Seventeen classified staffers at Bakersfield College may be laid off according to Del Allen, president of the classified employee union.
But the number of classified staffers at BC and throughout the Kern Community College District who could lose their jobs seems to change daily, said Steve Eso, president of the faculty union.
What is known is that the decision of how many employees will lose their jobs will be made by each college president by Nov. 7 or 8.
That is according to an e-mail sent by Dr. Walter Packard, chancellor of the district, following a meeting Tuesday in which the layoffs were discussed.
Packard and Dr. Sandra Serrano, BC president, declined to be interviewed for this story.
According to the e-mail, the district is out of compliance with the state 50 percent law by $1.4 million.
The law requires community colleges to spend 50 percent of their budgets on faculty and classroom instruction.
Of the $1.4 million, $502,922 will be cut from BC, $485,760 will be cut from Cera Coso College, $243,054 will be cut from the district and $173,413 will be cut from Porterville College, according to the e-mail.
However, in an interview Tuesday, Allen said that district officials told him $707,000 would need to be cut from BC’s budget.
“BC has always had to carry the other colleges,” said Classified Senate President Debi Brockman. “We’ve always been the cash cow that’s why we have to cut the most.”
The exact number of people who would lose jobs continues to fluctuate.
“The numbers change every day,” Eso said. “So far the only layoffs have been voluntary.”
Forty-three people districtwide accepted the golden handshake offered earlier this semester. Of that number, 22 came from BC alone.
Allen said that district officials estimated that the average classified salary was $43,327.
But Allen said that most classified staffers do not make $43,327. He estimates their yearly income is “closer to $27,000 to $33,000.” He said if benefits were not included in the cut, more staffers would lose their jobs.
Allen still believes that classified staff is being targeted in the layoff process.
“The morale is lower than I could’ve ever conceived,” he said. “People are getting physically ill. People are so afraid of the uncertain future.”
In an interview a week ago, Allen said if the decision continues to target classified staff members he will retaliate in full force.
“I will turn into a junkyard dog,” he said. “Nothing official has come down that’s official. If something official does come down it will be before Christmas, which is a terrible time to fire anyone. It is so inhumane being referred to as ‘targets.’ ”
But Brockman said that the district maintains that it is operating at minimum staff in the administrative area.
“We feel classified is the main emphasis,” she said. “They are the only alternative because the district said they are at their bare minimum of administrators.”
Staffers are also upset about administrative raises given earlier this year. Administrators received a 10 percent raise this year and will receive a five percent raise next year.
“The feeling is getting worse,” Brockman said. “The timing of the administrative raises is not conducive to business.”
Allen said the district has not kept the classified staff informed.
“This is terrorism,” he said. “I have been handling rumors about losing our retirement benefits and Christmas bonuses. People are so afraid. We will fight tooth and nail. I am trying to be patient but it comes down to the classified paying the price for the district’s mistakes.”
The district is still four percent out of compliance with the 50 percent law.
According to Eso, the district budget allocates 48 percent to instruction and 52 pecent to administrative and support staff.
“This has to be a partnership with all three functions involved,” Allen said.
“I’m going to suggest we withdraw the administrative raises for a short time or take money out of the administration’s travel budget. Classified is not going to be the sole solver of the problem.”