TU: Thursday’s Editorial: State Must Not Cut Funds for FSCJ

Link to article: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2017-05-24/thursday-s-editorial-state-must-not-cut-funds-fscj

Times-Union

Florida’s system of 28 colleges with their two-year and four-year programs are vital to the future of Florida.

So why slash their overall budget by $30 million? It makes no sense.

And to underscore that fact, the Times-Union was visited Wednesday by Cynthia Bioteau, president of Florida State College at Jacksonville; Darnell Smith, president of the JAX Chamber; and Jerry Mallot, president of JAXUSA Partnership.

The Chamber representatives wanted to underscore the importance of FSCJ to the area’s economy. Job training is a vital role of FSCJ, which means training students for jobs the area needs.

“We are the Main Street of education for this community,” Bioteau said. “We educate the dental hygienists who clean your teeth, the nurses who care for you, the first responders, our firefighters, our police. Think of our plumbers, whatever you need to survive in this community for quality of life, FSCJ is responsible for the highest in education and training.”

Florida’s28 colleges like FSCJ educate about 800,000 people. Almost 9 in 10 stay in the state. So why the $30 million cut in the budget?

Florida’s 12 universities education about half as many students, but received $100 million more in the budget.

FSCJ has been dealing with budget crises since the Great Recession when a double whammy ensued: Budgets were slashed while students flocked to the campus looking for additional training.

So what’s the excuse for the budget cut now? The recession is long gone.

And where are the voices of the local legislative delegation, in supporting the college. Too many have been cowed by the leadership. Sen. Audrey Gibson is one notable exception. If others opposes this cut, let’s hear them speak out.