Selma Unified Administrator Frank Hernandez has been coordinating night classes at Selma High School for the last 15 years. He says when Reedley cuts its college courses held on the high school campus next semester - it will impact more than 400 students. "Transportation is an issue, gas prices are an issue and a lot of them, they don't know what they're going to do. Probably won't attend."
But officials at Reedley College say their hands are tied. "The budget has greatly impacted the number of classes we can offer."
Since 2008, the California community college system has seen it's funding slashed by $809 million dollars - which translates into a 12-percent reduction and a reduction in the number of courses offered.
Dr. Marilyn Behringer said, "In 2010, we spent almost $77 thousand in facilities costs to have the classes in high schools. This year it's down to $50 thousand and instead of using it on facilities offsite and use it onsite, then we can keep 12 more classes going that we would have to cancel."
That means 44 courses will no longer be offered at Selma, Kingsburg, Dinuba and Sanger high schools.
Cuts both the college and the high schools hope to bring back during better budget times. "A lot of our students are low income students that can't afford transportation and it's ideal for them... get a ride to a local site."
