The latest round of cuts at Sierra College will likely slash construction, automotive and agriculture programs.

Faced with an $11.2 million budget shortfall for the next fiscal year, the board of trustees will meet Feb. 2 to consider a proposal that would also impose a 5 percent salary reduction for all employees, mandatory furlough days and elimination of 35 positions and six of 17 athletic programs, according to a Sierra College press release.

“The school has identified approximately $1.5 million in programs and services to cut,” said Rachel Rosenthal, vice president of instruction at Sierra College. “That’s not to say that the programs that will be cut are any less important.”

The end of the construction technology program is a very personal loss for Ed Wicks, who retired last year after 30 years as an instructor in the department.

“The school is saying (the decision) was determined based on declining enrollment, high operating costs and lack of employment for students,” he said this week.

During Wicks’ time on the staff, approximately 6,000 students passed through his classes, many of them learning the trade, but others returning to acquire new skills or upgrade their training for existing jobs.

“I think it’s sad for the community,” he said. “All the programs being closed are vocational. Sierra will be looking at just transfer students. If you look at the numbers, a whole lot of students are being left out if they’re not transferring. People not going to a four-year school need to learn a trade to earn a living. They come out with a skill that makes them employable and tax-paying citizens.”

Construction contractor Fred Tuttle wonders what kind of impact the program’s closure will have on maintaining an adequate pool of trained workers.

“I’m concerned about finding people with hands-on experience who can read plans and know how to do bids,” he said. “(The program) is not a commodity that can be replaced right now. Things like this, once canceled, they never come back.”

Alex Wong, a 10-year teacher in the automotive technology program, said the closure would impact most of the 330 students enrolled this semester.

“Our program is 100 percent filled,” he said. “Right now, 63 percent of the students go on to get jobs in the automotive industry. The No. 1 priority is jobs. Our goal is workforce development. Our program gets people employed.”

The automotive program in nearby community colleges is full, likely forcing students who want to enroll or continue studies to opt for private technical institutes, where tuition fees can be $30,000, Wong said.

For construction technology students, Cosumnes River College is starting a program. But for cabinetry and furniture making, the closest training is in Redding or Los Angeles, Wicks said.

“I’m lucky I got in this semester. I’m just barely finishing,” said Ryan Zatkulak who has been in the Construction Technology program for three semesters.

Students who weren’t so lucky to get enrolled in the classes they need to finish their program are wondering where they will go and what to do now that the college is cutting the classes.

Akia Farrankon said that due to class cancellations over the past several semesters and now the closure of the program altogether, he’s having to petition to get his associate degree with a patchwork of classes to make up the credits.

“If they don’t accept the petition, all of my hard work will have been for nothing,” Farrankon said. “I was hoping to become a general contractor after this. I don’t think I can get the same level of education at Cosumnes that I got here.”

The board will review the proposed cuts at Tuesday’s meeting after which a decision will be made, Rosenthal said.

“I think the staff has had to face up to the fact that cuts have to be made somewhere,” said Bill Martin, Area 5 Trustee. “They went through a very involved process to decide the least damaging places to make the cuts. It’s no fun for anyone. … What’s been decided is the result of detailed and careful analysis and consideration by the staff — President Leo Chavez and his team.”

Martin said he’s seen a lot of interest in keeping the automotive program in particular.

“The main thing is that our revenues are down so much from the state, there’s no possibility to avoid cutting in a variety of places,” he said.

Trustees bought some time and delayed the pain of cuts last year by electing to use reserves, Chavez said in the press release.

“(This gave) us time to work through our collaborative process and come up with an approach that is as fair and balanced as one could hope for during this difficult time,” Chavez said.

It’s possible that not all the decisions on cuts will be made Tuesday, Martin said.

“Some may be continued beyond that for a while if there are recommendations the board wants to review or change,” he said.

Sierra College proposed cuts

Automotive Technology

Construction Technology

Agriculture

Men and women’s golf

Men and women’s tennis

Women’s track/cross country

Men’s water polo

The Sierra College board of trustees meeting with be at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, Dietrich Theatre, Rocklin campus. Community comments at 4:15 p.m.

-Megan Wood Contributed to this report.