Community College Governance

I am a product of the Community College System.  I received my A.A. Degree from College of the Redwoods after attending Santa Rosa Junior College.  Both systems were excellent educational institutions.  

>From a financial perspective, I was unable to attend a four year college and from an academic perspective, the community college system provided me with a needed transition period.

Unlike the state and university systems, there are several districts and many more colleges at the community college level.  It may be a little more difficult for the Community College Board of Governors to manage this system due to the mere size.

Community colleges serve the needs of the local community.  Locally elected boards may have an easier time forming consensus on what needs to occur locally.  Will people outside of the community know the community interest, and be able to respond to the local needs?

In Sonoma and Humboldt Counties, the community college system addresses the local community needs and provides a needed transition to our state and university systems.  It is difficult to understand how these two systems could be stronger under an outside the community governance structure.