Clark College trustees debated the possibility of declaring a state of financial emergency during a work session last Wednesday, stopping short of doing so in order to avoid creating panic.
Declaring a financial emergency would streamline the process through which the college administration can lay off tenured and tenure-track faculty.
President Bob Knight started the discussion by saying he was not proposing a vote to declare an emergency.
"I'm not sure we'll ever get to that," he said.
Board Chair Rhona Sen Hoss said the intent of the discussion was to educate trustees about what a financial emergency declaration is and how to approach implementing one.
"How bad does it have to get before we do something like this?" responded Trustee Royce Pollard.
The college is looking at significant financial challenges in the months ahead, as Gov. Chris Gregoire has proposed cutting funding for state community colleges by 13 percent.
State lawmakers reported to a special session in Olympia last week. The legislators are seeking ways to remedy the financial situation, including the possibility of a temporary sales tax the governor has proposed to pump much-needed dollars into state coffers.
The option of declaring a financial emergency at Clark was made possible in September, when the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges declared a financial emergency for the entire community college system. The move opened the door for individual institutions to do the same.
Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake is the only community college in the state to have declared a state of financial emergency so far.
Knight addressed the conditions that would have to be present before Clark can move forward on its own emergency.
"When it looks like we're going to have to get into cutting a lot of personnel, we will consider the declaration," Knight said.
Board members made it clear Wednesday night that a declaration, while making it easier for the administration to balance the budget by laying off even the highest-paid faculty members, could come with severe consequences.
"The declaration also sends a message to the community that we're not going to do our job well, and that can be a down-the-road ripple effect in fundraising and community support and partnerships," Hoss said. "We don't want to go into a panic situation."
Hoss and Trustee Jada Rupley said the option of declaring a financial emergency provides the college with a road map with which to navigate the next few months.
"We're prepared ahead of time," Rupley said. "When the time comes, we need to act quickly."
Pollard noted how dire Clark's finances are. "You paint a very dismal picture," Pollard told the president.
Pollard said he feels Clark should determine its own timeline, rather than follow the lead of another college.
"At some point in time we need to get people's attention," Pollard said. "Maybe people should get a little excited about where we are."
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