Thoughts From MCC Board Candidates

Although The Town Crier did not seek information from candidates for the upcoming election since there was a lack of interest shown by candidates in the election of 2010. However, two of the six MCC candidates chose to make their views known. They follow:

Robert S. Jackson

Is a candidate for McHenry County County College Board of Trustee. He released his thoughts on what he calls "the recently proposed nearly eleven percent tuition and fee hike”.

"Committed expenses, including the 7% increases plus due faculty in salary and benefits in their contract ending in 2012 require that some way of increasing income must be found. But future faculty salary and benefits will need to become a lower proportion of all college expenses. And they will need to reflect the depressed economic situation we currently experience and may continue to endure for a while longer.

"For now, the board should consider short-term borrowing to be paid back by such an expected future reduction of proportionate expenses.  Historically low interest rates make this among the best times in history for institutions to borrow money – if one is properly positioned to pay it back.

"Since that action would take too long to meet immediate needs, tuition and fees hikes will be necessary.

The hikes should be large enough to provide funding for a scholarship program that is both “means,” and “motivation” tested.  The economically disadvantaged will be given priority and not further disadvantaged by these hikes.  Motivation-testing aims at applicants who will complete their programs rather than those apt to use resources then drop-out.

"The board should consider joining tuition-supported funds to private funding sources to create a reconstituted and improved if more modest “Promise Program.”

Contact Robert S. Jackson at robertsumnerjackson@yahoo.com  and visit his Facebook page.

Erik Sivertsen

"Did you know that MCC’s Board of Trustees voted to raise tuition by 9% at their last Board of Trustees meeting?

”Did you also know that in that same meeting they approved nearly $4.5 million in additional spending?

"The citizens of District 528 are having to make changes and trim their budgets to cope with these tough economic times. How can our college’s board justify raising tuition beyond the level of both College of Lake County, and Elgin Community College, rather than cut the waste out of the budget?

"Several current board members are attempting to make the argument that the state has decreased its funding of the school from 33.3% to only 5%. To say that state funding has decreased is a misrepresentation of the facts. State funding has not increased as quickly as other sources of income, but has remained virtually unchanged throughout the last 7+ years. Most recently, between 2009-2010 state funding increased by approximately $1.5 million dollars. Due to the fact that the revenue from property taxes has increased and the tuition has more than doubled since 2000, the state is now supplying a smaller percentage of the schools gross revenue.

"The projected shortfall in next year’s budget was less than 5% of total expenses. A 5% decrease in funding throughout the budget would not hinder the school’s ability to offer a first-rate education. By seeking alternative sources of revenue, the need to decrease expenses would be even less.

"$3.5 million of the spending approved in the last meeting will go towards remodeling the commons, student lounge, cafeteria, and kitchen. The focus of the project would be to add a new kitchen for the culinary program.

"In coming years the school may have the need to move the culinary program on campus, but at this point the school would be best served by continuing to use the facilities at Woodstock North High School. This benefits the college and the high school. MCC is able to develop the culinary program and go through the initial growth stages at a significantly reduced cost. Both schools share part of the costs for the facilities and therefore taxpayers are not forced to pay twice for the same resource.

"Beyond the financial shortcomings of this decision, the proposal that they decided on places the new kitchen in the center of the school. This may seem like a convenient location, but if the culinary program is one of MCC’s fastest growing programs, when it comes time to expand these new facilities, there will be nowhere to go without removing other current facilities or starting over.

"My name is Erik Sivertsen and I am running for MCC’s Board of Trustees in the election this Tuesday. I am currently a Republican Precinct Committeeman, the President of MCC's Students Supporting the Right to Life, Secretary of MCC’s Political Theory and Debate Group, a Student Senate Representative, and a recent Graduate of MCC.

"I have walked the halls at MCC the last 3 years, so I know where the school does really well, and I also know where the school could use improvement. I will fight to meet the needs of the community without increasing taxes or tuition. I will do this by making responsible decisions, and making sure that every dollar spent goes to improve the education of the students.

"The election is getting close, and every vote counts! Please help me out by forwarding this email to everyone who lives within McHenry County. Together we can make a positive impact in our community and in the future students of MCC"