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SACRAMENTO – This week State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson called for a freeze on executive compensation when hiring for five open California State University (CSU) campus president positions.
Torlakson – an ex officio trustee of CSU – released the following letter addressed to CSU Chancellor Dr. Charles B. Reed and Chair of the Board of Trustees A. Robert Linscheid, with copies sent to the entire Board of Trustees.
Dear Chair Linscheid and Chancellor Reed:
At a time when virtually every Californian is being called on to make economic sacrifices, I feel compelled to express my opposition to your recent decisions to approve the maximum allowable pay increases for the incoming presidents of California State University (CSU) campuses at Fullerton and East Bay.
As I understand it, the executive compensation policy adopted recently by this board states that incoming campus presidents are to receive no more than a 10 percent increase above the pay level of the predecessor. This policy was designed to create a ceiling for compensation during a time of crisis. Instead, it appears that it is also being used as a floor.
We cannot make these decisions in a vacuum, unaware of the challenges facing our state. We must be ever mindful of the financial emergency at every level of California’s educational system. Our K-12 schools have seen cuts of nearly $22 billion over the last four years. Tens of thousands of teachers and school employees have been laid off, and many more are at risk over the next few months. Our nationally recognized early learning programs have been cut deeply, and are in jeopardy of being dismantled entirely.
As Trustees, we know that state support for higher education has been sharply reduced over the last few years, including the $750 million reduction in CSU’s 2011-2012 budget. With $200 million in additional cuts proposed should the Governor’s November initiative fail at the polls, we face the very real potential of a 35 percent reduction in state funding to the CSU in just 18 months’ time.
Unfortunately, students and their families have borne the brunt of these reductions, with tuition fees rising more than 300 percent in the last decade. In addition, Trustees are proposing to freeze spring 2013 enrollment, forcing as many as 16,000 students to delay their dreams of a CSU education.
With the system expected to face campus president searches for at least five additional campuses (San Bernardino, California Maritime, San Francisco, Stanislaus, and Monterey Bay), it is essential that we demonstrate careful and thoughtful stewardship of the system’s scarce resources and negotiate compensation packages accordingly. To do otherwise would be a disservice to students, faculty, university employees, and the taxpaying public.
I would add that the Trustees’ willingness to increase executive compensation is in stark conflict with the recently ratified collective bargaining agreement between the CSU and the CSU Employees Union, which provides no immediate salary increases for more than 15,000 classified staff members. If we have no resources to compensate those who are already hard at work providing for the daily operations of our campuses, how can we justify greater compensation for those who would lead them?
I urge my fellow Trustees to seriously consider the long-term fiscal consequences of executive compensation practices that are at odds not only with the state’s fiscal condition, but with those of the students and families we serve.
As an important first step, I propose placing an immediate freeze on any increase in executive compensation. Specifically, I suggest that the five open campus president positions be filled with candidates willing to accept the base pay of their predecessors, with no increase for a specified minimum period of time.
The students we serve and the public that supports our system enjoy no immunity from the consequences of the Great Recession, which has left millions without work and millions more working harder for less. Why should those we select to lead our campuses be any different?
The CSU Board of Trustees is expected to take up the issue on May 9 and the agenda is expected to be posted in the coming weeks on the Board of Trustees' Web page, http://www.calstate.edu/bot/agendas/ .
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CHICO, Calif. – The Sustainable Manufacturing Program at California State University, Chico won the grand prize for the 12th time at the prestigious 2012 WESTEC (Western Tool Exposition and Conference) Manufacturing Challenge on March 27, hosted by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME).
The students won the competition by creating a manufacturing system for producing a sustainable composite skateboard.
The winning team included Nicholas Gniadek, a 2007 Kelseyville High School graduate.
The team of students in the Chico State SME chapter designed and manufactured the tooling and full production system for the creation of 10 sustainable composite skateboard decks and truck assemblies which include CNC machined base plates and welded hangers.
A number of things set this competition aside from others such as the attention to detail in defining the project scope and documenting the complete process in developing a concept into a final product ready to take to market along with a viable business plan.
CSU, Chico has also won the grand prize award in this competition in 1987, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 2011.
This year there were 18 teams from 15 colleges including Cal Poly Pomona, Western Washington, Brigham Young University, University of Colorado at Denver, Cal State LA, and California State University, Northridge just to name a few.
The details in the team’s project included not only the design, analysis and fabrication of the sustainable composite skateboard, but the tooling and fixtures for mass production and the project management plan for the entire project.
