By Maddie Nerad
Staff Writer
The recent elimination of Regional Occupational Center and Program (ROC/P) funding in California will prevent many students at Mira Costa, and throughout the Los Angeles area, from getting practical, career-oriented vocational training. Considering the benefits this program provides, it is important that the district continues to inform the state legislature of its concerns.
The Southern California Regional Occupational Center (SCROC) provides students and adults in the community with valuable vocational courses such as automotive module and welding module, regardless of furture plans to either go directly into the workforce or go on to college. Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board President Ida VanderPoorte and SCROC Superintendent Dr. Christine Hoffman have appropriately addressed these cuts by bringing their concerns to the state legislators in person.
SCROC is one of two regional centers in the state and serves seven school districts, encompassing 14 cities. The office also has concurrent programs on high school campuses. According to the California Department of Education, 470,000 students enroll in ROC/P annually.
According to Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed budget, released in January, combined all categorical programs or programs that supplement core education, into one revenue limit number; because of this, districts do not get extra money for being involved in supplemental programs. This budget provides California’s ROC/P with absolutely no money. If the budget passes, SCROC will close this July and all employees will be laid off.
Classes at Mira Costa, such as fashion design and JAVA computer science, are funded by SCROC and will be cut if the budget is not revised. These classes allow students to pursue specific passions while getting school credit. SCROC currently provides students with a wide range of exposure to a variety of technical career fields and paths.
These occupational programs contribute to academic and career achievement and are, therefore, beneficial to the state’s economy. Because of this, MBUSD Board members and SCROC employees remain optimistic about the fact that their elimination has been an oversight and will be resolved in the May revision of the state budget.
On Feb. 26, VanderPoorte and Hoffman, along with Palos Verdes Unified School District board member Heidi Ashcroft, traveled to Sacramento to lobby for funding. They met with state Senator Ted Lieu and state representatives Steven Bradford, Rodney Wright and Isadora Hall. VanderPoorte is hopeful that the people they spoke to will get the California Department of Finance’s attention.
Leaders in our community have brought these issues to legislature knowing the negative effects of these cuts. Without these programs, students will not have the opportunity to learn practical skills for the future and pursue their passions.
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