FVCC plans for legislature

Her hopes for the 2005 Legislature were on the agenda of Jane Karas as she reported to Flathead Valley Community College trustees on Tuesday.

With a new governor and reconstituted Legislature, college officials hope to pump up the state's share of education dollars.

According to Karas, the college president, higher education has lost ground since 2001 when the state shouldered 53 percent of the base cost per student.

In 2003, the percentage initially dropped to 43 percent. With help from local legislators and others, the state share was increase from 43 percent to 46 percent per full-time equivalent student that same year.

Karas said educators received good news and bad news in governor-elect Brian Schweitzer's budget. The state share increased to 53 percent but the overall allocation per student was reduced.

"We're getting 53 percent of a lower base number," Karas said.

Flathead Valley Community College teams up with Montana's other two community college to present its requests to the Legislature and governor. Karas said the colleges will ask that the state fund 55 percent of the original base.

She was scheduled to meet with the governor's new budget analyst on Wednesday.

Also during her report, Karas announced that the contractor who began the college's legislative audit this year failed to complete the work as required although the staff provided information on time.

"It's no reflection on the college," she said.

As a result, the contract was terminated. A new firm was awarded the contract but can't perform the work until April or May because of tax season.

Karas said the staff had several problems with the first auditor's performance. She described the new contractor as experienced in educational institutions and "very competent."

She called the delay an unfortunate situation that was thrust upon the college. Karas said she wants to revisit qualifications for auditors, emphasizing the need for a certain level of higher education expertise.

"The audit is certainly a tool that we find useful," she said.

Trustees heard additional presentations at the board meeting from Blake Smith, an adjunct (part-time) instructor, and students who participated in the college's service learning program.

Smith complained to the trustees that she was passed over for a full-time teaching position in English. She said that she had paid her dues by teaching courses disliked by other instructors and by serving on many committees since 1998.

Smith singled out her assignment teaching journalism and advising for the college paper as a particular sacrifice.

"I'm terribly unhappy teaching journalism," Smith said. "I don't even have a degree in journalism."

Karas thanked Smith for her service to the college although the instructor left the board meeting abruptly after reading her statement. The president said these issues should go through proper channels for review.

She added that the college can't always move adjunct instructors into full-time positions. Karas said the collective bargaining agreement plays a role in instructor assignments.

The president told trustees that she would make sure Smith's concerns were reviewed according to college policy.

Also at the meeting, a sampling of students in the Service Learning Program reported to trustees on their experiences combining academic learning with community service work.

The program serves 155 students who work with 30 faculty members and about 100 community organizations. Their service included signing for the deaf at theater productions, tutoring and helping landscape a paraplegic woman's home.

Janaya Okerlund, program coordinator, defined the curriculum's mission as promoting lifelong civic involvement of students.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.