Absence of SCROC funding in state budget raises concerns

By Shaylyn Austin
News Editor
And Kate Robak
Calendar Editor

Manhattan Beach Unified District Board of Trustees President Ida Vanderpoorte spoke to California State Senator Ted Lieu on Feb. 26 in Sacramento to raise awareness for the absence of funding for Regional Occupational Center and Programs in the 2013-14 California budget.

If ROC/P funding isn’t incorporated into budget revisions in May, Southern California ROC will be forced to shut down in July, and all SCROC employees will lose their jobs. Board members believe this was an error made on the part of Governor Jerry Brown and hope to correct it.

“Hopefully, the people we spoke to will be able to get the Department of Finance’s attention and this will be rectified,” VanderPoorte said.

SCROC Superintendent Dr. Christine Hoffman and SCROC Board members Heidi Aschcraft and Barbara Lucky accompanied Vanderpoorte on the trip to Sacramento. In addition to Lieu, they met with SCROC district representatives Steven Bradford, Isadore Hall and Rodney Wright to discuss the budget.

“All four of them said they would try to help SCROC find an answer,” Vanderpoorte said.

Over 500 Costa students are currently enrolled in SCROC courses both on campus and at the SCROC center in Torrance. In addition, five Costa teachers teach SCROC classes on campus that include wood shop and media design. If the budget is not revised, all SCROC classes will be cut.

“I love Mira Costa, my program and my students,” Costa SCROC teacher Giti Azizi said. “We just have to stay positive.”