The materials used in this ready-for-market product were chosen with an emphasis on sustainability by using a natural plant based flax fiber to replace traditional petroleum based carbon fiber composite material.
“This project was a year-long project and was completed as an extracurricular activity on students' own time," said Cody Leuck, chairman of the SME student chapter. “In this time, we took an idea through design, prototyping, testing and production. The project demanded a huge time commitment from all of the team members, and their dedication and talent made it possible.”
Eighteen students in the Sustainable Manufacturing Program from Chico Stat made the trip to the manufacturing challenge this year.
The five main presenters were; Cody Leuck, Louk Hendricks, Duke Schimmer, Nicholas Gniadek and Tony Arena.
The Manufacturing Challenge is sponsored by the international SME, which has more than 400 professional and school-based chapters worldwide.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Students from Lower Lake and Upper Lake High competed in the SkillsUSA California Region 1 Skills and Leadership Contest at Petaluma High School and Maria Carillo High School in February.
There were more than 115 contestants this year in Region 1 contests.
The contestants competed in 29 demo and 5 live contests from 6 different schools that extend for Petaluma to Ukiah.
SkillsUSA is a competition for students to test their skills in Career Technical Education such as culinary, woodworking, technology and welding.
Students not only showcase their technical skills, but also compete to display their leadership ability. The SkillsUSA competition is a unique competition that believes in preparing students for leadership in the world of work.
Lake County students won 15 gold and 11 silver medals at the regional competition.
The gold medal students will advance to the state competition in San Diego in April for a week long competition.
Winners include:
3-D Visualization and Animation: Cody Geil, Lower Lake High School, Gold; Chance Taylor, Lower Lake High School, Gold.
Automotive Service Technology: Derek Jones, Lower Lake High School, Gold.
Carpentry: Jose Montanez, Lower Lake High School, Gold.
Culinary Arts: Luisa Correa, Lower Lake High School, Gold; Robyn Bloom, Lower Lake High School, Silver.
Introductory Automotive Service Technology "B" (11-12): Cody Beers, Lower Lake High School, Gold; Charlie Clark, Lower Lake High School, Gold; Dustin Churchill, Lower Lake High School, Gold; Anthony DeMaria, Lower Lake High School, Gold.
Welding: Joseph Porter, Lower Lake High School, Gold.
Welding, MIG: Wyland Wacaser, Lower Lake High School, Gold.
Mobile Robotic Technology: Ivan Lopez, Upper Lake High School, Gold; Angel Hernandez, Upper Lake High School, Gold; Michael Herringshaw, Upper Lake High School, Gold; Branden Perry, Upper Lake High School, Gold; Jesus Martinez, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Trevor Warren, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Travis Floyd, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Cory Rodriguez, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Giovanni Bautista, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Larry Stacey, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Emmitt Quadrio, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Israel Mendoza, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Norman Valdez, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Jeff Tarpley, Upper Lake High School, Silver.
The creed of this competition is to believe in “the dignity of work, American way of life, education, fair play, satisfaction is achieved by good work, and high moral and spiritual standards.”
If you would like more information on the SkillsUSA program please visit www.skillsusaca.org .
The local programs are supported largely by fundraising and donations.
If you would like to help keep this program going at our local schools or would like to sponsor the gold medalist to represent Lake County in the state competition, please contact the Gary Madison at Upper Lake High, 707-275-2338 or Laura Hutchinson at Lower Lake High, 707-994-6471.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Rotary Club of Clearlake recently awarded cash prizes to four students from the Konocti Unified School District for submitting a 600 word essay on Rotary Club’s Four-Way Test of the things we think, say or do.
Rachel Boyd won first place and received a $500 cash award. Courtney Cox won second place and received $300, third place and $100 went to Kristi Heitz and Shannika Chandler took fourth place and a $50 cash award.
“The Rotary Club’s slogan is 'Service Above Self,'” said essay contest chairman Richard Bean.
The slogan challenges individual Rotary members around the world to place others as a priority, to help those in need of assistance, and to make our community and world a better place to live.
A main guide or process that a Rotarian uses before he or she serves others is the Four-Way Test which is comprised of four questions: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good-will and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Applicants were given the assignment to describe how using the Four-Way Test in their life at the present time or in the future could affect their behavior, or that of their friends, family and/or the culture of their school.
Boyd's winning essay is published below.
Rachel Lynn Boyd Winning Clearlake Rotary Esssay