By Dr. Nancy Cattell, former SMC Trustee Carole Currey, SMC Trustee Dr. Dorothy Ehrhart-Morrison, SMC Trustee Dr. Margaret R. Quinones, SMC Trustee Herbert Roney, SMC Trustee Irene & Sam Zivi, long-time residents, Santa Monica
It is an outrage that a Community College faculty union would distribute a deceitful “hit piece” (mailer) in order to defame Tom Donner, a respected former administrator of Santa Monica College. We resent the complete distortion of (Donner’s) service to the college. Contrary to the “hit piece,” Tom Donner has been a most trustworthy administrator at Santa Monica College. He knows the facts and tells it like it is.
Hit piece claim: “Vocational programs eliminated” The truth: Some vocational programs were eliminated because of low enrollment and lack of sufficient state funds for them. However, many vocational programs are still in place. The continuing vocational programs include photography, nurses training, early childhood education teacher training, fashion design, computer technology and business courses.
Hit piece claim: “6,000 students locked out” The truth: The faculty union was responsible for faculty members refusing to accept late applicants to fill vacancies left by failed-to-show students.
Hit piece claim: “California Community College Chancellor places SMC on watch list for fiscal mismanagement”
The truth: When the state abruptly cut funding to all community colleges, the colleges had to use reserve funds in order to continue operations. When reserves drop below the state’s criterion, a college is automatically put on the “watch list.” This happened to many community colleges, including SMC. It was simply a consequence of a sudden budgetary action by the state, and SMC and the other colleges were automatically removed from the list as their reserves were restored.
Hit piece claim: “SMC runs $6 million deficit” The truth: The hit-piece $6 million deficit is pure fiction. On Sept. 13, the Board of Trustees of the Santa Monica Community College District adopted the final 2005-06 budget, which shows an $8.3 million surplus.
Hit piece claim: “... colossal failure of the Bundy Campus” The truth: The Bundy Campus serves the community in many significant ways. All the Santa Monica child care workers are trained there, as are critically needed nurses.
Donner, through his extraordinary skills as the Chief Financial Officer, was able to keep SMC afloat to serve the maximum number of students possible. SMC has become one of the most distinguished community colleges in California, partly due to his accomplishments. He is widely recognized and his services continue to be sought by many community colleges across the country. Among his recognitions is the Walter Star Robie award, given to Donner by the Chief Business Officers of the California Community Colleges in the fall of 2005 for outstanding achievements and exemplary service.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 25, 2006. Read the original PDF.