Need for Change

By David Clark Williams

It is time for WHCC to stop all the bloated costs that are being spent on administration and district administration facilities while the jobs of valuable and competent faculty and staff are being terminated, along with numerous programs. WHCC has an administration that ranks in the highest percentile of paid community college administrations while its faculty ranks among the lowest paid in the state creating a consistent turn over of faculty. All the litigation drain this board has incurred has to come to an end. It is costing thousands of dollars of tax payer's money. This money must be spent on the education of students. The community's tax dollars must be returned to the education of our students and creating the best faculty in a California Community College

WHCC is the only school on the west side of the valley that does not have evening board meetings that students, faculty, staff and community can attend. How can people participate in government when government is unwilling to allow its members to participate? On several occasions this board has been asked to reinstate evening meetings and each time they have overturned these requests in favor of their own agendas.

The function of a community college board is to serve its students, faculty and community, not the administration. The purpose of the governing board is to see this mission is accomplished in a manner that supports everyone. There comes a time when trustees who have served for numerous years begin not to uphold the principles they are there to serve, but rather to serve themselves and their positions.

Lovely campuses and classrooms with the latest technological devices do not educate students. It is faculty and programs that educates students and the present faculty and staff at WHCC is not receiving the encouragement and support they deserve from the trustees of this college. Change and new direction is needed if WHCC is going to live up to all the potential it has to be one of the best community colleges in the state of California.

Three dedicated people, Dora Duarte, District 5, Dino Perez, District 6 and David Clark Williams, District 3 have chosen to run for the WHCC board. All three of these candidates are endorsed by the WHCC Executive Board of the CTA, California Teachers Association, and WHCC CSEA, California Service Employees Association. These are all qualified college educated people with business experience who have worked directly with the students of WHCC and understand their needs. These candidates would like to see these necessary changes occur at WHCC so that it returns to serving the students, faculty, staff and citizens of this college district. These people deserve your attention. Please get to know these candidates and their ideas for the future of WHCC.

What ever your persuasion may be, the important thing is to vote. Your vote can make a huge difference in the support and education of our students. It is our students that matter for they will shape our world. Yes, the three new candidates running for trustees positions on this board would like to see a needed change occur for the well being of WHCC and would therefore appreciate your support to stop the politics as usual of this board and administration and return this college to the citizens of our communities.

Thank-you for your thought and reflection.

DAVID CLARK WILLIAMS