System president Bob Scott: Colleges must remind legislators of the need By Marybeth Bianchi Feature Editor Community colleges receive only 7.9 cents of every dollar spent on education in North Carolina. If they want to increase that share, they’ll have to become more aggressive, the president of the statewide system told Brunswick Community College trustees last week. Stopping at Supply for dinner on Thursday as part of his 58-college tour, Bob Scott said he was told by state legislators, "You’re not being aggressive enough, proactive" in seeking funding. As a result, he said he realized "we’d have to try some thing if we’re going to be success ful." i hat something he has been urging trustees around the state, in cluding Brunswick Community Col lege trustees, is to make those who control the purse strings aware of community college needs and con cerns. Historically, the community col lege system has placed its needs on the table and officials hoped they got their share, Scott said. "But there’s not enough money to go around, so we have to push and shove." He shared with trustees several ways they can strive to get more money for community college pro grams that serve ten percent of the population. He asked them to meet with their legislators before they head to Raleigh for the next session of the General Assembly and to keep in close contact with them in several ways, including: •Project 10,000. That’s 10,000 letters to legislators from all 58 community colleges between Janu ary and the adoption of the 1993-94 budget. Scott recommended each trustee write three letters (a total of 2,500 for all trustees across the state), and encourage students, business and Bob Scott (left), president of the North Carolina Community College System, joined Brunswick Community College president Michael JReaves and his board of trustees for dinner last week as part of a statewide effort to rally legislative support for community college fund ing. Scott said the idea is to be a ‘constant presence, reminder to legislators about community college financial needs: ‘The idea is not to let them for get you.’ community leaders and other sup porters to write letters. "We’re going to try to spread this out so there are some letters coming in all the time," Scott said. •A day in the legislature. Scott said by coordinating visits to the Fisher Bros. Christmas Trees First time in this area. Prime, nursery grown, fresh cut northern Pennsylvania Christmas Trees. Scotch Pine • Douglas Fir Colorado Blue Spruce 5 ft. to 71/2 ft. • Starting Nov. 27 16th & Market St. • Wilmington ■I Due to seasonal nature of business we accept cash only. TO!'/' Our dazzling selection of new jewelry has just arrived! Come and see for yourself. Driftwood Shell Shop "We 're not just another pretty shell shop. “ 5“\ Waterfront Historic Southport. 457-5466 s"i m state legislature through the com munity college trustees association, "We can have somebody up there about all the time," he said. Although it’s "light years" until the state budget is adopted, Scott said the idea of the campaign is to be a "constant presence, a reminder" to legislators about community col lege financial needs. "The idea is not to let them forget you," he said. The community college system will be seeking nearly $60 million in expansion funds for 1993-94. That includes money to cover a 5.6 percent enrollment growth, competi tive salaries, program improvement, equipment, library books and materials, technology centers, child care grants, literacy education, hu man resource development pro grams, faculty upgrade, increase in instruction support personnel, stu dent progress monitoring system and leadership development training program. The current community college system budget totals more than $452 million, of which more than 70 percent is funded by the state. Also before legislators is a S311 million bond issue for capital con struction, which would provide for the top two building priorities on each campus. "The talk from the legislature is encouraging, but I’ve heard it be fore," Scott said, recommending trustees keep their funding requests simple. He suggested they ask legislators, "‘Don’t you think the community colleges are worth a dime?’ They can understand that," he said. "I’m encouraged. I think we can do it." UNC-G graduate Ivory Parker of Southport has completed requirements for a bachelor of science degree in .elementary education from the Uni versity of North Carolina at Greens boro. She has been invited to partici pate in the spring commencement ceremony at UNC-G. Plush Animals 25% OFF Largest selection in the area... 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State construction is "bird dogging" the project, DeBlois told trustees. "We do have an ally there that is very helpful." DeBlois explained to trustees that even though there is a clause in the contract that says the contractor is liable for the delay in completion, the S250-a-day assessment in liqui dated damages is not automatic. The college must prove it sustained damage in some way if it is to col lect the money. Trustees agreed to spend about SI,400 for three Lucite chandeliers for the lobby of the auditorium. Last month the architect on the project recommended crystal chandeliers ranging in price from SI,500 to SI 5,000 apiece. In a related matter, trustees received copies of the revised master plan which includes a page projecting the cost of various build ing projects, figuring in inflation. "This enables us to plan ahead for sources of money," DeBlois said, noting that the master plan, which lists building needs up to the year 2000, is an "essential planning docu ment." 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