Elimination of Cabrillo Lab Technicians Proposed

A proposal to eliminate a biology and chemistry lab technician position at Cabrillo’s Watsonville campus is “unrealistic” according to the latest recommendations from the Services and Program Reductions Advisory Committee (SPRAC).

Committee Chairman Jeff Hancock described the position in a lengthy metaphor, comparing the school to a rock concert.

“Technicians are like the roadies on tour,” he said. “They have the cords and the mics…and plug everything in so the show goes off [right].”

Requiring teachers to prepare and break down their own labs would have unintended consequences, said many at Wednesday’s College Planning Council meeting. Classroom access was one issue mentioned, because many teachers and classrooms have classes scheduled back-to-back. Using Hancock’s metaphor, imagine a performer trying to entertaining the crowd with an opening bit while moving his own amplifiers across the stage.

Student aids setting up the labs brought up concerns of safety and accountability. It may be a safety risk to have students transporting some of the chemicals used in the classes, they said. 

Furthermore, an accident or theft involved in these departments could easily end up costing the school more than the $56,000 it would save by eliminating the technician position.

The proposal is among a group of ideas being sent back to SPRAC for further review, because many on the committee feel their work is being rushed, or not being incorporated enough into the final budget.

“The question comes in if the committee feels like their work is being wasted or [doing] busy work. That is perhaps also appropriate to have CPC discuss,” said Faculty Union President Steve Hodges.

Comments like this led Classified Worker Union President Stephanie Stainback to recommend the Aug. 1 proposal deadline be moved back, so the all groups involved in the process “can drop our shoulders a little bit… and really flesh out these issues.”

A push back is possible, according to Vice President of Business administration Victoria Lewis, because the final date for a budget is Sept. 1. However, the Aug. 1 deadline was set by Cabrillo President Brian King to give the CPC time to fine tune a finished product. As King was not at Wednesday’s meeting, the council “did not have the authority to change the deadline,” Lewis said.

Cuts already written into in the final budget proposal remained the same at the end of the day, and SPRAC will review the third round of cuts, as well as some recycled ideas from round two before their next meeting on June 29 at 2pm.