'I Believe in the System'

Those who govern community colleges today say they must reconcile exploding demands with vaporizing resources. As enrollment has swelled, the schools’ budget has shrunk statewide by $800 million over the past three years.

The state’s 112 campuses have turned away 670,000 students for lack of space after cutting course sections by 5 percent.

Against this backdrop, six candidates, including three incumbents, have chosen to run for one of three open seats on the San Mateo County Community College Board. The district encompasses three campuses: Skyline College, Canada College, and College of San Mateo.

Karen Schwarz is running for re-election.

The needs of society shape community college offerings. It happens that right now, society needs more dental hygienists. The county’s community colleges are ideally positioned to train them.

Alas, these are the worst of times, said board member Karen Schwarz. The money is not there to invest in programs, however invaluable to the community.

“I’ve never seen it this bad,” she said. “It’s a frightening time.”

But Schwarz, 66, said her passion for public education is unlikely to run dry now. She is running for re-election.

Deep cuts, beginning in Sacramento and playing out in campuses throughout the state, put local governing boards in the unenviable position of doling out the damage.

This year has mandated difficult choices. That in itself requires the full participation of everyone involved, she said.

“It has to be a really defined process that includes everyone,” she said. “It’s very painful. People have to understand the numbers. The magic number is 20. We're all on the page."

Courses whose enrollment sinks below the magic number will not make the cut. Such has been the fate of American Sign Language, Japanese, Italian, humanities, horticulture, meteorology, welding, and others.

She has a special ire for university leaders who counsel students to meet their general education requirements at two-year schools: “They are not paying attention."

She also loses patience with taxpayer groups and individuals who believe they should not have to support public education if they don’t have children in the system.

“I say, when you call the EMT or the fire department, who do you think you’re calling? Those people are educated through the community college system.”

An Oregon native, Schwarz raised her children in the county. Her children attended public school in Daly City. Married to a painting contractor, she runs the business office. She served on the San Mateo Board of Education for seven years.

She nurtures a dream that the budget crisis will pass, and the colleges, with their "gorgeous campuses, and wonderful, wonderful instructors,” can accommodate all who need them.

“I’m here because I have a passion for it,” she said. “I have a desire to keep working in the system. I believe in it.”