Farwell to Eddie helps students

   Chancellor Eddie Hernandez retires in June. The district faces unprecedented financial woes. Now the Board of Trustees is trying to save course offerings through its Farewell to the Chancellor event scheduled for April 29.
   Trustee John Hanna said Hernandez’ retirement almost went uncelebrated because of concern about lack of sponsors and participants, and costs."Yes, times are tough and people aren’t spending like they used to. But we’re talking about one of the best CEOs in the country," Hanna said. "He deserves a farewell."
   Hanna likened the farewell event to the annual Chancellor’s Ball, a fundraiser that generates sponsorship revenue used to support scholarships. Last year’s Chancellors Ball raised $80,000.
   Instead of scholarship dollars, funds raised through the Farewell to the Chancellor event will go to the general fund and be used to save classes. Tickets to the dinner range from $100 to $150 with proceeds divided between SAC and SCC and sponsors are able to specify the school or even the program.
   Private sponsors have been tougher to find this year, but Hanna said he hopes that the board will be able to show corporations the value of their sponsorships.
   "An organization like St. Joe’s can donate, and designate that their donation will go straight to the nursing and allied health programs, which then frees up money for programs that don’t have outside support," Hanna said.
   Thinking beyond the fundraising dinner, Hanna sees public/private partnerships as a viable alternative to shrinking state budgets. Such partnerships are not new, he notes, citing the Northgate Market scoreboard by the SAC soccer field. A scoreboard like that could have cost the school thousands of dollars; instead, Northgate market picked up the tab in exchange for the advertising opportunity.
   Similar arrangements have worked elsewhere. For example, at the RSCCD building offices are leased to offset property maintenance costs.
   At a recent Academic Senate Meeting, Hanna described the fundraising plan and urged members to develop partnerships with the private sector, not only through the Chancellor’s dinner, but as a general strategy for the future of the college district.
   "I’m trying to backfill money that we’re not getting because our budget’s been cut. The Republicans don’t want to raise taxes, and the Democrats don’t want to relax regulations to cut costs. We have to start thinking differently. We have to stop the politics and do what’s best for students," Hanna said.