EDUCATION Lamenting a lost education Orange Coast...

EDUCATION

Lamenting a lost education

Orange Coast College’s associated students held a barrage of

memorial services to morn the lack of educational opportunities in

California due to the state’s budget crisis Monday, amid a mock

graveyard. Organizers encouraged their classmates to fight back

against the state’s budget cuts that may force OCC to cut about 1,000

course sections for the 2003-04 school year.

The Orange County Department of Education selected Pauline

Maranian, an English and drama teacher at Estancia High School, as

one of Orange County’s Teachers of the Year. After completing an

arduous application process and interviewing before a panel of

judges, the 34-year-old teacher was selected as one of the five

recipients of the golden-apple trophy.

On Wednesday, Gov. Gray Davis announced his revisions to the state

budget for the 2003-04 fiscal year. Elementary through high schools

will receive $700 million more in state and local funds than proposed

in January, which will still require them to make about $2 billion in

sacrifices. Community colleges will receive $304 million more in

funding and will see an increase from $11 to $18 per unit. The University of California and California State University systems

managed to escaped further cuts, however the University of California

system will still need about $300 million in base budget cuts.

* CHRISTINE CARRILLO covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at [email protected].