomplished."

Wild's influences throughout his life and career have been his faith, his father, and his military background. Wild joined the Navy at age 17 and has always remembered and lived by one quote from his sergeant.

"When you work, work hard, you owe it to the Navy. When you play, play harder--you owe it to yourself."
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CCCD Foundation Dr. John D. Renley Faculty Scholarship Winners

Have you ever dreamed about pursuing a professional development project but didn't have the funds to make that dream a reality? This could be just the opportunity you have been waiting for! In 2004-05, the CCCD Foundation had three $1,000 faculty scholarships available - one for each college for professional development projects to be completed by May 2005.

Last years winners include, Victor R. Quiros from Golden West College, Debra Secord from Coastline College and Denise Cabanel-Blever from Orange Coast College.

Victor Quiros used the funds to produce educational materials using a computer-based multimedia instructional model that focuses on instruction in a law enforcement training academy. Victor said, "This project's goal is the successful integration of multimedia technology into the learning process. My vision is to address the various learning styles and strengths of students."

This project will position Golden West College as the first police academy in the state to implement a computer-based instructional model into its curriculum. "My research has led me to conclude this is a viable project not only at the local level in a GWC course, but also for statewide integration into law enforcement instruction," Victor said.

Debra Secord's project consisted of creating new instructional materials for her geology and geography courses that will enhance the learning process for students at Coastline. She created seven separate lectures incorporating sources of streamed media, U.S. Geological Survey materials and her own slides in order to provide students samples of various geological features from around the world, maps of world regions and microenvironments. After testing one of her lectures this past spring in a geology class, one of her students commented that the diagrams and photos were "much more helpful to enhancing understanding than the instructor drawings on the white board." Debra plans on using the rest of the lectures in her fall classes.

Denise Cabanel-Blever' project included creating a "Department of World Languages Adjunct Instructor Welcome and Reference Handbook" for the foreign language department to help adjunct instructors navigate their way around OCC. The booklet will include information on how to order and pick up keys, the location of mailboxes, general instructions on setting up and using the OCC voice-mail system as well as many other helpful resources. She hopes this will ease much of the stress, confusion and chaos that comes when starting a new job.

Wonder how they did it? Each winner completed a CCCD Foundation Dr. John D. Renley Faculty Scholarship application including an activity and summary of the project they wanted to complete and how they will evaluate the success of their completed project.

The CCCD Foundation is currently accepting faculty scholarship applications for 2005-06. Please visit the district's website at http://www.cccd.edu/about/foundation.aspx to fill out an application. Email the completed application to Erin Curtis or mail to the CCCD Foundation no later than November 18, 2005.
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